Looking at Water and Waste

A group of 9th graders tested tap water on campus using a lab provided by a representative from Friends of the River.

Freshmen in the Water and Waste Civic Lab spend the year immersed in a variety of activities to learn about the sources of Chicago’s water and the consequences of usage. Through their work in class and interactions with outside experts, students learn about the intake crib in Lake Michigan, the myriad filters water passes through and the Jardine Water Purification Plant by Navy Pier. Students discover after they use the water, it goes to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District before it is released into the Chicago River. 

Recently, Mark Hauser from Friends of the Chicago River visited Parker to provide a detailed history of the river and lead students in a lab. Students separated into small groups and received kits containing lab instructions and scientific probes for water measurement. Using samples from Parker’s taps, students tested the levels of oxygen, nitrates, turbidity and pH of the water on campus. Hauser collected students’ data and added it to the global database available at the EarthEcho Water Challenge so their work could help inform future actions to protect local waterways.

As the weather gets warmer, students will run similar tests on the Chicago River, and the results will help them “grade” the water. They’ll discuss the grade’s meaning to us as humans as well as to the animals that use the water.

There is no time like the present to learn how to protect the future of our shared resources. Parker thanks Hauser for sharing his time and expertise with students.

Take a look at the learning in action here.