Urban Stew
Teaching our children about urban storm water pollution
June 1, 2005
LeRoy W. Hooton, Jr.
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Each year hundreds of Salt Lake County students learn how to protect the quality of our water resources. Petersen a 23 year veteran, uses an array of props to demonstrate how stormwater carried contaminates pollute water and adversely effect the environment that supports aquatic life.
Using various props, a black board and a 2-liter beaker Petersen demonstrates how urban run-off water tainted with motor oil, chemicals and construction waste finds its way into the storm drain system and ultimately into our nation’s water resources. The educational program is part of Salt Lake City’s UNPDES permit program to prevent stormwater pollution required by the 1972 Clean Water Act.
Drawing a picture of a typical street curb & gutter and storm water inlet, Petersen connects the drain by a pipe to the receiving body of water. In that body of water are happy and healthy fish with broad smiles on their faces.
This is where the 2-liter beaker of clear water comes into play. Petersen notes that the water is clear and un-polluted – then bad things start to happen. Taking a “hot wheels” model car he describes how a teenager decides to drain the motor oil from his car into the storm drain inlet grate. Into the beaker goes the oil (really maple syrup). Then household chemicals and urban trash are added. And finally simulating construction waste a toy front end loader dumps a bucket full of dirt into the beaker. The water contained in the beaker is now visibly polluted by the addition of all of these contaminates. The urban stew is now completed. Then it rains and the urban stew is discharged into the water containing the once happy and healthy fish with devastating consequences.
A student is chosen to help Petersen conclude the demonstration. Dressed in protective goggles, Tyvek suit and yellow rubber booties, the student goes to the blackboard and redraws the picture of once happy and healthy fish. Now there are frowns on some of the fish faces, and others are now belly-up in the urban stew. The point is made.
Petersen’s graphic presentation allows the students to understand the consequences of urban water pollution and its effect on the environment. “Teaching our children to be environment stewards is an important step towards protecting our water resources,” said Petersen. “Hopefully what the students learn today in class will lead to cleaner water tomorrow.”