Case Study 3.
St. Joseph
LEAN Region 2
North Louisiana is home to clear water lakes and pine forests. Northeast Louisiana is where you will find rich Native American history including the World Heritage Site at Poverty Point. This region includes:
- East Carroll Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Jackson Parish
- Madison Parish
- Morehouse Parish
- Richland Parish
- Ouachita Parish
- Tensas Parish
- Union Parish
- West Carroll Parish
About St. Joseph
The town of St. Joseph has had discolored water for years. After decades of neglect and initial inaction from state agencies, lead was found in the drinking water. Governor John Bel Edwards declared a State of Emergency and the National Guard provided drinking water while the city distribution system was replaced/repaired. LEAN provided technical support to residents early on and has participated throughout the testing and response process including providing water bottles to residents. This effort continues as residents work to eliminate the threat of lead still potentially present within the aged pipes and appliances of their residences. St. Joseph’s water problems are one example of approx. 400 water systems that provide inadequate drinking water to residents across the state.
Standards
Grade 8
CCSS-RI.1-8
Cite the relevant textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS-RI.2-8
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS-RI.6-8
Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
Grades 9-10
CCSS-RI.1-9.10
Cite relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CC-RI.2-9.10
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS-RI.6-9.10
Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
Grades 11-12
CCS-RI.1-11.12
Cite strong, thorough, and relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
CC-RI.2-11.12
Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS-RI.6-11.12
Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is considered particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the student interpretation of power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
Civics
C.9
Analyze the structure, roles, responsibilities, powers, and functions of government in the United States.
C.11
Analyze political processes and the role of public participation in the United States.
World History
WH.6
Evaluate the influence of science, technology, innovations, and explain how these developments have altered societies in the world from 1300 to 2010.
WH.22
Analyze trends of increasing economic interdependence and interconnectedness in world history from 1300 to 2010.
WH.24
Analyze the effect that humans have had on the environment in terms of resources, migration patterns, and global environmental issues.
World Geography
WG.7
Analyze how governments and political boundaries affect people and places.
Grade 8
8-MS-ESS3-3
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment.
Earth Science
HS-ESS3-4
Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Life Sciences
HS-LS2-7
Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
Environmental Science
HS-ESS3-4
Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Reading Resources
Proclamation Number 180-JBE-2016
Official proclamation issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards issuing a state of public health emergency, after water testing in St. Joseph.
Source
Louisiana Department of Health to Begin Water Testing for the Town of St. Joseph
2016 press release from the Louisiana Department of Health.
Excerpt | Source
Gov. Edwards Issues Public Health Emergency for the Town of St. Joseph
2016 press release from the Louisiana Department of Health.
Excerpt | Source
While One Louisiana Town's Lead-Tainted Water System Is Replaced, Dozens of Others Deteriorate
DeSmog article profiling the St. Joseph water crisis.
Excerpt | Source
After years with unsafe tap water, St. Joseph residents eager for new system
KATC news article about construction of St. Joseph’s new water infrastructure
Excerpt | Source
St. Joseph's New Water System Goes Online
KNOW article published after the completion of the St. Joseph repairs.
Excerpt | Source
After years with unsafe tap water, St. Joseph residents eager for new system
KATC's Breanna Molloy's Emmy Winning piece on the residents of St. Joseph and their fight for safe drinking water. Length, 4:16
Source
Extended Reading Activity
Read While One Louisiana Town's Lead-Tainted Water System Is Replaced, Dozens of Others Deteriorate, watch After years with unsafe tap water, St. Joseph residents eager for new system and analyze. Then discuss and answer the essential questions for this unit. Answers will vary to the questions, however students should be able to grasp the basic power dynamics of the situation.
Click here to access a worksheet of the essential questions.