This document outlines the activities and goals for a lesson on wastewater treatment systems. Students will generate a website list and complete a web quest to learn about wastewater treatment. They will view videos about wastewater plant design to understand the various parts of a wastewater system using appropriate vocabulary. The lesson addresses New York state science standards on analysis, inquiry, and design. Students will use an interactive model and presentations to learn about wastewater collection, treatment components, and the treatment process. They will complete a handout to assess their understanding of preliminary treatment, secondary treatment, final treatment, solids processing, BOD5, and TSS.

1. Day 2:
Activity Set-Up:
http://www.sd1.org/projectsandprograms/WastewaterEducation.aspx
generated website list –a web quest –will be done day 2
Aim: How do we describe a waste water system?
Adapted from:
http://www.sd1.org/projectsandprograms/WastewaterEducation.aspx
I.O./SWABT 1. Express knowledge of vocabulary
2. View videos of water water plant design
3. Make or begin to grasp ideas in desing
4. explain various parts of waste water system using appropriate vocab
PROCESS STANDARDS:
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/sciencestand/physset13.html
New York State Learning Standards:
The following are addressed in this lesson.
Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry and Design
Mathematical Analysis
Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as
appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.
Standard 4: Science
Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to
physical setting and physics.
Standard 6: Interconnectedness: Common Themes
Students will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, and
science, and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.

2. Materials:
WHAT IS WASTEWATER?
Wastewater is liquid waste. It is animal, vegetable, mineral or chemical matter in solution or in suspension
that residents and businesses flush down their toilets and pour down their sinks and drains.
Wastewater drains into a network of pipes maintained by sewer serviced municipalities and the Regional
District of Nanaimo. Sewer systems are built to follow the natural slope of land, generally flowing towards the
sea front. This design allows gravity to do most of the work transporting the wastewater to one of four
wastewater treatment plants. For residential areas that are lower than adjacent lands or treatment plants,
the wastewater must pass through a pumping station to pump the liquid into the plants. Treatment of our
wastewater is an essential process that prevents contamination and destruction of our waterways, and our
natural water resources.
HOW IS WASTEWATER TREATED IN THE RDN?
Goto power point then handouts from
http://www.sd1.org/projectsandprograms/WastewaterEducation.aspx
Procedure:
Wastewater Presentations
Give your students the opportunity to learn about the components of a wastewater collection and
treatment system by using an interactive Enviroscape model. The wastewater Enviroscape
model is a hands-on learning tool that demonstrates what happens to water after we use it (how
sewage/wastewater is treated). Teachers may choose from one of two options:
1) You may borrow the model and teach the lesson. All the supplies you need to teach the
lesson will be included with the model, along with a User’s Guide. The User’s Guide
provides step-by-step instructions for set-up, teaching the lesson and clean-up. You must
return the model, guide and supplies to SD1 within one week of check out.
2) You may schedule a representative from SD1 to teach the lesson using the Enviroscape
model.

3. a 10-minute video on the wastewater treatment facilitate Q & A and provide other wastewater
education resources by request.
1. 4:01
Wally's Wastewater Treatment Plant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2FmNrEmowE
2. 10:01
Water Resource Recovery Facility 3D Virtual Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRaptzcp9G4
3. 26:01
Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour - "Flush To Finish"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Uu8CpOn-0
4. 4:23
Design of waste water treatment plant animation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Uu8CpOn-0

4. **The wastewater Enviroscape model is also designed to teach students about the process of
treating drinking water and the use of biosolids. You may teach this portion of the lesson by
following the instructions in the User Guide. However, SD1 only offers to teach the wastewater
portion of the lesson.
Students will hand in the below handout
assessment:
Name:____________________________________ Date:____________________
Preliminary treatment –
Secondary treatment -
Final treatment –
Solids processing -

5. BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand
TSS (Total Suspended Solids)