Ahhh, there’s nothing like a cool glass of water after an epic soccer game! But have you ever wondered where that water comes from? Let’s find out together!
When you turn on the faucet at home, water magically appears. But before it gets to your sink, it goes on quite a journey. Water comes from a source, which is a place where lots of water is gathered. Can you think of any places with lots of water?
That’s right! The ocean has a lot of water, but it’s too salty for us to drink. Instead, many cities and towns get their water from lakes and rivers. They clean this water to remove germs and chemicals, then send it through pipes to homes and schools.
In some places, like where we are at the Fort, water comes from a well in the ground. A well is a deep hole that reaches down into the Earth to find water. But how does the water get there?
When it rains, water sinks into the ground, moving through the soil until it hits solid rock. This water is called groundwater. It’s not like an underground lake; instead, it’s mixed with dirt, kind of like a giant area of mud. But don’t worry, the dirt helps keep the water clean by trapping anything that shouldn’t be in it.
To get groundwater, we dig a long tube into the ground until it reaches the water table, which is where the water has settled underground. The well goes below this level, and then something amazing happens: the well fills with water!
The water is squeezed into the well by the heavy soil and rock around it, just like squeezing water from a sponge. Once the water is in the well, we can use pipes to bring it up to the surface.
Some towns and cities have many wells to pull lots of water from the ground at once. They send this water through pipes to people who need it. But in places far from big towns, people often have their own personal wells, like we do at the Fort. It’s easier than building long pipes to bring water from far away.
So, next time you enjoy a glass of water, remember the amazing journey it took to get to you!
Thanks for learning with us! If you want to keep having fun and learning more, be sure to join us again at the Fort!
Water Source Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around your home or school to find different sources of water. Look for faucets, water fountains, and any other places where water comes from. Draw a picture of each water source you find and think about where the water might have come from before reaching you. Share your drawings with your friends or family and discuss the journey of water.
Make Your Own Mini-Well: Create a mini-well using a clear plastic cup, some soil, and a straw. Fill the cup halfway with soil and insert the straw into the soil, making sure it reaches the bottom. Slowly pour water over the soil and watch as it seeps down to the bottom. Use the straw to “pump” the water back up by gently blowing into it. This activity helps you understand how wells work and how water is collected from the ground.
Rainwater Experiment: Place a small container outside to collect rainwater. After it rains, observe the water you’ve collected. Discuss with an adult how this rainwater is similar to groundwater. What happens to rainwater when it hits the ground? How does it become part of the groundwater? Talk about how rainwater can be used and why it’s important to keep it clean.
