STEM & Environmental Science Module

River Water Quality & Sustainable Farming

Explore watershed dynamics, analyze pH and runoff metrics, treat river water, and safely irrigate local crops and livestock!

River Watershed & Ecosystem Analyzing water parameters for sustainable agriculture.

Water Quality Missions

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MISSION 1 · AQUATIC ECOLOGY

Bio-Indicators & Aquatic Health

Fish act as bio-indicators of watershed health. Click on the river water canvas to lower your fishing line and sample 3 healthy aquatic specimens while avoiding agricultural runoff trash!

Caught: 0 / 3 Time: 30s Lives: ❤️❤️❤️

STEM Concept: Bio-indicator species (like fish and macroinvertebrates) reflect environmental quality and reveal silent toxic buildup in freshwater ecosystems.

MISSION 2 · FIELD SAMPLING

River Field Sampling

Click on the 3 glowing thermal ripples along the riverbed to take samples. You can toggle between different river ecosystem vantage points!

Samples Collected: 0 / 3

STEM Concept: Water sampling at depth layers and flow speeds is essential to accurately dissolved oxygen, sediment loading, and chemical runoff.

MISSION 3 · WATER CHEMISTRY

Water Chemistry Analysis

Evaluate your collected water sample against agricultural chemical safety standards before approving it for crop usage.

pH Level: 5.5

Target: 6.5 - 7.5 pH (Neutral)

Nitrates (NO3-): 45 mg/L

Target: < 10 mg/L (Safe EPA limit)

Status: High Nitrates & Low pH detected! Excess fertilizer runoff can cause harmful blooms and crop root stress.

STEM Concept: High nitrate levels (NO3-) trigger eutrophication, reducing dissolved oxygen in natural waterways and making water toxic to crops and livestock.

MISSION 4 · ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Multi-Stage Filtration & Neutralization

Engineer a clean supply of agricultural water by adjusting the lime neutralizer dose and sand/carbon filter density.

Agricultural Lime Treatment (Neutralize pH): 5.2 pH

Sand & Bio-Char Clarification: 30%

Status: Untreated Runoff ⚠️ (Target pH ~7.0, Filter Clarification ≥ 85%)

STEM Concept: Bio-char and sand filtration physical separation removes suspended solids, while chemical dosing neutralizes pH imbalances for safe farm use.

MISSION 5 · SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Safe Farm Irrigation

Now that the river water is purified, drag or click the Clean Water Bucket onto all farm sectors (Crops and Livestock) to safely irrigate them.

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Corn Crops

Wilting / High Salt Risk

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Hydroponic Tomatoes

Nutrient Imbalance

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Lettuce Fields

Dry / Unsafe Runoff

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Livestock Pasture

Thirsty / Untreated Water

Purified Water Bucket

STEM Concept: Drip irrigation with high-quality water minimizes soil salinization and ensures clean crop yield and healthy livestock.

MISSION 6 · HIGH SCHOOL STEM ASSESSMENT

Water Quality & Agriculture Quiz

Answer these 3 technical questions!

Question 1: What ecological process occurs when excess nitrogen fertilizer runoff enters a river?

Question 2: What is the optimal pH range for irrigation water for most agricultural crops?

Question 3: Why are aquatic fish species referred to as "bio-indicators" in watershed studies?

Water quality monitoring protects aquatic life and secures our local food supply chain.

Congratulations, Eco-Water Specialist!

You have mastered river ecosystem dynamics, water chemistry lab testing and sustainable irrigation!

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