Cleaning waste water
A visit to e.g. Lundtofte Cleaning plant is concluded at the Nature school, where the waste water is analyzed and the processes are elaborated on.
Period: Mainly November to April
Grades: 7.-9.
Subject: Biology and physics/chemistry – and cross-curricular natural sciences
To show students how we as people use and influence the circulation of the water. To show students what waste water contains, how it can be a problem and how the problems can be rectified. To give students a different view on the nutrient-debate. To give students the possibility of making their own chemical analysis of the waste water.
Scenario of the trip: We will start with a tour of Lundtofte Cleaning plant. We will be given samples of the inlet and outlet water At the Nature School we will discuss the processes at the cleaning plant once more and after that, the inlet and outlet water will be analyzed in the lab. To have a point of comparison, we will also analyze tap water, water from Raadvad pond and water with fertilizer. The following analyses will usually be made: Nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, oxygen and pH. Safety is a major issue during the work with the water from the cleaning plant. Students will note their expectations before the experiments and finally, we review and put things into perspective referencing the student’s expectations and the official standards of discharge. Students should be familiar with the water cycle and the concept of nutrients before the trip.
Course-suggestion: The trip fits well into a course on nature’s cycle, or water as a resource, in biology or physics/chemistry. Could also be used as a follow-up on a course on freshwater ecology in biology, and elements and chemical combinations in physics/chemistry.
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Concentrated work on the analyses – does the plant observe the standards of discharge?
We can, among other things, examine bacteria in cleaned waste water. |
