HALE KULA BUILD A STORM WATER BMP PROJECT

Week 1:
Tuesday, March 29: Water pollution 101

Importance of water
o Life depends on water
o Limited water supply
o Waters age?
Re-introduction of water cycle
o Evaporation:
Transpiration
Experiment 1A: Measuring plants
evapotranspiration
o Tie plastic zip lock frozen big bags around
leaves of different trees
o Arrange bag so water can collect and wont
spill
o Wait one hour
o Measure water collected in bags
o Analyze data
o Conclusion
o Condensation: What are clouds made of?
Water from liquid to gas and then back to liquid again
Experiment 1B: Cold glass of water in hot sun
Cloud droplets or cloud seeds cloud droplets
become rain drops when reach size of .5mm in
diameter
If rain drop reaches 4mm most likely will split into
two rain drops
o Precipitation:
Rain, snow or hail that falls from clouds onto roof tops,
roadways, sidewalks, and onto the ground.
o Water as a solid, liquid or gas.
o Ground Water:
o Water that seeps through tiny cracks in the ground to aquifers,
and supplies streams.
Experiment 1C: Pitcher of rocks, dirt and grass.
Place gravel, dirt and grass in large pitcher holes in
the bottom.
Put pitcher in sink, pot, bucket or tote
Pour water into pitcher to demonstrate percolation
Introduce groundwater recharge to lakes and streams and water bodies
retention time concepts

Week 2:
Monday, April 4th: Water pollution 101

Where did the water come from? How did earth get water?
o Volcanic eruptions produce water vapor, and then condensation and
precipitation occurs.
History of water pollution laws
Water pollution facts
o Research assignment 1: Research, read and summarize a local or
national news article about water pollution or an instance of water
pollution (local example: molasses spill Honolulu Harbor)

Types
o
o
o
o
o
o

Watch Storm Water Video- Storm Water Pollution Prevention Basics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XT0VwmPo_U

Effects that these pollutants have on the environment

o Sediment: Turbidity and coral reefs, sediment deposition in hatcheries
o Chemicals: Fertilizers and algal bloom, Paint (Inn on Park photo), Soaps
o Green Waste: Biological dead zones
o Metals: Increase acidity of ocean, harmful for fish
o Oil and grease: Effects on wildlife
o Sewage: Unsafe levels of bacteria
o Trash: Great Pacific Garbage Patch

of water pollution
Sediment
Chemicals
Green Waste
Metals
Oil and grease
Sewage
Cesspools and Septic Tanks
Wastewater spills: pipe infiltration experiment
Attach balloon to faucet
Put rubber band around faucet to help balloon stay
in place
Fill rubber balloon until it explodes or water squirts
out faucet
o Trash and litter
o Nuclear waste Japan Tsunami

Tuesday April 5: Problems Caused By Water Pollution

Watch Plastic Paradise

o Documentary on the Pacific Garbage Patch
o Discussion

Thursday, April 7th:

Watch PBS documentary on Water Quality: Explore More: Water Quality

(29:11 min)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMyCcWECbNE)
Work on Article Research assignment 1 (add online component)

Week 3
Monday, April 11: Storm Water Best Management Practices

Types of BMPs
Operational BMPs
o Sweep paved areas rather than hosing down
o Store liquid materials indoors
o Wash car on grass
Temporary BMPs
o Filter Fabric, Fiber Roles
o Experiment: Filter fabric
Place filter fabric over large bucket and pour
sediment laden water into bucket.
Demonstrate how sediment is removed by filter.
Structural BMPs
o Low Impact Development: Introduce concept
o Visit Hale Rain Garden
o Permanent BMPs
o Storm Ceptors
o Experiment: Foam floatables in bucket
Swirl water in bucket creating vortex
Dump foam floatables in bucket
Demonstrate how trash flows to center
Watch Video: Innovative Storm Water Management at the Neighborhood
Scale
o https://youtu.be/emQ8p6LGByU

Tuesday, April 12: Storm Water BMP Research

Divide class into three groups

Each group will research different BMPs
o Operational Storm Water Best Management Practice
Dry sweeping parking lot
Material storage (Indoors)
Spill clean up
Stream clean up
Vehicle washing
o Permanent BMPs
Detention basin
Low impact development
Bio-swales

Rain garden
Hydrodynamic Separators
o Temporary BMPs
Fiber rolls
Filter fabric or witches hats
Silt Fence
Dust Screen
Inlet skim box
In your research, answer these questions?
o What is the type of your BMP?
Operational, Permanent, Temporary
What is the name of your BMP or action?
o Ex. Rain garden, fiber roll, detention basin
What is the purpose of your BMP?
What type of pollutants is your BMP made for?
Where do you think this BMP would be used?
Prepare a drawing of your BMP

Thursday, April 14: Groups present BMP posters

Groups present BMP research posters

Storm water BMP walk around school
o Visit storm water BMPs or areas where a BMP could be used.

Week 4
Monday, April 18: Introduce BMP contest

Present project rules and guidelines

Present materials
Discussion of materials
Open brainstorming/sketches

Tuesday, April 19

Divide class into groups

Begin BMP construction

Thursday, April 21

BMP construction

Week 5
Monday, April 25

BMP construction or other related topic (cross word puzzles

available at EPA website, EPA film After the Storm)

Tuesday, April 26

BMP construction or other related topic (cross word puzzles

available at EPA website, EPA film After the Storm)

Thursday, April 28
Week 6
May 2 : Present BMP

Present and describe materials used in BMP

Hypothesis

May 3: Experiment Testing

May 5:
o
o
o
o

Judging Criterion
o Amount of water passed in X time
o Cleanliness of water, effectiveness of pollutant removal

Data Analysis/Conclusions/Reflections
Analyze results of experiment
Successes
Failures
Conclusions

Week 7
May 9th - Present Research Articles and Summaries
May 10th - Present Research Articles and Summaries

May 12th Announce BMP contest winner and Pizza Party!