Teachers test water quality in 12 rivers
A total of 344 teachers from 249 schools across the island recently participated in field trips to selected rivers to carry out water quality tests.
The initiative was part of 12 one-day teacher training workshops conducted by the Schools’ Environment Programme (SEP). SEP is a hands-on environmental education programme implemented jointly by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), Jamaica 4H Clubs and 14 environmental agencies.
Under the theme, “Watersheds and Rivers of Jamaica”, the teachers examined the importance of watersheds and rivers, human impacts on these systems and the importance of fostering positive attitudes and actions towards natural resources. Teachers also identified opportunities for infusing the content of the workshops into the various school curricula and syllabuses. Finally, teachers visited local rivers and tested the water using a simple water quality monitoring kit.
Teachers worked in groups at each sample site, and data was collected from different locations at each river. Eight water quality parameters were tested: Nitrates, phosphates, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity, temperature, and faecal coliform. Most of the rivers fell within the normal range of the parameters, and the teachers discovered that a small tributary to the Wag Water river located at Holywell had the best water quality.
Said science teacher at Brown’s Town High school of the project: “I was refreshed and newly inspired especially by the water testing experiments we did at Little River by Cranbrook Flower Forest.”
She was concerned about the level of water pollution.
“I was surprised to discover less than three per cent fresh water is available on earth and less than one per cent for consumption. We are in trouble if action is not taken to protect fresh water supplies,” she added.
Meanwhile fourth grade teacher at the Port Maria primary school, Laurice Champagnie said she will “infuse the knowledge gained” in her curriculum.
“The information received on the pollution of our rivers and the actual testing of the water has given me a first-hand experience of what the real problems are,” she noted.
SEP is implemented in 350 primary, preparatory, all-age, secondary and high schools across the country.