Problem Statement What are some of the effects of

1
Problem StatementWhat are some of the effects
of runoff and sewage related pollution on the
Pasquotank river watershed?  What can be done to
minimize the negative effects on the water
quality?HypothesisIf samples from our
sites show out of range levels for nitrates,
phosphates, D.O., and pH, then contamination is
indicated by natural or manmade
pollutants. Recommendations will need to be made
to mitigate these abnormal levels.Sampling
Sites-Dismal Swamp (DS01)  -Pasquotank
River (PR02)   -ECSU (ECSU03) -ECSU (ECSU04)   -
Currituck Sound (CS05)
Water Quality
ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY
2008 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Project
Elyse Howdershell, Taylor Dozier, Chudney Hill,
Shauntavia Sawyer
Testing for Pollution We tested our water samples
for  Nitrate Phosphate Dissolved
Oxygen  pH (PPM- parts per million)
Connecting the Lithosphere to Pollution The
lithosphere is the part of the earth that
includes the crust and upper mantle. Fertilizers,
chemicals, fecal matter, and pesticides can
collect on the ground. They can be carried by
precipitation into our water supplies through
drains, ditches, and groundwater. 
Sewage Runoff Sewage is mainly liquid
fluid containing waste materials from households
and industries. Runoff is the flow of water from
rain, snowmelt, and other sources over the land.
It is a major component of the water cycle.
Connecting the Atmosphere to Pollution
Agriculture is a leading source of water
pollution in rivers and lakes
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that
surrounds Earth. Polluted water can evaporate
into the atmosphere, forming acid
rain. HYDROSPHERE - The hydrosphere is the
collection all of Earth's water. The Pasquotank
River is a part of the hydrosphere. BIOSPHERE -
The Biosphere is all of the life on Earth.
Chemicals are being tossed in to our oceans and
rivers by humans, biosphere inhabitants. 
Reflections We learned that the Pasquotank River
is contaminated by sewage and by pollution. This
was overall a good learning experience and a good
opportunity. This was a good research topic to
research and every question or answer lead to
another question or answer. It was almost like a
chain reaction!
Yellow Springs Instrumentation (YSI)
The YSI probe meter measures dissolved oxygen and
pH.

• Recommendations
• Get going on fixing outdated municipal water
  treatment plants
•  Help localities set up programs that ensure
  septic system maintenance and monitoring
• Fully fund beach monitoring programs
• Conserve water
• Alternate crops to reduce the need for
  fertilizers
• Create zones between agricultural fields and any
  bodies of water that might be nearby.
• Use less hazardous waste and try planting without
  fertilizers.

Burroughs Wellcome Sampling Sites 08
What do We Know Low dissolved oxygen can point
to pollution Exceptionally high or low pH
can point to pollution Abnormal nitrate and
phosphate tests can point to pollution Runoff
and sewage are a cause of pollution
Acknowledgements Dr. Botti Dr. Porter Dr.
Pringle Dr. Rossbach Ms. Noble Mrs. Stamper Mrs.
Jenkins Mrs. Fowlkes
Phosphates Total phosphate levels of non-polluted
waters are usually less than 0.1mg/L or ppm. All
of our samples showed high levels of phosphate
which can indicate pollution. Our Phosphate
Results DS01-3ppm PR02-2ppm ECSU03-4ppm ECSU04-2p
pm CS05-1ppm
Contributors of Poor Water Quality
Water QualityWater quality is made up of many
different parts which include physical,
chemical, and biological characteristics. These
characteristics are compared to a set of
standards.
Sewage overflows People polluting it
Various aquatic activities (boating, water
skiing, swimming, etc.) Storm water runoff
Fertilizer runoff
References http//www.midwestadvocates.org/assets/
toxics20large.gif http//www.hakkoairpumps.com/im
ages/dissolved_oxygen_ chart.gif http//www.epa.go
v/acidrain/education/site_students/images/
phscale.gif http//www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/crop
s/00517.html http//www.bestfish.com/tips/102998.h
tml www.wikipedia.com http//www.google.com http/
/www.grinningplanet.com/2008/01-08/water-pollution
-solutions-article.htm
Effect of Poor Water Quality Polluted water
is killing aquatic life.   Sewage water is
preventing the sunlight to reach the sea
floor. Excess nutrients, such as lawn
fertilizers, can cause algae blooms
Nitrates The federal standard for nitrate in
drinking water is 10 mg/l nitrate-N, or 50 mg/l
nitrate-NO3 All of our samples showed normal
levels of nitrates.