1B. Non-Point and Point Source Pollution

Preparation:

Tasks to be completed:

  1. Complete warm up activity
  2. Watch Courtney’s presentation
  3. Complete discussion prompt

Materials:

  • Warm up:
  • Long sheet of paper
  • Pen
  • Marker
  • Pollution container
  • Cup or spray bottle of water (not included)

 

Warm Up Activity:

Watershed Model Presentation (optional):

We have several of these watershed models available for check out from the Poudre Learning Center!

Courtney’s Presentation:

References

Vocabulary:

  • Non-point pollution – pollution that comes from many diffuse sources.  The source can not be identified.
  • Point pollution – a single identifiable source of air, water, thermal, noise or light pollution
  • Watershed – an area where water flows (or sheds) to the same body of water

Discussion Prompt:

Was there any information that was new to you or did this section serve as a refresher?  Let us know if anything stood out to you!

wellwatchadminJuly 1B Non-point and Point Source Pollution

3 comments

Join the conversation

  • Benita Wilson - July 17, 2020

    There were a few new things that I learned from Courtney’s presentation. I didn’t know the specifics of point and non point pollution. I had heard them before but wasn’t sure of the exact definition and sources. I also didn’t know that water salinity was such a big issue in Colorado. I had never made the connection between magnesium chloride and runoff and how high salinity could affect a plants absorption of water.

  • Andy Russell - July 25, 2020

    I wasn’t clear on point/non-point sources before this section. I recall something about soil salinity from college but that was *sigh* 22-25 years ago now. The only soil change I make a point of telling my students about is that growing crops removes nutrients from the soil, and if we take those crops to market then those nutrients have been removed from the ecosystem, and must be replaced through fertilizer etc. As Benita said, I didn’t know that salinity affected uptake of water, though it makes sense that it would. I’d then go on a quick tangent about Rome destroying Carthage and salting the earth just to make a point.

    Speaking of things that make sense but one doesn’t think about, I should probably start teaching about recharge basins and going into more detail of how Colorado’s water is divided up. Can a corporation swoop in and buy ancient water rights from small farms?

  • Colette Hunt - August 9, 2020

    This was a refresher for me. I did know the difference between point and non point sources. I also remember that since the flood in our area (Kersey) they have been dealing with higher salt content in our groundwater. At times our district is unable to water using the ground water because of the salinity. I think one thing I really took away and want to make sure to talk to the kids about it isn’t what you see in the water (trash), its the unseen things that are the problem.


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