THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504250113
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONYA WOODS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
When Jessica Carson, a 9-year-old fourth-grader at Stuart Gifted Center, saw what builds up in Norfolk's drainage system, she was outraged.
``It was disgusting,'' she said. ``I saw paper bags, plastic cups and big clumps of dirt. It made me want to throw whoever did it in jail.''
Nearly 135 fourth- and fifth-graders at Stuart learned that when it comes to water pollution, there is no one culprit. They found out simple things like fertilizing your lawn and changing your car's oil can pollute the water if done improperly.
As part of their classroom studies on water pollution, the students got a hands-on lesson from the Norfolk Division of Environmental Storm Water Management.
They took a field trip around Norfolk to watch water pumps discharge and parts of the storm drainage system at City Hall Avenue and to see water runoff testing at one of Norfolk's five testing stations in the parking lot of Military Circle Mall.
``The kids get more involved in what they're studying,'' said Dale Hardt, a fourth-grade teacher. ``This makes them really think about how all this pollution is happening.''
Before the field trip, students were given a water runoff demonstration by Don Lint of the water management division. In the library at Stuart, he poured water on four kinds of surfaces - dirt, grass, asphalt and a sponge, which was a substitute for a wetlands area - to show what happens when it rains.
All eyes were on Lint as he saturated dirt and ketchup-stained asphalt with water. When the water ran down these surfaces, it immediately turned muddy and murky.
That was enough to enrage another fourth-grader, who seemed convinced that pollution can be curbed if people put forth a little effort.
``We could help it, but it would be hard,'' said Lisa Cashwell, 9. ``I try to pick up at least 20 pieces of trash every day.''
Students learned that products their parents may use regularly, such as motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizers and grease, can pollute their water when they are carried into the storm drainage system.
``We're trying to get kids to think of what they can do to help,'' Lint said.
Nancy Gray, of the division, coordinated the field trip. ``Through slides and hands-on demonstrations, we're showing these kids things they can teach others about being pollution preventers,'' she said.
Students received packets of tips to share with their parents, including information about ways to care for your lawn in the spring and tips on using pesticides. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Rusty Hart explains to Stuart Gifted Center students how the sewer
system works.
by CNB