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Wastewater and the Hudson River
One of the most important and pervasive pollutant in the Hudson River is wastewater. The Hudson River receives wastewater directly from sewage treatment plants as well as indirectly from the multitude of septic systems in its watershed. During high flow events, either after a sudden snowmelt or during heavy rain, some water bypasses sewage treatment plants and flows directly into the Hudson and its tributaries. In this section, students will learn about the sewage wastewater that discharges into the Hudson and its effects on the ecosystem.
Lesson 1- Can You Swim in the Hudson?
In this lesson, students will use historical data to learn about the effects of increasing population on wastewater that is discharged into the Hudson River. Population levels have increased in the Hudson Valley since the 1900's. Primary and secondary treatment facilities were constructed throughout this time period and the Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972. These changes affected the wastewater discharged into the Hudson River. Students will be able to see the effects of these treatment facilities and legislation in the data in this lesson, and will decide if they think its Ok to swim in the river.
Lesson 2- Historic Water Pollution
This lesson delves into more data from a long-term data series. In this lesson, students will compare data from the lower and upper portions of the Hudson River to determine if there are any differences between the different parts of the river, and also to examine the long-term trends in water quality.
Lesson 3- Eutrophication & Biomanipulation
Eutrophication is one of the negative effects of sewage discharge into a water body like the Hudson River, specifically in the saltwater portion of the river. The nutrient input from sewage can increase the growth of algae and change the assemblage of zooplankton living in the water. In the first lesson (Eutrophication), students will add fertilizer and observe its effects on algal growth. In the second lesson (Biomanipulation), students will observe the response of algae to various species of zooplankton, and measure the effect of different zooplankton grazing on water transparency. A powerpoint on nutrient cycles in the Hudson is also provided. Additional materials related to nitrogen can be found in the first module.
Lesson 4- The Hudson and Eutrophication
As a river, the Hudson receives large inputs of nutrients from the watershed and wastewater treatment. However, since the river has low water residence time, primary production remains low, and the visible effects of eutrophication are not noticeable. During this lesson, students will use data to explore the changes that have taken place in nutrient loading over time in the Hudson River, and make recommendations about future improvements.
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