Fundamentals of Drinking Water Treatment (HS)
Providing access to clean water has been identified as one of 14 grand challenges in engineering in the
21st century by the National Academy of Engineering. This NATURE program lesson aims to provide basic
knowledge and skills for the students to test and treat surface water for drinking‐water purposes.
objectives
Through this lesson, students will be able to i) recognize the responsibilities of drinking water treatment
plant operation and control; ii) identify safe operational procedures, sampling, and laboratory testing
techniques; and iii) develop analytical skills by participating in a bench‐scale water treatment
experiment.
Topic(s)
Earth science, water treatment
type
High school lesson from Sunday Academy
9-12
Grade(s):
time needed
6 hours
author
Feng “Frank” Xiao, Mafany Mongoh, Lori Gourneau
national next gen standards
north dakota standards
9‐10.2.2 Use appropriate safety equipment and precautions during investigations
9‐10.2.6. Design and conduct a guided investigation
9‐10.5.4 Identify the short‐term and long‐term effects of physical processes
9‐10.6.1 Use appropriate technologies and techniques to solve a problem
9‐10.8.3 Explain how individuals and groups, from different disciplines in and outside of science,
contribute to science at different levels of complexity
11‐12.1.1 Explain how scientists create and use models to address scientific knowledge
11‐12.2.1 Understandings about Scientific Inquiry: Explain how new knowledge and methods emerge
from different types of investigations and public communication among scientists
11‐12.2.2 Abilities Necessary To Do Scientific Inquiry: Select and use appropriate instruments,
measuring tools, and units of measure to improve scientific investigations
11‐12.6.2 Technological Design: Identify examples of how new technologies advance science