The second book in the ThinkCities series explores water as a
precious, finite resource, tracing its journey from source, through the
city, and back again.
Living in cities where water flows effortlessly from our taps and
fountains, it's easy to take it for granted. City of Water, the second
book in the ThinkCities series, shines a light on the water system that
is vital for our health and well-being. The narrative traces the journey
of water from the forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and wetlands that
form the watershed, through pipes and treatment facilities, into our
taps, fire hydrants and toilets, then out through storm and sewer
systems toward wastewater treatment plants and back into the watershed.
Along the way we discover that some of the earliest cities with water
systems date back to the Indus Valley in 2500 BC; that in 1920 only 1
percent of the US population had indoor plumbing; that if groundwater is
used up too quickly, the land can actually sink; and more. The text is
sprinkled with fun and surprising facts -- some water fountains in Paris
offer sparkling water, and scientists are working to extract microscopic
particles of precious metals found in sewage.
Readers are encouraged to think about water as a finite resource, and to
take action to prevent our cities and watersheds from becoming more
polluted. More than 2 billion people in the world are without access to
safe, fresh water at home. As the world's population grows, along with
pollution and climate change, access to clean water is becoming an
urgent issue.
Includes practical steps that kids can take to help conserve water.
The ThinkCities series is inspired by the urgency for new approaches
to city life as a result of climate change, population growth and
increased density. It highlights the challenges and risks cities face,
but also offers hope for building resilience, sustainability and quality
of life as young people advocate for themselves and their communities.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language
Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3
Describe the relationship between a series of historical events,
scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a
text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
