150 words or more

D3

Water is a seemingly abundant resource on the planet, but that perception would be incorrect. Although 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% of that is potable — fresh water that people can drink and water crops with. The rest is unusable with about 97% of it in the oceans, which are too salty for these purposes.

The average American uses about 100 gallons of water per day, depending on how you calculate water usage. The majority of that water is used in the bathroom for bathing and flushing toilets. In addition to the water used in homes, water used by businesses, industries, and storm runoff needs to be treated before it is released back into the environment. While nature can clean small amounts of wastewater, the billions of gallons of wastewater generated daily requires treatment plants. Once water has been treated it can be effectively released back into the environment without harmful effects to ecosystems and human health.

Review how wastewater is treated (the water that you send down the drain):

USGS (n.d.) What is Wastewater, and Why Treat it? Retrieved from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wuww.html

In your posts this unit answer the following questions:

1. Define wastewater and provide an example of where wastewater originates in your community?

2. Some common measures of water quality are contaminant nutrient levels (nitrates, nitrates, and phosphorus), temperature, turbidity, bacteria, pH, dissolved oxygen, and toxic substances. Choose a measure of water quality and provide an explanation of how this quality is measured for in water and what the allowable ranges are in the water supply.

3. Review your local community, town, city, or state government’s website for information and policies on water conservation and wastewater treatment. You can also use the EPA site to learn about your local water. https://watersgeo.epa.gov/mywaterway/ Post at least one interesting fact that you learned in your research. Be sure to provide the resource for the information with your post.

4. Lastly, describe the treatment process used to clean wastewater in order for it to be allowed back into the water cycle or reused. What is one way to now reuse non-potable wastewater?

Use this reference when referring to your text:

Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

150 words or more

D4

The kitchen may be the one room in which most people are most aware of the different systems and units of measurements used in the house and around the world. In the United States (U.S.), milk is bought by the gallon, sugar by the pound, soda by the liter, and cereal by the ounce. After you unpack your groceries you store some in the freezer at 0°F or indulge in a snack by baking a treat in your preheated oven at 350°F. As you can see, you can encounter many different units of measurement just in the kitchen.

Humans need food for energy. The amount of energy in a food can also be measured as calories. There is a relationship between the amount of energy we take in and the energy we expend every day. Eating foods from all food groups is important, but how do you decide what to eat? Each meal should be evaluated to include the proper food groups and nutrients.

To start this week’s Discussion, review the information found at the website below and address the following questions:

Choose MyPlate. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2016, from https://www.choosemyplate.gov/

1. Why do different people require different amounts of food and therefore energy? Identify the daily recommended caloric intake for your age and sex.

2. Calories are simply a form of measurement. Choose your favorite food and provide the caloric information for 1 serving. Then provide an example of the amount of an activity needed to burn off that much energy.

3. What food groups are necessary for a balanced meal? How do your measure a portion?

4. Culture, personal experience and the environment impact human health. Provide an example of how children or adults make food choices unrelated to their body’s needs?

5. Childhood obesity is an increasing problem in the United States. Propose a way to educate children about food choices and how food can impact their health.

Use this reference when referring to your text:

Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

150 word or more

DB 5

Technology is an integral part of today’s home and/or work life. From the computers used, the vacuum cleaner that keeps floors clean, to the filters used to purify the air you breathe; you rely on scientific advancements for your health, entertainment, convenience, and comfort. While many modern inventions make life better, some may have serious negative consequences as well. In this week’s Discussion, you will explore the pros and cons of modern conveniences.

During the week address the following questions:

1. Take a look at the various technologies that you have in your home (e.g., family room, living room, or kitchen). What “common” items would a typical family have today that they could not possibly have had 100 years ago?

2. Have these technological advancements improved your quality of life? Why or why not?

3. Discuss the ways technology may negatively impact your life.

4. People often talk about the modern conveniences provided by technology, but they rarely discuss the long-term effects that these technologies might have on the world. Beyond the individual, explain how technological advancements impact the planet—either good or bad.

5. Propose a solution to the problems that technology may have caused to the environment and support your answer with a credible source(s) in APA format.

Use this reference when referring to your text:

Trefil, J., & Hazen, R.M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.