| INVESTIGATION PANELS
The following investigation panels are designed to examine the
wastewater-treatment process or processes utilized in your community.
Make one copy of the appropriate investigation panel for each
student in your class. Students may want to ask their parents
to assist them with some of the questions.
COMMUNITY SYSTEMS
If the wastewater from your home flows to a wastewater-treatment facility,
complete the following:
- Where is the wastewater-treatment facility?
- Discover some facts about your treatment system.
- What stages and process or processes of treatment does wastewater go through?
| Stages: | primary_______________ | secondary_____________ | advanced____________ |
| Processess: | activated sludge________ | trickling filter__________ | |
| | lagoon________________ | other_________________ | |
- What is the treatment capacity of the wastewater-treatment facility that serves your house?
_____million liters per day.
- How is the sludge disposed?
| burned________ | landfill_________ |
| used as fertilizer________ | other___________ |
- Where does the treated effluent go after it is piped from the facility?
| river or stream__________ | lake_________ |
| ocean_________________ | other________ |
| reused_________________ | |
Adapted from Virginia Water Resource Center "Be Water-Wise."
SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS
If the wastewater from your home is piped to a septic tank system, complete the following:
- Draw a map of your home and yard on the back of this worksheet
or on a separate sheet of paper and mark the location of the septic
tank and leach field.
- How many liters of sewage and wastewater does your septic tank hold? ________liters
- Has the septic tank ever worked improperly? No_____ Yes_____
What was the problem?
- When was the last time your septic tank was pumped?
- Where was the pumped waste disposed?
| landfill________ | treatment facility_________ |
| lagoon________ | other___________________ |
Adapted from Virginia Water Resource Center "Be Water- Wise."
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