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Chemical Testing Lab Report

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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 …show more content…

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

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