Wellmont Pollution Investigation
Welcome to beautiful Wellmont. You are a hydrogeologist with an important task ahead of you. You will use your knowledge of geology, water processes, topography, wells and chemistry to investigate a potentially serious situation that has developed in the majestic Wellmont Region.
The Situation:
The Wellmont Area Water Authority (WAWA) operates two production wells in the Lower Wellmont region providing the town's water supply. During a routine water analysis, an alarming level of Benzene was detected in the North well. There are several suspect industries in the region that may be responsible for the contaminant.
Your Task:
You must work quickly to find the culprit before the town's only water supply becomes undrinkable. You and your investigative team must then present your findings in a court of law and prove who is doing the polluting.
The Players:
You may be hired by one of five interests:
Welcome to beautiful Wellmont. You are a hydrogeologist with an important task ahead of you. You will use your knowledge of geology, water processes, topography, wells and chemistry to investigate a potentially serious situation that has developed in the majestic Wellmont Region.
The Situation:
The Wellmont Area Water Authority (WAWA) operates two production wells in the Lower Wellmont region providing the town's water supply. During a routine water analysis, an alarming level of Benzene was detected in the North well. There are several suspect industries in the region that may be responsible for the contaminant.
Your Task:
You must work quickly to find the culprit before the town's only water supply becomes undrinkable. You and your investigative team must then present your findings in a court of law and prove who is doing the polluting.
The Players:
You may be hired by one of five interests:
- Wellmont Area Water Authority (WAWA).
- Gas Unlimited: Shale gas extraction company.
- Kem Kleen: The Valley's local chemical company
- American Pig Farmers (APF), or
- EXCON: A refueling stop near Interstate 402.
The Evidence:
Your investigative team has been given several pieces of information to get you started.
1. Topographic Map of the Wellmont: Shows surface features and points of interest.
2. Suspect Industries: Table listing industries and their locations.
3. Test Well Results: Table listing the surrounding test wells, their locations, and the lab results of water samples recently taken.
4. $20,000 budgeted for test well drilling: It costs $10,000 per test well. You therefore have the opportunity to drill two test wells in strategic locations. These will be numbered 9 and 10. The water samples provided by these wells may clinch the case for your team.
5. Web Resources: The following web sites will provide crucial information for your investigative team.
The Groundwater Foundation
EPA List of Contaminants
ESchoolToday - Water Pollution
Community Center - Groundwater Pollution
Ultimately, it will be your knowledge and investigative skills that will prove most valuable. A timely appearance by a specialist may also help your investigation along.
The Investigation:
Before you begin your investigation, your team will need to decide which jobs you will each have.
Read through the Jobs & Responsibilities document, then work as a team to appoint jobs.
The Team Manager will then fill out team names and job titles on the Task Completion Timeline table.
*Each group member will be responsible for:
1. Share the following secret documents between your Investigative Team Members, and Morgan and Kelly:
Job Assignments
Suspect Industries
Test Well Results
Key Investigative Questions
2. Using your Wellmont map: Determine the elevations for Test Wells 1 through 8, and Production Wells I and II. Enter the elevations on your Test Well Results table. (Work together to find and compare elevations)
3. Determine the elevations for each suspect industry A through L. Enter the elevations on your Suspect Industry table . (Work together to find and compare elevations)
4. Answer these Key Investigative Questions to help your team understand more about pollution, groundwater flow, and topographic maps. (Each member is responsible for answering 2 questions)
5. Investigate the potential pollution threats to source water from each suspect industry by completing the Threats to Source Water columns on the Suspect Industry list. (Each member is responsible for at least 2 Industries)
*Note: You must have steps 1-5 completed and checked before moving onto step 5.
6. On your Wellmont Region Map, sketch arrows to show the likely direction of surface and groundwater flow away from each suspect industry A-L. (Use pencil to start with. Darken lines only after sketches have been approved)
7. Using the pollution levels given for each test well, sketch contour lines on your Wellmont Map to show where the low, medium, and high benzene contamination area "plume" is likely located. (Use pencil to start with. Darken lines only after sketches have been approved)
8. Based on all your information, determine which suspects you can eliminate as the polluters, and which suspects should be further investigated.
*Note: You must have steps 6-8 completed and checked before moving onto step 8.
9. Determine the drill sites for two more test wells. Careful placement could help solve the case. Send the location of test wells, and "water samples" to Kelly's Water Analysis Labs. Await the test results!
10. Complete your investigation. Determine who the culprit is. (*If you work for the culprit, think about how you can cast doubt on your guilt!)
11. Compile your evidence. Prepare to present your evidence in court by following the Wellmont Presentation Organizer.
Good Luck!
Before you begin your investigation, your team will need to decide which jobs you will each have.
Read through the Jobs & Responsibilities document, then work as a team to appoint jobs.
The Team Manager will then fill out team names and job titles on the Task Completion Timeline table.
*Each group member will be responsible for:
- 1 to 2 jobs and responsibilities
- Helping to determine elevations of wells and suspect locations
- Answering 2 Key Questions, and researching 2 suspects.
- Making and presenting 1-2 Keynote slides
- Completion and quality of their individual work.
- Ability to work cooperatively within group
- Ability to stay on task
- Presentation skills
1. Share the following secret documents between your Investigative Team Members, and Morgan and Kelly:
Job Assignments
Suspect Industries
Test Well Results
Key Investigative Questions
2. Using your Wellmont map: Determine the elevations for Test Wells 1 through 8, and Production Wells I and II. Enter the elevations on your Test Well Results table. (Work together to find and compare elevations)
3. Determine the elevations for each suspect industry A through L. Enter the elevations on your Suspect Industry table . (Work together to find and compare elevations)
4. Answer these Key Investigative Questions to help your team understand more about pollution, groundwater flow, and topographic maps. (Each member is responsible for answering 2 questions)
5. Investigate the potential pollution threats to source water from each suspect industry by completing the Threats to Source Water columns on the Suspect Industry list. (Each member is responsible for at least 2 Industries)
*Note: You must have steps 1-5 completed and checked before moving onto step 5.
6. On your Wellmont Region Map, sketch arrows to show the likely direction of surface and groundwater flow away from each suspect industry A-L. (Use pencil to start with. Darken lines only after sketches have been approved)
7. Using the pollution levels given for each test well, sketch contour lines on your Wellmont Map to show where the low, medium, and high benzene contamination area "plume" is likely located. (Use pencil to start with. Darken lines only after sketches have been approved)
8. Based on all your information, determine which suspects you can eliminate as the polluters, and which suspects should be further investigated.
*Note: You must have steps 6-8 completed and checked before moving onto step 8.
9. Determine the drill sites for two more test wells. Careful placement could help solve the case. Send the location of test wells, and "water samples" to Kelly's Water Analysis Labs. Await the test results!
10. Complete your investigation. Determine who the culprit is. (*If you work for the culprit, think about how you can cast doubt on your guilt!)
11. Compile your evidence. Prepare to present your evidence in court by following the Wellmont Presentation Organizer.
Good Luck!