Weekly Challenge #9
This challenge is about a region that contains ridges, valleys, springs, rivers, wells, and small towns. There are also several farms, a dairy, and a number of industrial sites. The water in the region is contaminated and we are asked to examine what polluted the water and which areas are contaminated. So here are my investigations:
First and foremost, the structure of the region is a ridge/valley like. It has a main river which the direction of it’s water flow from right to left and it started from the top passing through the middle as it flows, where the 4 springs are located, until it reaches the bottom part of the valley, as what as the clues are pointing. Since the river started from the top, it is obvious that as the water flows downward, it brings waste or any toxic materials from the factories that it passes by, which caused the river to be polluted.
Cornhead Coal Mine is one of the polluters of the river. It because Cornhead Coal Mine mines coal which it has lots of coals in the area. Also there was a rumor that one of the mines had some sort of chemical spill however it was not reported. The activity at the mines and power plant also contributed to the pollution of the water because it has caused fine coal dust, which is blown around by the wind and washed into the river flow along the valley.
But not only that, the wells at the bottom part are also contaminated. Specifically wells D, E, H, I, M, and N. It is because the wells D and H are located beside a factory (Metal Works). Metals, of course can pollute the water because of its toxic materials. For E, M, and I the spring 1 polluted them because spring 1 was contaminated already and the tables also showed that the said wells are contaminated.
So yes, the two main sources of contamination in the river are the Cornhead Coal Mine and the Metal Works.
The lower parts of the valley are most likely aquifers because they are composed of Basin Fill which aquifers are also composed of. And wells G, K, L, N, O, and P will remain free from contamination.