Contributed by: Deb Krygeris, Whittier sixth grade teacher
Thursday, October 20, 2016 was a busy afternoon at Barth Pond, located on 55th Street in Patriots Park. While park district employees laid more stone around the perimeter of the pond, Whittier’s sixth graders skirted the workers to conduct 7 different water quality tests on samples of the pond’s water from both the north and south ends.
The students spent the last 2 weeks learning about the water cycle, including watersheds and aquifers, as well as the 4 major types of water pollution: toxic, sediment, nutrient, and bacterial.
During their October 3-5 outdoor education trip to Camp Edward in East Troy, Wisconsin, the students discovered the important filtration role of marshes and also witnessed first hand the natural process of succession, as much of Lake Beulah at Camp Edwards is becoming marsh, while increased growth of shrubs and Tamarack trees in the marsh is an indication of its slow process towards becoming a coniferous forest.
After returning from camp, the students discussed the need for more wetland areas in Downers Grove as a possible solution to the flooding and runoff problems the village has experienced, as well as why Barth Pond needed extensive dredging last year.
Thursday’s water quality testing opportunity was an important hands-on experience to culminate this unit and demonstrate why all homeowners and businesses must be alert to potential pollution of our watersheds. The students tested the water’s temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, coliform bacteria presence, nitrate and phosphate concentrations, as well as turbidity.
The students will provide a summary of the test results to the Downers Grove Park District.