Environmental Social Justice Mathematics: Exploring Water Quality in Pittsburgh

CC Survey July 30, 2019

Growth Mindset Survey July 30, 2019

Water Justice Project

PICK A FOCUS with your mentor group

1. DRINKING WATER

a) Where does our rain water go?

Pittsburgh’s Storm Water Challenge

b) Are Pittsburgh pipes treated for corrosion control?

Pittsburgh switches to Orthophospate to control water pipe corrosion

PWSA flushing city hydrants before new lead corrosion control treatment

Pittsburgh Water Crisis Wikipedia

c) Why is there lead in the water?

PWSA Community Lead Response website (start here)

Pittsburgh Water Crisis Wikipedia

From Pittsburgh to Flint, The Dire Consequences of Giving Private Companies Responsibility for Ailing Public Water Systems VIDEO

Professor on Flint Research Team calls Pittsburgh lead levels worrisome Jan 2019 VIDEO

PWSA Heading to Trial March 2019 VIDEO

PWSA Facing 150 Criminal Counts March 2019 VIDEO

Lead Levels Up Again in Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania gets an F for failing to address lead in school drinking water

Pittsburgh households with young kids should receive lead filters

d) Are there total dissolved solids that are good for us?

Why TDS is a poor measure of water quality

The Truths about Total Dissolved Solids

e) What type of (harmful) bacteria might be in the water and how is the water treated for this?

Bacteria and Virus Issues

Bacteria and Other Microorganisms in Household Water NASD

7 Examples of Harmful Bacteria found in Water

Lifestraw

f) What happens to all the plastic bottles we discard?

You eat thousands of bits of plastics every year National Geographic

Microplastics found to permeate the ocean’s deepest points National Geographic

Plastic Water Bottles Causing Flood of Harm in our Environment

A million bottles a minute

A whopping 91% of plastics are not recycled National Geographic

Beer, Drinking Water, and Fish: Plastic is everywhere NPR

g) How does fracking influence our water quality?

Groups call for fracking halt to study health effects

h) What should we do about water conservation?

Calculate your water footprint

2. POOL WATER

New report blows the whistle on water quality in western PA pools WESA

3. FLINT WATER CRISIS (these are mostly videos)

Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts CNN

Flint Water Crisis explained in 3 Minutes Vox

Flint Water Crisis Continues Deadly Crisis 5 Years After It Began Frontline

Flint Michigan residents still fighting for clean water 5 years later Today Show

4. OTHER!