Educational Resources

The Egyptians were the first people to record methods for treating water dating back more than 1,500 years to 400 A.D. Records indicate that the most common ways of cleaning water were by boiling it over a fire, heating it in the sun, or by dipping a heated piece of iron into it. Filtering boiling water through sand and gravel and then allowing it to cool was another common treatment method.

70% of Earth’s surface is covered with water.

Of all the water on Earth, 97% is salt water. It contains salt and other minerals and is not drinkable by humans. Although the salt can be removed, the process is difficult and expensive.

Another 2% is frozen in glaciers at the North and South Poles. This ice is fresh water and could be melted, but it is too far from where people live to be usable.

Less than 1% of all the water on Earth is fresh, consumable, and available for use. We rely on this small amount for drinking, transportation, heating and cooling, industry, and many other purposes.

Everything around us is made of atoms. Atoms are tiny building blocks that make up elements such as oxygen and hydrogen. When atoms join together, they form molecules.

A water molecule is made of three atoms: two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. That combination gives water its chemical formula, H₂O. Even a single drop of water contains billions of these tiny water molecules.

Water can exist in three states: solid, liquid, or gas.

Solid water: Water freezes at 0°C (32°F) and becomes ice. When water freezes, its molecules spread farther apart, making ice less dense than liquid water. That is why ice floats.

Liquid water: Liquid water flows and takes the shape of its container. This is the form of water we use for drinking, washing, cooking, and many other everyday activities.

Water as a gas: Water can also exist as water vapor, an invisible gas that is always present in the air. When water boils, it changes from a liquid into water vapor. At sea level, water boils at 100°C (212°F).

When water vapor cools, it can condense into tiny drops of liquid water. The white cloud you see above boiling water is made of these tiny droplets. Clouds form in a similar way when water vapor condenses around tiny particles in the air. As water droplets or ice crystals in clouds grow larger, they can fall as rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation.

The water cycle, also called the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. Water evaporates into the air, cools and condenses to form clouds, then falls back to Earth as precipitation. This cycle repeats continuously as water moves and changes between solid, liquid, and gas.

When precipitation reaches the ground, some of it becomes runoff that flows into streams, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Some water also soaks into the soil and moves deeper underground, helping replenish groundwater and aquifers.

Some areas receive more precipitation than others. Location, nearby bodies of water, mountains, and weather patterns all affect how much precipitation an area receives. As moist air rises over mountains, it cools, causing water vapor to condense and form clouds and precipitation. At colder temperatures, that precipitation may fall as snow.

Water treatment is the process of cleaning water so it is safe to drink. As water moves through the environment, it can pick up dirt, minerals, microorganisms, and other substances. Because of this, water found in nature is not always safe for people to drink.

Scientists first observed microorganisms in water using microscopes in the 1600s. By the early 1900s, communities began using chlorine to disinfect public drinking water supplies. Belgium began using chlorine for public water treatment in 1902.

Today, drinking water utilities use several treatment steps to remove contaminants and make water safe to drink. One important step is disinfection, which may use chlorine or other methods to kill or inactivate harmful microorganisms.

Watch our Water Treatment Plant Tour to see the entire treatment process for yourself.

A water meter measures how much water enters your home or business. Depending on the property, the meter may be located inside or outside. The water utility uses meter readings to determine how much water you use and how much you are billed.

Your water bill helps cover the cost of treating water, delivering it through the water system, maintaining infrastructure, and paying the employees who keep the system running. In some cases, utilities may also need to purchase water from another provider.

Water is still one of the most affordable household utilities. The average price of tap water in the United States is about $1.50 for 1,000 gallons. Compare that with the cost of a single bottle of water.

Description

This hands-on, interactive model shows how water and pollution moves through the watershed. Using colored “pollutants,” children can watch as the water moves down into the source water from other areas. The EnviroScape is great for any age. For younger children, the definitions of watershed and pollution can be introduced, while best management practices (BMPs) will be added for older children to show ways we keep the watershed clean.

Recommended Subject or Game Pairing

• Watershed Management
• What Makes a Healthy Watershed

School Standards Met

• 2-ESS1-1
• 3-LS4-4
• 3-ESS3-1
• 5-ESS2-1
• 5-ESS3-1

Requirements

• Suitable for ages 6+
• Indoor or outdoor use
• Sturdy table
• Water source

Description

In this activity, a small pool will have aquatic life and trash. Kids will learn how trash is harmful to the water. Then they get to use fishing nets to help clean up our watershed by removing the trash.

Recommended Subject or Game Pairing

• Watershed Management
• EnviroScape
• What Makes a Healthy Watershed

School Standards Met

• K-ESS3-3
• 3-LS4-4
• 4-ESS3-2
• 5-ESS3-1

Requirements

• Suitable for ages 5-8
• Outdoor use only
• Water source (hose preferrable)

Description

Come learn about the watershed, and which items are healthy or unhealthy for the watershed. Educators will talk the kids through on if each category is good or bad, using descriptive language. Most kids will be surprised by what is actually considered healthy for the watershed.

School Standards Met

• K-ESS2-2

Requirements

• Suitable for all ages in small groups (2-4 kids)
• Indoor or outdoor use
• Sturdy table or level ground

Description

A great game for future engineers, this activity challenges players to use a variety of pipes and connections to direct water from a water storage tank to Greenville’s homes and businesses. The pipes need to be constructed well, or else we’ll have a main break!

School Standards Met

• 3-PS2-1
• 3-PS2-2

Requirements

• Suitable for ages 6+
• Limited indoor or outdoor use
• Sturdy table
• Water source

Description

The memory challenge is suitable for all ages, whether you want to play on your own or play with or against a friend. This game is perfect for indoor and outdoor use and builds camaraderie in the spirit of competition. A great way to learn about Greenville Water and what we do and strengthen young minds.

School Standards Met

• K-ESS3-3

Requirements

• Suitable for ages 6+
• Indoor or outdoor use
• Sturdy table