Home > News Bytes > DRBC's Interactive Clean Water Lesson Popular at HydroMania
DRBC's Interactive Clean Water Lesson Popular at HydroMania
(From L to R) DRBC's Denise McHugh, Donna Woolf, and Kate Schmidt are ready for the students to arrive to HydroMania 2019. Photo courtesy of Trissina Trusdell, Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers. 
(From L to R) DRBC's Denise McHugh, Donna Woolf, and
Kate 
Schmidt are ready for the students to arrive at
HydroMania 
2019. Photo courtesy of Trissina Trusdell,
Lehigh Valley Water 
Suppliers. 

Earlier this month, DRBC participated in the 19th annual HydroMania, a fun-filled water festival attended by roughly 800 3rd and 4th grade elementary school students, teachers, and chaperones at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa.

Over the years, DRBC has been a regular HydroMania exhibitor and was proud to be a part of the fun again this year. Students get to participate in a variety of interactive exhibits and learning stations, each of which answered a different water-themed question. 

DRBC staff helped the students answer the questions, “Do we live in a watershed?” and "How can we help keep our watershed clean?" using a map of the Delaware River Basin and the commission’s Enviroscape watershed model. This model teaches the students about different sources of non-point source pollution found in runoff especially after heavy rains and what we can do to help keep our waterways clean. The model is always a hit with kids, especially younger children, as it demonstrates in a visually engaging way the connection between land and water.

HydroMania is organized by the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers. This educational event aims to generate curiosity, excitement, and understanding about current water issues, resulting in a lifetime of watershed-friendly water-use habits.

DRBC's exhibit is always crowded at HydroMania! Photo by DRBC.DRBC uses the Enviroscape model to talk to students about non-point source pollution. This type of pollution is difficult to trace back to a singular source and therefore is difficult to regulate. People of all ages can do their part to reduce this type of pollution, for example by not littering or throwing anything down storm drains, picking up pet waste, and using more care when applying pesticides or fertilizers to their lawns. Here, DRBC's Denise McHugh shows the kids what happens to all that pollution when it rains; it goes right into the river! Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Donna Woolf listens as a student points out the dirty water and talks about how it makes her feel sad because it isn't good for the fish. Photo by DRBC. DRBC's Kate Schmidt gives a lesson to an attentive audience. Photo courtesy of Trissina Trusdell, Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers.Look who stopped by to hear DRBC's Denise McHugh's clean water lesson? It's Dewey, the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers' mascot. Photo by DRBC.
DRBC's Kate Schmidt gives a lesson to an attentive audience. Photo courtesy of Trissina Trusdell, Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers.DRBC's Donna Woolf begins her talk by reminding the students that we all live in a watershed, and the model is an example of a local community. The model is then used to show how different land activities can affect our rivers, creeks, and streams. Photo by DRBC. At the conclusion of the lesson, DRBC's Denise McHugh asks the kids how they can help keep their local waterways clean. Photo by DRBC.It's easier said than done for Dewey to pop in on our lesson; he stands out in a crowd! Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Denise McHugh shows a large student group about how different forms of non-point source pollution (for example, fertilizers, animal waste, oil, and sediment) can get into our waterways when it rains. Photo by DRBC.