Where does the Water I Drink come from?
In most parts of the world, drinking water comes from subsurface (below ground) groundwaters stored in aquifers. Aquifers consist of porous rock or sediment, where the water is stored in the tiny pores in between sand grains. The following resources define different groundwater terms as well as discuss how we can keep our groundwater resources clean.
Resources
Grades 4-12
- City of Kalamazoo: Protect your water
- CoreKids: Hydrogeology concepts and exercise (slideshow)
- CoreKids: Hydrogeology concepts and exercise (slideshow notes)
- CoreKids: Water well stratigraphic chart (worksheet)
- Kalamazoo County Government: Safe drinking water partners of southwest Michigan
- Kalamazoo River Watershed Council: What’s a watershed?, natural places, what are the problems?, plans
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality: Lead and copper in drinking water, sampling guidance for schools and daycares on community water, DEQ drinking water laboratory, wellhead protection
- Western Michigan University: Hydrogeology major, Certificate program in Applied Hydrogeology, Hydrogeology Field Course