Water quality in Minnesota is affected by the presence of fertilizer, bacteria and nitrates. I would create a interactive map that displays water sources in the community and some brief data about the quality of that source. K-8 schools (7th grade class) would be given simple water testing kits and access to the internet to post their kit results. The testing could be performed in school under the guidance of a teacher, however, the students would collect the water samples. Schools with more entries that reflect the diverse water ecosystem (different creek beds, swamps, lakes, rivers) could win the competition. The 15,000 dollars would go to pay for hosting the website (30 dollars/mo), competition marketing (500 dollars), parent informational packets (500 dollars) and materials (First Alert Water Testing kits 12 dollars per kit) to supply area schools. I would enlist a designer and a programmer to donate their time to designing a a interactive website for this project.

I define my community as the North Mississippi Regional Park communities of North Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center Minnesota . All people and business activities eventually impact the clean water supply. North Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center is a watershed area for the Mississippi River. Farm fertilizer run off, sewage, and industrial waste water generated in the community and upstream of the community can pollute our small creeks, rivers and lakes that we enjoy in the area. They also require that expensive water cleaning facilities be built and maintained to make potable water. Reducing the amount of water and water pollution will make for a less expensive, cleaner water supply. The effect of this on our lakes, streams and rivers will be an invaluable contribution to our children's future.