Question

Part 1: Designing Solutions

1. Describe the two phenomena (sub-problems) that caused the contamination of Cleveland’s drinking water.
2. What criteria (data points) were the NOAA buoys collecting to address the sub-problems faced by Cleveland Water? Which of these criteria should have highest priority when determining a solution to the sub-problems?
3. What societal, ecological, or technical constraints should resource managers consider before proposing solutions?
4. Describe the design solution engineers and scientists developed to prevent contamination of Cleveland drinking water. Why did their solution need to address both sub-problems equally?
5. Propose two additional solutions to address the ecological phenomena causing the water contamination in Lake Erie.
Part 2: Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
1. In what ways have the buoys lessened the negative effects of water contamination in Lake Erie.
2. How can unmonitored water contamination affect human populations, farming, and industry in the Cleveland area?
3. What evidence from the video supports this claim?
Claim: Human populations are dependent on technological systems to monitor natural resources.
4. What evidence from the video supports this claim?
Claim: Human populations and societies are affected by the availability of natural resources.
5. A causal relationship means one action or event is the cause of another. A correlational relationship describes a connection between events, but it does not mean one event or action caused the other. Does the video describe a causal or correlational relationship between the health of the Lake Erie ecosystems and human needs and activities surrounding it?

Answer 1

The two main factors causing Cleveland's water contamination were industrial/urban waste and nutrient-rich runoff leading to algal blooms. NOAA buoys collect critical data, and a combination of societal, ecological, and technical considerations is essential in designing solutions. The buoys provide real-time monitoring, lessening the impact of contamination and illustrating the causal relationship between ecosystem health and human activities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The contamination of Cleveland's drinking water was primarily due to two phenomena: first, the pollution from industrial and urbanized areas contributing to untreated waste and chemicals entering the ecosystem; second, nonpoint source pollution like fertilizer runoff leading to algal blooms. The NOAA buoys were employed to collect data critical to address these sub-problems, including temperature, nutrient levels, and algae concentration. Among the collected data points, those related to algae growth and nutrient levels should be prioritized to solve the sub-problems efficiently.

Resource managers need to consider societal, ecological, and technical constraints before proposing solutions to water contamination. Factors like the impact on local communities, preservation of aquatic life, cost, and the feasibility of technological implementation should be evaluated. Engineers and scientists developed solutions to tackle both sub-problems to ensure a holistic approach to prevent drinking water contamination, which is necessary as both have significant impacts on water quality.

Additional solutions to address ecological phenomena causing water contamination could involve stricter regulations on industrial discharges and enhanced wastewater treatment plants. Furthermore, promoting sustainable agricultural practices could help reduce nonpoint source pollution from fertilizer runoff.

The buoys have lessened negative effects by providing real-time data enabling rapid response to potential contamination events. Unmonitored water contamination can have deleterious effects on human health, agriculture, and industry, such as the spread of waterborne diseases, reduced crop yields, and challenges to industrial operations. The video depicts a causal relationship between the health of Lake Erie ecosystems and human needs and activities, demonstrating our dependency on technology to monitor and manage water resources effectively.