Despite its vital importance to human communities and native wildlife, many people take access to clean water for granted.
“One of our goals is to have the schools in our area involved in a lot of the things we’re doing,” said Hayley Wise, the conservation institute’s watershed educator.
“Clean water isn’t just a concern for the scientific community.
Through these activities and discussions with conservation scientists, the students discovered the many ways the Conservation Institute monitors the health of our water sources.
They learned how traces of improperly disposed prescription medications can linger in waterways and the many dangers posed by microplastics — plastic particulate which serve as magnets for water-born pollutants and which can work their way into all levels of the food chain.
“It’s really important for the kids to see that scientists are out there working on conservation issues and to show them what we’re doing.” This visit is the latest in an months-long mentorship between the CGLA students and Tennessee American Water.
“We meet [with the students] once a month and expose the girls to various experiences to have them think about career choices,” Ms. Armstrong said.
“We try to make it as interactive as possible and are glad to give them this unique venue to learn about the connection between the natural water source to the finished drinking water in their homes.” How You Can Help · Skip the straw — Plastic is the most prevalent type of debris in aquatic environments, and single-use plastics, such as drinking straws, are a major source of this pollution.
Over time, these items break down but don’t fully biodegrade, creating fragments (microplastics) that can be consumed by animals, impacting their ability to feed as well as contaminating the seafood people enjoy.
·Fertilize with Care — With the arrival of fall, many homeowners are engaged in seasonal planting, but using too much fertilizer can affect plants’ ability to absorb water and can contaminate nearby streams when the excess is carried away by stormwater run-off.