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Water Protectors

How student scientists helped ensure that their communities had safer drinking water

September 21, 2020
By Dani Leviss

COURTESY OF MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

TEST RESULTS: Maine middle school students analyzed arsenic levels in water samples they collected.

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT how students collected data on arsenic levels in well water.

Last year, hundreds of middle and high school students across Maine and New Hampshire collected water from faucets in their homes. They sent the samples to Jane Disney, a biologist at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Maine. Disney leads the Data to Action project. Its goal is to get kids involved in helping their communities understand the risks of toxic arsenic (As) in well water. 

The element arsenic can leach from certain rocks into water in private wells, explains Disney. Drinking water containing even small amounts of arsenic can cause severe health problems, like impaired brain development, heart conditions, and cancer. But since arsenic is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, there’s no way to know if wells are contaminated without having them tested. 

Last year, hundreds of middle and high school students collected water samples. The water came from faucets in their homes in Maine and New Hampshire. They sent the samples to Jane Disney, a biologist at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Maine. Disney leads the Data to Action project. It deals with the problem of toxic arsenic (As) in well water. The project aims to get kids involved so they can teach their communities about the dangers.

Certain rocks contain the element arsenic. It can seep from rocks into water in private wells, explains Disney. Even small amounts of arsenic in drinking water can cause serious health problems. It can hurt brain development and cause heart conditions or cancer. But arsenic is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. No one knows if wells contain arsenic unless they’re tested. 

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A lab measured the arsenic levels in the students’ water samples. Then the teens analyzed the data. They found that 15 percent of the samples exceeded the national safety levels for arsenic. That prompted New Hampshire to make the amount of arsenic allowed in drinking water less than the national level in an effort to reduce citizens’ exposure to the dangerous element. 

Disney hopes students’ data will lead to similar changes for Maine. “Student data is going to contribute to our understanding of how widespread the problem [of arsenic in drinking water] is and how seriously everybody ought to take the issue,” says Disney. 

A lab measured the arsenic in the students’ water samples. Then the teens studied the data. Fifteen percent of the samples were higher than the national safety levels for arsenic. Because of that, New Hampshire tried to reduce citizens’ contact with the dangerous element. The state lowered the amount of arsenic allowed in drinking water. Now it’s less than the national level. 

Disney hopes that Maine will look at students’ data and do the same. “Student data is going to contribute to our understanding of how widespread the problem [of arsenic in drinking water] is and how seriously everybody ought to take the issue,” says Disney. 

STUDENT SAMPLES

Look at the amounts of arsenic found in Data to Action water samples. Measurements of 10 parts per billion (ppb*) or greater exceed the national limit for arsenic in drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Look at the amounts of arsenic found in Data to Action water samples. Measurements of 10 parts per billion (ppb*) or greater exceed the national limit for arsenic in drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

IMAGE: COURTESY OF MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY; SOURCE: ALL ABOUT ARSENIC/ANECDATA, AS OF JUNE 2020

DIG INTO THE DATA: Students’ data led New Hampshire to lower its safety level for arsenic in drinking water from 10 ppb to 5 ppb. About how many samples would now be considered unsafe because of this change?

DIG INTO THE DATA: Students’ data led New Hampshire to lower its safety level for arsenic in drinking water from 10 ppb to 5 ppb. About how many samples would now be considered unsafe because of this change?

STUDENT SAMPLES

Look at the amounts of arsenic found in Data to Action water samples. Measurements of 10 parts per billion (ppb*) or greater exceed the national limit for arsenic in drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Look at the amounts of arsenic found in Data to Action water samples. Measurements of 10 parts per billion (ppb*) or greater exceed the national limit for arsenic in drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

IMAGE: COURTESY OF MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY; SOURCE: ALL ABOUT ARSENIC/ANECDATA, AS OF JUNE 2020

DIG INTO THE DATA: Students’ data led New Hampshire to lower its safety level for arsenic in drinking water from 10 ppb to 5 ppb. About how many samples would now be considered unsafe because of this change?

DIG INTO THE DATA: Students’ data led New Hampshire to lower its safety level for arsenic in drinking water from 10 ppb to 5 ppb. About how many samples would now be considered unsafe because of this change?

ALL ABOUT ARSENIC

Arsenic is element number 33 on the periodic table.

Arsenic is element number 33 on the periodic table.

ANDREAS KERMANN/GETTY IMAGES

As a metalloid, arsenic has properties of both metals and nonmetals.

As a metalloid, arsenic has properties of both metals and nonmetals.

GIFT OF RICHARD HOLSTEIN/NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Arsenic was sold in the 1800s as edible wafers to improve people’s complexions. Advertised as harmless, the wafers were in fact poisonous.

Arsenic was sold in the 1800s as edible wafers to improve people’s complexions. Advertised as harmless, the wafers were in fact poisonous.

PGIAM/GETTY IMAGES

Arsenic is used in pesticides and weed killers and to treat wood to prevent rotting.

Arsenic is used in pesticides and weed killers and to treat wood to prevent rotting.

DIG INTO THE DATA: How else besides drinking water might people be exposed to arsenic?

DIG INTO THE DATA: How else besides drinking water might people be exposed to arsenic?

ALL ABOUT ARSENIC

Arsenic is element number 33 on the periodic table.

Arsenic is element number 33 on the periodic table.

ANDREAS KERMANN/GETTY IMAGES

As a metalloid, arsenic has properties of both metals and nonmetals.

As a metalloid, arsenic has properties of both metals and nonmetals.

GIFT OF RICHARD HOLSTEIN/NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Arsenic was sold in the 1800s as edible wafers to improve people’s complexions. Advertised as harmless, the wafers were in fact poisonous.

Arsenic was sold in the 1800s as edible wafers to improve people’s complexions. Advertised as harmless, the wafers were in fact poisonous.

PGIAM/GETTY IMAGES

Arsenic is used in pesticides and weed killers and to treat wood to prevent rotting.

Arsenic is used in pesticides and weed killers and to treat wood to prevent rotting.

DIG INTO THE DATA: How else besides drinking water might people be exposed to arsenic?

DIG INTO THE DATA: How else besides drinking water might people be exposed to arsenic?

NATIONWIDE PROBLEM?

Arsenic can be found in groundwater across the U.S. But some areas have bigger contamination problems than others because of the greater presence of arsenic minerals naturally found in rocks.

Arsenic can be found in groundwater across the U.S. But some areas have bigger contamination problems than others because of the greater presence of arsenic minerals naturally found in rocks.

JIM MCMAHON ®MAPMAN

DIG INTO THE DATA: How many states have areas where arsenic levels exceeded 50 ppb?

DIG INTO THE DATA: How many states have areas where arsenic levels exceeded 50 ppb?

NATIONWIDE PROBLEM?

Arsenic can be found in groundwater across the U.S. But some areas have bigger contamination problems than others because of the greater presence of arsenic minerals naturally found in rocks.

Arsenic can be found in groundwater across the U.S. But some areas have bigger contamination problems than others because of the greater presence of arsenic minerals naturally found in rocks.

JIM MCMAHON ®MAPMAN

DIG INTO THE DATA: How many states have areas where arsenic levels exceeded 50 ppb?

DIG INTO THE DATA: How many states have areas where arsenic levels exceeded 50 ppb?

HEALTH EFFECTS

Consuming water contaminated with arsenic over a long period of time can lead to a variety of health problems.

Consuming water contaminated with arsenic over a long period of time can lead to a variety of health problems.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; SOURCE: AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: circulatory problems, heart disease

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: circulatory problems, heart disease

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: type 2 diabetes

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: type 2 diabetes

NERVOUS SYSTEM: nerve damage, impaired learning and memory in adults and brain development in children

NERVOUS SYSTEM: nerve damage, impaired learning and memory in adults and brain development in children

SKIN: sores, pigmentation changes, hard patches

SKIN: sores, pigmentation changes, hard patches

CANCER: bladder, kidney, liver, lung, and skin

CANCER: bladder, kidney, liver, lung, and skin

HEALTH EFFECTS

Consuming water contaminated with arsenic over a long period of time can lead to a variety of health problems.

Consuming water contaminated with arsenic over a long period of time can lead to a variety of health problems.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; SOURCE: AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: circulatory problems, heart disease

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: circulatory problems, heart disease

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: type 2 diabetes

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: type 2 diabetes

NERVOUS SYSTEM: nerve damage, impaired learning and memory in adults and brain development in children

NERVOUS SYSTEM: nerve damage, impaired learning and memory in adults and brain development in children

SKIN: sores, pigmentation changes, hard patches

SKIN: sores, pigmentation changes, hard patches

CANCER: bladder, kidney, liver, lung, and skin

CANCER: bladder, kidney, liver, lung, and skin

  • Think about where water goes when it rains. Study maps of your community. Then, draw your own map and show where you think rainwater will flow. Be sure to indicate possible pollution sources in your map. Do you think the water picks up pollution as it moves? 
  • List all the ways you use water during the day. Then, every day for 3 days, collect data on how long you run faucets and how long your showers are. Take a look at your data. What patterns do you see in your data? What questions do you have about water usage after collecting this data? You can calculate your water footprint and learn more about water usage below.   
  • Think about where water goes when it rains. Study maps of your community. Then, draw your own map and show where you think rainwater will flow. Be sure to indicate possible pollution sources in your map. Do you think the water picks up pollution as it moves? 
  • List all the ways you use water during the day. Then, every day for 3 days, collect data on how long you run faucets and how long your showers are. Take a look at your data. What patterns do you see in your data? What questions do you have about water usage after collecting this data? You can calculate your water footprint and learn more about water usage below.   
  • Think about where water goes when it rains. Study maps of your community. Then, draw your own map and show where you think rainwater will flow. Be sure to indicate possible pollution sources in your map. Do you think the water picks up pollution as it moves? 
  • List all the ways you use water during the day. Then, every day for 3 days, collect data on how long you run faucets and how long your showers are. Take a look at your data. What patterns do you see in your data? What questions do you have about water usage after collecting this data? You can calculate your water footprint and learn more about water usage below.   
  • Think about where water goes when it rains. Study maps of your community. Then, draw your own map and show where you think rainwater will flow. Be sure to indicate possible pollution sources in your map. Do you think the water picks up pollution as it moves? 
  • List all the ways you use water during the day. Then, every day for 3 days, collect data on how long you run faucets and how long your showers are. Take a look at your data. What patterns do you see in your data? What questions do you have about water usage after collecting this data? You can calculate your water footprint and learn more about water usage below.   
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