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by Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
© The Vegetarian Resource Group
Purpose: To evaluate surface water quality of samples collected from a recreational use area and those from areas used for farming or animal-based agriculture. Samples will be compared over the period of one day, one week, or one year, as time and resources permit. Possible parameters to be examined:
- pH
- temperature
- turbidity
- nitrate concentration
- phosphate concentration
- fecal contamination
- antibiotic contamination
- dissolved oxygen (DO)
- biological oxygen demand (BOD)
Objectives: As a result of this investigation, students will be able to:
- identify multiple measures of water quality;
- collect environmental water samples and assess their composition and quality;
- display and interpret data in tabular and graphical forms;
- apply computational, analytical, and scientific reasoning skills to make comparisons and contrasts concerning water quality;
- propose ways to mitigate human-influenced negative effects on water quality.
Lesson Background:
Teachers may look at the United Nations’ 2006 report titled Livestock’s Long Shadow available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.htm. Chapter IV deals with water pollution due to animal agriculture. Both national and global issues are discussed. The major conclusion of this Report is that livestock production is a leading source of environmental damage including climate change; water and air pollution; land degradation; and loss of biodiversity. The Report suggests that a human diet that is plant-based would prevent much of the environmental damage caused by animal agriculture, including the feedcrop production associated with it.
Click here to see this entire lesson plan.