What does the soil do for us. (what ecosystem services does it provide Supporting: Physical stability and support for plants. Renewal, retention and delivery of nutrients for plants Habitat Regulating Regulation of major elemental cycles Buffering, filtering and moderation of the hydrological cycle Disposal of wastes and dead organic matter

What does the soil do for us. (what ecosystem services does it provide Provisioning Building material Cultural Heritage sites, archaeological preserver of artifacts Spiritual value, religious sites and burial grounds

Water Paths Down the drain -> Sewage treatment facility -> Rivers, etc. Down the gutter -> Creek -> Mississippi River -> Gulf of Mexico Into the soil -> Through the soil -> Rivers, etc.

Chlorine and water Chlorine kills germs. We use it to treat drinking water (since 1908). Benefits: germs in water don’t make us sick. Drawbacks: we drink very low levels of a toxic chemical. Solution?: some people filter their drinking water. Ecosystem Service: Soil provides water filtration

Investigate How well do different types of soil filter chlorine? Create a water filter Test water before and after filtration