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ntroduction

A watershed is a surrounding land area that serves as drainage for a stream. It may cover a few acres of land surrounding a very small stream or includes large rivers. The quality of a stream depends on its watershed and human activities that occur there. The most common types of water pollution are bacteria, viruses, or protists, which are human pathogens, organic wastes, sediments, toxic chemicals such as pesticides, organic waste such as sewage and animal wastes, plant nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates, or heat, which causes thermal pollution.

The study was done in the Clark watershed. Sites included above Stone Bridge on Spruce Bank Road, behind maintenance facilities parking lots and recharge pond, on the path from the liberal arts buildings between the dorms below parking lot discharge, below pedestrian bridge to dorm, above driveway between big trees and storm drains, and just below main road to dorms. The purpose of this laboratory experiment was to closely examine a specimen of water selected from the Quinnipiac Brook on April 15, 2003. Another purpose was to learn more about the purity of the water by performing different tests with the water samples taken.

Materials and Methods

*Nail clippers

*Plastic beaker

*Plastic sample bottles

*Watch

*Thermometer

*Portable pH meter or pH indicator paper

*Dissolved oxygen test kit

*Nitrate test kit

*Chloride test kit

*Phosphate test kit

*dHdO

*footwear

*ampoule

*whirl-pak bags

*pathosccreen powder pillow

TESTS PERFORMED:

1.River Transect Test: The brooks depths were taken in different distances from the bank

2.Coliform and Pathoscreen Tests: tested for bacteria, and pathogens

3.Orthophospate Test (Titration Test): Tested for the amount of phosphate in the water

4.Nitrite Test: Tested for the amount of nitrate in the water

5.Temperature and pH Tests (Strip Test): the temperature and pH were taken

6.Alkalinity Test (Strip Test): The alkalinity was determined from the water specimen

7.Ammonia Test: The amount of ammonia was determined

8.Chloride Test (Titration Test): The amount of chloride was determined

9.Disolved Oxygen Test (Titration Test): The amount of dissolved oxygen was determined\

10.Hardness Test (Strip Test): Tested if the water was hard, and by how much

11.Nitrate Test (Strip Test): Tested for the amount of Nitrate in the brook

Results

-data (see attached)

QB-07

Hemiptera

Diptera (Aquatic Fly Larva)

Odonata (Dragonfly)QB-10

4 scuds (amphipode)

1 cranefly larva (diptera)QB-13

Scud

Mayfly Larva

Stonefly larva

anisopteraMR-01

Dobsonfly larva

Snipefly larva

Waterpenny larva

Sow bugMR-07

2 stonefly larva

4 rifflebeetle larvae

6 watersnap flyMR-02

6 scuds

2 stonefly larva

1 dobsonfly larva

1 aquatic sow bug

1 pouch snail

In site QB-07, the following were found: Hemiptera, Diptera (Aquatic Fly Larva), and Odonata (Dragonfly). In site QB-10, 4 scuds (amphipode) and 1 crandefly larva (Diptera) were found. In site QB-13, a scud was found as well as a mayfly larva, stonefly larva, and an anisoptera. In site MR-01, a Dobson fly larva, snipefly larva, waterpenny larva, and sow bug was found. In site MR-07, there were 2 stonefly larva’s, 4 riffle beetle larva’s, and 6 watersnap fly’s. In MR-02, there were 6 scuds, 2stonefly larvas, 1 dobsonfly larva, 1 aquatic sow bug, and 1 pouch snail found.

Discussion

All sites but QB-01, QB-02, QB-05, QB-06, QB-12, QB-14, were Hi-sites for alkalinity. Alkalinity is not a pollutant but infact a high alkalinity can serve as a buffer. It should not be confused with pH, because alkalinity indicates the power that the water can react with an acid, once again becoming a buffer. It also keeps the pH relatively constant, and it is good for fish. The alkalinity of the brook was 40 ppm.

The test site MR-09 was highest in ammonia. The lowest was MR-07, MR-08, QB-01, QB-02, QB-05, QB-06, QB-10, QB-12, QB-13, which all had little to no ammonia. Ammonia on the other hand is toxic to fish and other organisms living in the aquatic regions. Even if it is the smallest amount, at 0.06 mg/L the gills of a fish can be damaged. They soon begin to die when the ammonia level reaches 0.2 mg/L. Fortunately there was no ammonia found in the brook. It is a color-less strong-smelling gas, and when mixed with water can become a good purifying agent.

The Hi-site for chlorine was QB-10 and the lo-site was QB-01. The normal amount of chlorine that should appear in a stream or brook is 0.3 this is when fish begin to die. Chlorine is not harmful to humans in small amounts. It is widely used across the United States as a disinfectant in water. When chlorine is mixed with water it is called free chlorine.

The Hi-site for DO (dissolved oxygen) was MR-02 and the lo-site was QB-13. Oxygen that is dissolved in water is called dissolved oxygen. When the water gets to warm then there may not be enough oxygen in it. This causes much bacteria and aquatic animals growth. The minimum amount of dissolved oxygen is 4-5 ppm that would support a large fish population. Best conditions are when the dissolved oxygen is around 9.0 ppm, but it is harmful when the level drops below 3.0 ppm. Quinnipiac brook contained 7.8 ppm, this means that the level is appropriate and that living organisms and fish can survive.

The Hi-site for hardness was all but, MR-01, MR-07, MR-08, MR-09, QB-01, QB-02, QB-05, QB-06, QB-07, QB-08, and QB-09. The lo-site for hardness was MR-02.

The hi-site for nitrate was MR-01, MR-02, MR-08, and QB-02. The lo-site for nitrate was QB-01, QB-06, QB-09, and QB-13. Nitrates get into waterways from lawn fertilizer run-off, leaking septic tanks and cesspools, manure from farm livestock, animal wastes (including fish and birds), and discharges from car exhausts. Nitrates stimulate the growth of plankton and water weeds that provide food for fish. This may increase the fish population. However, if algae grow too wildly, oxygen levels will be reduced and fish will die.

The nitrite test turned out to be zero, therefore saying that all samples were negative. Together nitrite and nitrate make up about eighty percent of the air that we breathe. These two components are essential for life on earth. Nitrates are converted into nitrates by bacteria and do not exist very long. They can also be very toxic, causing illnesses such as brown blood disease in fish, and it can cause “blue baby” because it has the ability to destroy oxygen cells. There was no nitrite found in the water. Nitrate is a natural fertilizer it finds its way into streams and brooks after it rains. This occurs because it washes down hills after it rains from being on crops and grass. They can be harmful if they are reduced to toxic nitrites. The recommended amount of nitrate is 0.06 mg/L. There was 1 ppm and 2 ppm in the brook. This is over the amount that it should be.

The hi-site for pH was QB-13. The lo-site was QB-01 and QB-07. The pH of the brook was 6 this was an appropriate pH because a neutral pH is at 7 so the pH of the water leans more towards the neutral side of the scale than the acidic. Fish can survive in water when the pH is as low 4.8.

The hi-site for ortho-phosphate was QB-10. The lo-site was MR-02. Ortho forms are produced by natural processes and are found in wastewater. Poly forms are used for treating boiler waters and in detergents; they can change to the ortho form in water.

The hi-site for the coliform test was MR-01, MR-07, MR-08, QB-13, and QB-14. This meant that they were positive for fecal material. (“Fecal Coliform”) There was no change in QB-05. The same sites were positive for fecal material and QB-05 also had no change in this test. The coliform and the pathoscreen tests had no color change. This indicates that were no harmful bacteria or pathogens in the water.