Where Water Goes
Where does our dirty water go after it leaves the drain?
What is a wastewater treatment plant?
What is the main goal of a treatment plant?
To clean water so it’s safe for the environment
What should you never flush down the toilet?
What are wipes, trash, or grease
Why should we turn off the faucet when brushing our teeth?
To save water
True or False: All the water on Earth today is the same water dinosaurs drank.
True
What is the name of the layer underground that stores our drinking water?
The aquifer
What’s one thing used to kill germs in water?
What is Chlorine or UV light
Why is it bad to pour oil or chemicals down a storm drain?
They flow straight to the bay or ocean
How can fixing a leaky faucet help the environment?
It prevents wasting gallons of water per day
What happens when water freezes?
It expands
What happens at the sedimentation tank?
Heavy particles settle to the bottom
What do we call the solid waste removed from the water?
Sludge
What kind of pollution happens when fertilizers run off lawns?
What is nutrient or nitrogen pollution
What is one way to save water in gardens?
Use native plants or water early in the morning
What percent of your body is made of water?
About 60%
After being cleaned, where does treated water go?
Into local waterways (like bays or rivers)
What happens during the filtration step?
Water passes through sand, gravel, or charcoal to remove smaller particles
How can we reduce plastic pollution in water?
Use reusable bottles and bags
Why do we need to conserve even though Earth has a lot of water?
Most of it is saltwater or frozen — only a small amount is fresh and usable
About how much water does one person use each day in the U.S.?
Around 80–100 gallons
What’s the first place water stops at the treatment plant?
The screening or bar rack
Why do we add “coagulants” like alum to dirty water?
To help tiny particles clump together
What happens when too many nutrients enter the water?
Algae blooms that use up oxygen and harm fish
What’s a “low-flow” device?
A tool (like a showerhead or toilet) that uses less water
What is the longest river in the world?
The Nile