Goodrich- Middle school students got some hands-on experience learning about the water’s dirty little secret last week.
‘Water is dirty. There’s not a lot of clean water out there,? says student Sarah Crosby, 14. Crosby is decked out in waders, sitting on the shore of Thread Creek and holding a test-tube full of a murky liquid, as she and her classmates learn about water purification.
The experiment is part of Project Green.
Middle school science teacher Cindy Rivet explains Project Green is an initiative done through the Genesee Intermediate School District, allowing students to test watersheds of the Flint River and giving them a real world education.
‘Basically what we’re testing is the water quality of the Flint River watershed,? says Rivet. ‘Once the kids take and compile all the tests we’re having them do, 10 students from our group will be taking their findings to a Project Green summit on May 12.?
Eighth grade science teacher Craig Salter says students are testing for things such as how much oxygen is being used by organisms in the water, turbidity (the amount of solids in the water), nitrogen levels and P.H. levels.
Pier Bollini, a representative of Delphi Corporation, is on site to help facilitate the event.
‘Basically, what we try to do is support Project Green and people that are supporting environmental issues,? says Bollini. ‘Sometimes assistance is needed,? with the experiment, Bollini adds.
Overall, says Bollini, the students are impressive in their work.
‘It’s fantastic. The kids have all been really enthusiastic. They’ve been putting a lot of practice in,? says Bollini.
Brittany Verran, 13, says the field trip has been a learning experience for her.
‘I learned that there’s a lot of pollution in water and there’s also a lot of things you can do to prevent pollution in your area,? says Verran.
It’s exactly the kind of reaction Rivet was hoping for from students.
‘It’s really kind of good that all kids learn about water quality,? says Rivet. ‘They learn a lot about how their actions will effect water, water quality… we talk about all different kinds of pollutions.?
Students also learn what they can do to reverse some of the damage.
Selene Hernandez, 14, says she learned about the process of cleaning damaged water. Other students fished pollutants from the water, including a tire and a construction barrel.
‘Minute as we think it is, we all effect the quality of our water,? says Rivet. ‘Human actions are effecting the quality of our water and it’s so important. Our fresh water is so fragile and it’s such a limited resource that we have to protect it.?