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Woodstock High students report lead and PFAS testing results, urge continued local monitoring and STEM partnerships
Summary
Woodstock High School sophomores presented water testing from Noonday Creek and Dalton EcoCenter showing low lead in Noonday Creek but elevated lead at Dalton EcoCenter; students tested coagulants (ferric chloride, aluminum sulfate, cactus powder) and reported high removal rates in lab trials; coach Audra Thomas asked for continued partnership and community support for STEM programs.
Students from Woodstock High School presented results of a local environmental science project on May 11, showing tests for PFAS and lead in nearby waterbodies and describing lab work to evaluate coagulants for lead removal.
Coach Audra Thomas introduced the project and explained students sampled Noonday Creek behind the school and the Dalton EcoCenter; students reported Noonday Creek samples showed safe levels of iron and lead, but EcoCenter samples had substantially higher lead in at least one category.
"So first of all, we prepared our contaminated lead water sample and we measured ferric chloride and mixed it... We allowed that flock... and then we tested our final lead level and calculated the percent removal in order to find the most efficient coagulant," student Sophia said during the presentation.
Student Kyle Vest summarized pooled class data showing ferric chloride and aluminum sulfate produced relatively high lead removal rates and that several trials showed near-100% removal at the concentrations tested. Students also reported that higher coagulant doses tended to lower pH in the sample and that smaller doses sometimes achieved better removal efficiency in their experiments.
Coach Audra Thomas thanked city staff for access to Rose Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and noted the program cost nearly $10,000 to run, including $200 tests per sample and transportation; she invited the council and community to support an expanded STEM graduation program that would produce four-year digital portfolios of student projects.
Mayor Michael Caldwell and council thanked the students and encouraged continued partnerships; no formal city action was taken.
