Attention Elementary Educators: The Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival is going virtual this year and is free to attend! Download the WWCGF 2021 Virtual poster for more information. Register your attendance on the WWCGF website to receive login details and links to teaching resources and recorded sessions.
The Be Good To Your Water program provides resources to support water education in the classroom.
| Learn at home |
|
When you turn on the tap have you ever wondered where your water comes from? And what happens after you flush the toilet? Test your knowledge with this online quiz.
- In Waterloo Region, there are two sources for drinking water - the Grand River and groundwater wells.
- About 20 to 25 per cent of Waterloo Region's drinking water is from the Grand River. Water from the Grand River goes through a multi-step treatment process at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant. Before entering the distribution system, the treated water from the Grand River is mixed with groundwater from nearby wells.
- About 75 to 80 per cent of Waterloo Region's drinking water is groundwater. Municipal wells throughout Waterloo Region extract the groundwater. To build a well, a pipe is placed in a drilled hole. A pump at the bottom of the well helps to push the groundwater to the top of the well. Groundwater requires less treatment than surface water, but it is sometimes filtered to remove iron and manganese, minerals found naturally in aquifers.
- The blend of surface water and groundwater varies within Waterloo Region based on operational factors such as well maintenance, so percentages are approximate.
- To keep the water safe while travelling through the distribution system to your tap, a minimum level of residual chlorine or chloramine must be maintained.
- As the water travels through the underground pipes that are part of the distribution system, it might first stop at a water tower before arriving at your home. Water towers help to regulate water pressure required to move the water throughout the distribution system.
- When the water arrives at your home it is ready for you to drink, cook and wash with, and so much more. On average, each of us uses about 152 litres of water every day.
- Wastewater is any water that leaves your home through a drain such as a toilet, sink, bathtub, dishwasher or washing machine. Underground pipes take the water from your home to one of the 13 wastewater treatment plants. At the wastewater treatment plant the solids and liquids are separated and treated before returning to the environment.
- The treated water is clean enough to be returned to the Grand River. The solids removed during the wastewater treatment process are further treated into a product called biosolids. Biosolids help to fertilize farmers' fields, naturalize old tailing ponds at mines or are landfilled.
(Click on the above image to view infographic as PDF file)
| Colouring sheets, stories, songs and fun activities |
|
Activity sheets
Songs and story time videos
|
| Learn about your municipal water and wastewater systems |
|
|
| Learn about groundwater aquifers and wells |
|
|
| Learn about the water cycle and watersheds |
|
* the Grand River watershed is managed by the Grand River Conservation Authority
|
| Actions you can take to help conserve and protect water |
|
* Stormwater management is the responsibility of the cities and townships.
|
|
| Additional resources for educators |
|
Municipal water and wastewater systems:
Groundwater wells:
Water cycle, watersheds and stormwater:
Lesson plans and websites:
|
| Involve your school |
|
Students can:
- complete a science fair project on water
- use a reusable water bottle
- think of ways to not waste water
- share information with family and friends
Ask the school staff to:
|
| Book a free in-class presentation (currently unavailable due to COVID-19) |
- for grades 1 to 8
- includes teacher's resource kit
- 30- to 60-minute custom-tailored presentations
- topics can include:
- journey of water to our taps
- where water goes after you flush
- water conservation tips
- groundwater protection
Complete this request form to book an in-class presentation.
|
| Plan a field trip (currently unavailable due to COVID-19) |
|
Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival
Region of Waterloo Mannheim Water Treatment Plant tour
- for secondary and post secondary students and adults only
- technical presentation and tour
- tours by registration only based on staff availability
- to book a tour email Water Services or call 519-575-4400 (Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY): 519-575-4608)
|
| Careers in water |
| Managing water resources and providing clean drinking water to our homes involves a team of dedicated professionals. The water industry offers many challenging and rewarding careers. The American Water Works Association provides more information on working with water. |
