Water Quality Fun BookWater Quality Fun Book

Join Grover in the fight against pooJoin Grover in the fight against poo--lution!lution!

G rover the Dog gets grouchy when he sees poo-lluted wa-ters. He is on a

mission to teach us about im-proving our water quality.

A message from Grover: The quality of this water is gross So, let’s do something about it! You can see in the picture to the right how water from rain can get dirty on its way to the river. We play in these waters, and drink it also. Learn how you can help!

Help Grover clean-up the City by “picking out” these words. Just find and circle the words:

C F E R T I L I Z E

B I O S R T O O P T

A O G M A I O A M R

C P L A S T I C B A

T I C R R E L A S S

E Z S T A E P N E H

R F E W N Z T I R E

I E O C T T S T R G

A M S C O O P T E Z

R

I

A

G

R

A

S

S

A

SCOOP SMART FERTILIZER PLASTIC BAG

MOW GRASS BACTERIA CIGARETTE

TRASH OIL CAN TIRE

Help Grover find his way to a treat and avoid poo-llutants:

Connect the dots to fill in Grover

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Bugs that indicate  Good Water Quality 

Bugs that indicate  Poor Water Quality 

A Mayflies—are sen-sitive to most types of pollutants

A+ Stoneflies—are sensitive to most types of pollutants. The presence of even a few stoneflies in a stream suggests good quality water has been maintained for several months.

B Caddisflies—are sensitive to pollutants, but some can be toler-ant

B- Beetles—require a swift current and ade-quate supply of oxygen

F Midges—can have a wide range of tolerances. The red ones (blood midg-es) are extremely tolerant to environmental stress, especially organic pollu-tion.

C- Crustaceans—can thrive under conditions of high organic content and very low oxygen levels

D Snails—Some snails, known as lunged snails, can thrive in poor water quality and during low flows be-cause they can breathe at-mospheric oxygen. Most snails are tolerant to a wide range of stressors.

D- Worms—can thrive under conditions of severe pollution and very low oxygen levels, thus are valuable pollution indica-tors

You can learn a lot about water quality from a bug.

Very Good (A+)

Good (B)

Poor (C-)

Very Poor (F)

Bugs that indicate Poor Water Quality

Draw a line from the “Water Grade” to the group of bugs you would find at that level.

Bugs that indicate Good Water Quality

Stonefly Mostly found in cool, well‐oxygenated streams.  They are sensi ve to most of the same pollutants as mayflies except acidity.  They may be less numerous than mayflies.  The presence of even a few stoneflies in a stream suggests that good water quality has been main‐tained for several months 

Perlodidae Pa erned Stonefly 

source: Nymphs of North American Stonefly Genera; by Kenneth W. Stewart & Bill P. Stark

These are some of the bugs that Grover knows best. Color in the bugs and learn what they can

tell you about water quality.

source: Larvae of the North American Caddisfly Genera; by Glenn B. Wiggins

Hydropsychidae Common Net‐Spinner Caddis 

Caddisflies May construct a portable case of sand, stones, s cks, or other debris or may spin nets that serve as a retreat and help them to collect and gather food. Many caddisfly larvae are sensi ve to pollu on, but this family (Hydropsychidae) can be abundant in nutrient‐rich environments 

Stonefly Mostly found in cool, well‐oxygenated streams.  They are sensi ve to most of the same pollutants as mayflies except acidity.  They may be less numerous than mayflies.  The presence of even a few stoneflies in a stream suggests that good water quality has been maintained for 

source: Nymphs of North American Stonefly Genera; by Kenneth W. Stewart & Bill P. Stark

Perlidae Golden Stonefly 

Mayflies Mayfly nymphs are o en the most numer‐ous organisms found in clean streams.  They are sensi ve to most types of pollu‐on, including low dissolved oxygen, chlo‐

rine, ammonia, metals, pes cides, and acidity.  Most mayflies are found clinging to the undersides of rocks. 

source: Aquatic Entomology; by Arwin Provonsha

Heptageniidae Flat Head Mayfly 

Answer Key

Brought to you by:

To learn more, visit

www.lynchburgva.gov/stormwater-management

or call 434-485-RAIN (7246)

Remember, when we go on

the lawn, it doesn’t just go on the lawn.