Name: Date:

Student Exploration: Water Pollution

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: bacterial pollution, nutrient pollution, sediment pollution, toxic pollution, water pollution

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. Water pollution is the addition of harmful substances to water. Some of these substances are found at
home. What household chemicals might be harmful if not disposed of properly?

Radioactive waste, pesticides, mercury, lead, gasoline, oil, paint, and battery acid.

2. What are some other causes of water pollution?

Sediments, excessive nutrients, and bacteria.

Gizmo Warm-up
The Water Pollution Gizmo will teach you about some of the main
kinds of water pollution. On the TYPE tab, under Types of pollution,
check that Toxic is selected. Read the paragraphs on the right and
bottom of the Gizmo.

1. What is toxic pollution?

Pollution caused by chemicals that can cause death,

disease, or birth defects when ingested or absorbed by
organisms

2. What are some examples of toxic pollutants listed in the Gizmo?

Radioactive waste, pesticides, mercury, lead, gasoline, oil, paint, and battery acid.

3. Can you think of other examples of toxic substances, not listed in the Gizmo?

Paraben, Lead

Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
 Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Types of water ● Check that the TYPE tab and Toxic pollution are
pollution selected.

Question: What are the main types of water pollution?

1. Read and learn: Besides toxic pollution, the other types of pollution are sediment pollution, nutrient
pollution, and bacterial pollution. You have already described toxic pollution on the previous page. Read
about the other types, and describe each in your own words.

Sediment pollution

Description: Pollution caused by erosion and deposit build-up.

Causes: Logging, mining, farming, and construction can expose soil to erosion.

Consequences: Destroys fish and wildlife habitat, and clouds the water, blocking sunlight and
interfering with aquatic plants.

Nutrient pollution

Description: Pollution caused by excessive nutrients in water.

Causes: Fertilizer, manure, untreated human waste, and some detergents

Consequences: Caused explosive algal growth, which when the algae die, the decomposition
consumes oxygen and leads to hypoxia or low oxygen conditions, killing fish and
other aquatic animals. .

Bacterial pollution

Description: Pollution caused by untreated human or animal waste is released directly into water
resources.

Causes: Animal manure and untreated human waste.

Consequences: Drinking water contaminated with fecal bacteria may cause outbreaks of cholera and
dysentery. Fecal bacteria cause health problems for animals and plants as well.

Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
 Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity B:
● Select the EXAMPLE tab.
Real-world
● Check that example 1/12 is selected. (If not, use
examples
the arrow buttons to get to example 1/12.)

Question: What are the real-world causes of water pollution?

1. Practice: For each Real-world example presented in the Gizmo, guess which type or types of pollution will
result by checking the boxes. When you are ready, click Check answer to see if you were right. Read the
explanation, and then use your own words to fill in the table.

Example Pollution type(s) Explanation

Manure contains bacteria and is very high in nitrogen.
1 Nutrient and
During rainstorms, the manure will run off into the river
bacterial
and cause bacterial and nutrient pollution.
The gasoline that leaks at the gas station can make its
way to local water resources, causing toxic pollution.
2 Toxic and nutrient Nitrogen oxides can contribute to acid rain and also
raise levels of nitrogen in water bodies, causing both
toxic and nutrient pollution.
Excess fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides can run off
or seep into water resources. Fertilizers are high in
3 Toxic and nutrient phosphorus and nitrogen, causing nutrient pollution.
Herbicides and pesticides cause toxic pollution harmful
to many forms of life
Because there are no plants to anchor soil, wind and
4 Sediment rain will cause significant erosion. The silt fence will
help, but will not be able to prevent sediment pollution
Oil and antifreeze, as well as many other chemicals
5 found in cars, are toxic to the environment. These
Toxic
chemicals can seep through soil or runoff into nearby
water supplies, harming plants and wildlife.
The roots of the trees and shrubs around a lake help
6 hold the soil in place during heavy rain or when the
Sediment
waves hit the shore. Removal of the vegetation can
cause erosion, thus causing sediment pollution.
Paint and solvents such as turpentine and paint thinner
are toxic to the environment and should always be
7 Toxic disposed of in dedicated household toxic waste facilities.
Toxic chemicals may seep into soil and water at the
landfill and contaminate water resources.
Water treatment facilities can only treat a certain amount
of sewage each day. If too much water enters the facility,
8 Nutrient and
excess untreated sewage will be released into the
Bacterial
environment. Sewage containing human waste will
cause both bacterial and nutrient pollution.

Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
 Paper and cardboard are made from trees. As demand
Sediment for paper and cardboard increases, forests will decrease
9
in size as trees are logged. This will expose more areas
to erosion and cause sediment pollution
Toxic materials on the surface of the parking lot may
10 Toxic and runoff into the stream, causing toxic pollution. Sediment
Sediment pollution may occur when land is cleared for the parking
lot and playground.
Although different plants require different amounts of
11 fertilizer, any plant has a maximum amount of fertilizer it
Nutrient
can use. Excess fertilizer can wash into nearby
waterways, causing nutrient pollution.
Over time, old septic tanks can fill up or start to leak.
12 Nutrient and
This can cause untreated human waste, rich in bacteria
bacterial
and nutrients, to be released into the environment.

Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
2. Practice: Classify each of the following examples as toxic, sediment, nutrient, and/or bacterial pollution.
Explain your classifications.

A. Logging removes trees from a hill, leaving a barren landscape.

Classification: Sediment

Explanation: Erosion caused by the logging will end up in nearby rivers or water resources

B. A man washes clothes in a stream using a detergent that contains phosphorus.

Classification: Toxic

Explanation: The chemical is toxic, and carrying these fumes could harm wildlife habitat.

C. At an old gas station, gasoline leaks from an underground storage tank.

Classification: Toxic

Explanation: The gasoline can run into rivers and pollute drinking water, aquatic habitat and
kill fish and other aquatic animals.

D. At a research lab, a scientist carelessly pours cultures of living microbes down the drain.

Classification: Bacterial

Explanation: The scientist didn’t properly dispose of the microbes, possibly polluting drinking
water by pouring them down the drain.

3. Think and discuss: Many sources of water pollution are found within the home. What actions can you take
to reduce water pollution?

Take shorter showers, don't over water your lawn or wash your car too frequently. Use
less toxic products and avoid cutting down too many trees.

Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved