Chemical testing result summary:
At Tingalpa creek a number of chemical tests were performed in order to collect data about the health of the waterway. Water temprature,oxygen concentration, PH level, Nitrates/nitrites, phosphorus, salinity and E.coli were tested.
The water temperature at Tingalpa creek was 23.4 C. It is difficult to determine a normal water temperature as there are many factors that change it. Water temperature is a key factor controlling the rate of biological processes, such as algal growth. For every 10 degrees Celsius (°C) increase in temperature, the rate of biological processes almost doubles. However this result appears to be around the normal range for this time of year. The factors that affect water temperature
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The healthy PH range for an estuary is 7-9. Although the PH level at tingalpa creek was in the healthy range, it is still important to discuss what the consequences would be if the PH was outside the normal range. The pH of water determines the solubility (amount that can be dissolved in the water) and biological availability (amount that can be utilized by aquatic life) of chemical constituents such as nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon) and heavy metals (lead, copper, cadmium, etc.). For example, in addition to affecting how much and what form of phosphorus is most abundant in the water, pH also determines whether aquatic life can use it. In the case of heavy metals, the degree to which they are soluble determines their toxicity. Metals tend to be more toxic at lower pH because they are more soluble. Pollution generated from rain events, such as acid runoff from exposed acid sulphate soils on land, can drain into an estuary and reduce pH values dramatically. Alternatively, biological processes of photosynthesis associated with plants and algae can raise pH levels well above the normal marine range through removal of dissolved carbon dioxide in the waterway. Other factors that influence PH level include source of the water, time of day ,water temperature, geology and soils , discharge of industrial wastes, atmospheric deposition and
Dissolved Oxygen, pH levels, Temperature Change, Fecal Coliform, BOD, Nitrate, Phosphates, Turbidity, and Total Solids were each tested in the stream at least one time. If more time and enough supplies were given, then certain tests should be done more than once. Temperature Changes should be tested every other month because it is quick and a change in temperature can affect the health of the organisms living in the stream and therefore the quality of the stream. Temperatures can also drastically change in a short amount of time and there is a large difference in water temperatures in summer and winter. Another test that should be done every other month is dissolved oxygen because it is related to the temperature of the water. Cooler waters have a greater capacity for dissolved oxygen than warmer waters. This test is important because due to human activity and industrial processes, can increase water temperature and therefore decrease the dissolved oxygen levels. Certain organisms living in the stream need a sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen to survive. Another test that should be done more often is the
Each person got to test either the phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen, or the ph in the creek. Phosphates and nitrates are nutrients found in water due to fertilizers, decaying plants and bacteria. Dissolved oxygen is the amount of gaseous oxygen dissolved in the water. As we recorded our results, we discovered that the dissolved oxygen levels were very high, which is good because the higher amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, the healthier the creek is. The phosphates levels in the creek were all perfect zeros, which is great because having nutrients in the creek is not healthy. The nitrate levels were slightly higher, at 0.9. That is not bad at all, but it isn’t perfect, showing signs of pollution. The ph levels in the rocks were neutral, right at seven. If they were lower than 7, that would mean they have acids in them, and if they were higher than 7, they would have alkaline in them. Alkaline, or bases, neutralizes acids. The number of rocks that we found that neutralized acid was 65, and the number of rocks that did not neutralize acids were 29. This shows that about one-third of the rocks in the creek do not neutralize acids.
So we can conclude that the creek is not polluted based on this evidence. The creek creature are mostly from group 1 and 2. Also, the creek water contains little to no nitrates and phosphates. The creek also contains a high amount of dissolved oxygen (9.8ppm to be exact) Lastly, the creek limestone neutralize acid rain. The pH of the water is also a healthy 7. After all this evidence we can conclude that the creek is not
The eutrophication test tested if the creek has too many nutrients. If we found high levels of phosphate and nitrate in the water, that would mean the creek has eutrophication, which is bad. Phosphate and nitrates are found in fertilizers, and some detergents. On average, we found out the creek had .1% phosphate in it which is good.We, also, found out that was .9% nitrate in the creek, which is also good. The dissolved oxygen test tested how much oxygen was in the water. We found a 9.8% average for dissolved oxygen, which determines the type and number of macroinvertebrates that may live there. In past years it was tested that the water was warmer. The velocity of the water could affect this. As a result, I conducted the river does not have eutrophication.
In summary, there are many different factors that contribute to the health of the Susquehanna River. The factors include the pH, temperature, phosphate, nitrate and dissolved oxygen levels. Another factor is the wildlife living in and around the water. A healthy pH level is from five to eight. The tested level was within this range! The temperature was also at a good level because it was cold enough to have the healthy level of dissolved oxygen. The dissolved oxygen level was about nine. The nitrate levels were excellent, but the phosphate levels were just good because they were slightly above where they are supposed to be. Also, by analyzing the types of macroinvertebrates in the river, the level of pollution can be evaluated. The
The health of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay was found based on Biological (macroinvertebrates and wildlife) and Chemicals characteristics (pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, etc.) as well as physical observations (amount of forested buffers, wetlands, etc.) Overall it was concluded that the health of the water was good to excellent. What was found was that many of the macroinvertebrates found in the water were sensitive or facultative, meaning the water quality was good enough for them to live in. Also, the level of ph, temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, and turbidity showed that the water quality was good. Finally, while we were canoeing down the Susquehanna River, observations were made on the land
The samples of unfiltered Rio Salado River water used in these experiments were collected from a site on the south bank of the river near S. 7th Ave. in Phoenix Arizona (see figure 1). The samples of water were collected by filling a three-gallon carboy by submerging it in the river. The carboy was then transported at ambient air temperature to the lab the same day it
The water levels were good enough for animals. The temperature were average for when I went out. The PH levels were good enough for the “Mouth Average”. The Con. were high good enough to make energy. The salinity was average good for saltwater. There was DO in the water was the right amount. The DCO2 were low. There were also low N and P and Sulfide. Alkalinity was average. The Turbidity were a bit higher than
Sediments are the main source of water pollution, contributing to turbidity issues as well as irregular or harmful nitrite/nitrate, phosphorus, and pH levels. This contributes to the death of marine organisms and can also change which organisms can survive in the body of water as its conditions change due to runoff. Anthropogenic runoff is also a contributor of adverse water effects, such as cultural eutrophication from fertilizer runoff, and also results in the death of aquatic animals and shifts in which organisms are more prominent in the ecosystem. This lab will address the effects soil will have on variables concerning water quality. There is also the option of including fish and/or aquatic plants in the water column, which are independent variables as well as the soil. The pH, ammonia levels, nitrite levels, temperature, D.O., and physical attributes are the dependent variables that will be measured during the lab. The qualitative physical tests (turbidity and odor) will portray the physical state and cleanliness of the water, as well as the level of runoff from the soil.
The question being investigated is, what is the water quality of the UHigh creek based on invertebrates found in the water? The water quality is determined by the dissolved oxygen, the pH level, the nitrogen levels, and phosphorous level. The dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen molecules mixed in with the water molecules. If the dissolved oxygen level is low, then the water will become polluted. Dissolved oxygen range is 1-14 parts per million or milligrams per liter(Riverwatch). The aquatic organisms need these dissolved oxygen molecules to breathe and survive. Another factor for measuring water quality is the pH levels. This measures the acidity of different solutions in the water. A pH range of 6.5-8.5 is considered safe for aquatic life. Another factor for measuring water quality is nitrogen. It is found as ammonia and the content of nitrogen in the water should be no more than 1.3-2.2 mg/L. If it is above this range it can
Along Cabbage Tree Creek, four different sites were examined by two year 11 Biology classes to discuss how healthy the waterway is as an entire creek. The whole point of this study was to evaluate what the water quality is and what effect it has on the biotic and abiotic factors of the creek. The four different sites were Aspley High behind the oval, Linkfield Drive, Graham Road and Collins Road where the students examined the water and tested the levels of dissolved oxygen, the temperature, turbidity, salinity, pH, flow rate, the amount of phosphate, nitrate and chlorine to make conclusions on the health of the creek as a whole. The Riparian width, habitat and the number of fish were also recorded in order to have an idea of what fish and other organisms live in certain places in the creek. The first place visited in the creek was the site behind Aspley State High School and had the best habitat rating of 17 out of 24. This is because there wasn’t the same amount of litter as the other sites, the creek seemed to have a good flow rate and there was a good amount of instream cover to cool down the creek. The second place in the creek that was visited was Linkfield Drive and out of all four places was deemed to be the unhealthiest with a habitat rating of 11.5.
The water quality of the U-high creek was recorded as excellent. However, that is not that is not the case for every body of water. Some lakes, rivers, or streams are polluted. One way humans pollute the water is chemical runoff from industrial processes. (Lenntech,2016). Some chemicals like sulfuric acid get released into the air and come back down as acid rain. If enough acid rain gets into the river it can start to kill organisms in it. Pesticides from crops is another way that humans can contaminate the water. (Lenntech,2016). When it rains the excess chemicals get washed into the river. The chemical formaldehyde is used in pesticides and is highly toxic to aquatic life. So, if it gets into the river then anything exposed to it will die.
Because streams play important roles in ecosystems and also provide drinking water for humans, this experiment was performed to determine if water velocity affects the health of a stream. For our purposes, water heath was determined by concentrations of dissolved oxygen. We predicted that areas of higher water velocity would have a lower chlorophyll a concentration and higher dissolved oxygen concentration. We collected six samples of water from Wild Basin Preserve in Austin, TX, three from areas of still water and three from areas of running water. We measured the dissolved oxygen concentrations of each sample using an YSI 550A Dissolved Oxygen Instrument and measured the chlorophyll a concentrations of each sample using a DU 800
Methods for environmental testing are selected based on the informed needs of the client and the end use of the data. GT strives to use the latest valid edition of a standard method unless it is not appropriate or possible to do so. The client is advised if they propose a method that is either inappropriate or out of date.
Environmental factors like bodies of water having an increased temperature, algae blooms take away carbon dioxide from the water during photosynthesis which can raise the ph level, runoff from land mines can produce acid main drainage which lowers the ph level, or when certain dissolved minerals mix with the extra hydrogen or hydroxyl ions that changes the pH levels. When the pH level is altered it doesn’t go too well. For example, when pH level is low it increases the solubility of some heavy metals, which lets them dissolve into the water and become toxic to aquatic organisms. It is optimal for most organisms that the pH level ranges from 6.5 to 8.2.