NOAA

More Water Map Resources

(Adapted from questions from GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) and the Missouri Botanical Society)

Topographic Map

This type of map may or may not overlap with the watershed map. Lines drawn closely together indicate a steep slope where water will run quickly.
Where the lines are far apart, the ground is flat and water will move more slowly and tend to wind.

Point and Nonpoint Pollution Sources

There may be a specialized map of your area showing these items, or you may need to look at several maps to assemble this information.

• sewer overflow outlets
• boating docks
• forest logging areas
• industrial sites
• roads and highways
• What bodies of water can you see? How are they interconnected, if at all?
• Where is your study site on the map?
• Where is water flowing quickly? Where is it moving slowly? Does it wind?
• What else do you notice?

Land Use Planning Map

This type of map shows the business, residential, and other major developed areas in communities. Things to look for include reservoirs, irrigation canals, and pumping stations.

• Where are the major business, residential, industrial, and agricultural areas in your city?
• Where are the major transportation arteries? Are they near rivers?
• Are there city parks near your body of water?
• What can you learn about ownership patterns? Regulatory agencies?
• Where is your study site on the map?
• What else do you notice?

Drinking Water Maps

A drinking water map shows the local wells, pipes, pipe sizes, manholes, and direction of water flow. At town government, often a Health or Natural Resources department, should have these maps. Locate the well and well number closest to your school.

Follow the largest to the smallest pipe.

• Where is water headed?
• What size water pipe serves your homes? Your school?
• Is there a fire hydrant near your school? What size pipe is it attached to?
• If you have a well, define the area that your well serves and the uses of the land near the well.
• How far is the well from saltwater? From agricultural runoff?
• Are there any protected watershed areas? Where are
pollutants that originate from your area likely to end up (for example, what goes down your drains)?
• What else do you notice?

Who has safe drinking water?

Sewer Maps

Sewer maps indicate the flow of wastewater. All waste water flows in the direction of the waste treatment plant or to open water. Look for increasingly large pipes. Manholes are areas of access to the pipes for repair and for regulation of flow.

Follow the pipe from your school:

• Is it going uphill or downhill?
• How big an area does your sewage treatment plant
serve?
• Where does the water from the treatment plant go?
• What else do you notice?

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