Water Quality Tests

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Water Quality Tests

• (Investigation 12)
• APES

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Surface Water Tests

• DO measures the amount of oxygen dissolved in
  water and is available to aquatic life
• 2. Fecal Coliform a bacteria that indicates
  untreated sewage in water
• - incubate for 24-48 hours (depending on the
  type of test)
• - the test we did indicated either positive or
  negative, NOT of colonies
• -know max safe levels for drinking and swimming

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• 3. BOD (biological oxygen demand) mg/L
• - large amounts of sewage, or nutrients, causes
  the available oxygen to decrease
• -incubate for 5 days and then test DO
  again...tells us how much oxygen has been used up
• -a very high BOD indicates the presences of
  bacteria/decomposers
• How much is too much??
• 1-2 ppm high water quality
• 3-5 ppm moderately clean
• 5-10 ppm somewhat polluted, contains organic
• matter/bacteria
• over 100 very polluted

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• 4. Turbidity (Total Suspended Solids, TSS)
• -measure of how light is scattered in the water
  column due to solids
• -we measured this at Hugh MacRae pond using a
  secchi disk
• 5. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
• -high levels can affect clarity and PS
• -easiest testing method involves evaporation

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• 6. Nitrates excessive amounts of nitrates in
  water indicate fertilizers and/or animal wastes
• - gt10 ppm can be a health issue
• - what happened with your test?
• 7. Phosphates harmful in high concentrations
  can enter through sewage, fertilizers, and
  detergents
• -seawater .05-.1 is acceptable
• -gt.1 can lead to accelerated plant/algal growth

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• 8. pH measures acidity or alkalinity
• -seawater 7.5-8.4
• -pure water 7.0
• -most rainwater is 5.5-6
• -acid rain can be as low as 3!

http//www.zeolitesupport.com/acids_and_bases_phsc
ale.jpg
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Drinking Water Tests most info from
http//www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.h
tml

• Nitrate 10g/mL
• Nitrite 1g/mL
• Measuring nitrogen, usually contaminates
  drinking water through fertilizer runoff, sewage,
  and erosion of natural deposits.
• Infants below the age of six months who drink
  water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL
  could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may
  die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and
  blue-baby syndrome.

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• 2. Copper higher than 1.3 g/mL is not acceptable
  (1300ug/L). Exposure can lead to vomiting,
  diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea seriousness of
  these effects can be expected to increase with
  increased copper levels or length of exposure
  Children under one year of age are more sensitive
  to copper than adults. Long-term exposure (more
  than 14 days) to copper in drinking water which
  is much higher than 1,000 ug/I has been found to
  cause kidney and liver damage in infants. Other
  persons who are highly susceptible to copper
  toxicity include people with liver damage or
  Wilson's disease.
• (http//dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/copper.htmhealth
  
• 3. pH 6. 0-8.5 Pure water 7
• low pH is usually soft, high pH water is hard

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• 4. Iron 0.3g/mL, greater can cause water to turn
  reddish-brown not hazardous to health, but can
  have a bad taste and stain (similar to hard
  water)
• 5. Chlorine (see p. 522-523 in text)Chlorine is
  used to kill disease-causing bacteria in water.
  There is a debate over how much chlorine can
  cause cancer. 4mg/L is the maximum level allowed
  in drinking water (in the USA)
• 6. Hardness water that has a high mineral
  content, usually magnesium and calcium no health
  regulations hardnessdeposits in toilet, sink
  and clothes, may taste bitter (esp coffee),
  doesnt lather easily.

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7. FC safe drinking water can have SOMEno
more than 1 colony/100mL water 8. TDS a high
number can indicate a decline in quality and
taste of drinking water