Transcript Problem Statement - NIA - Elizabeth City State University

Water Quality
ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY
2008 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Project
Elyse Howdershell, Taylor Dozier, Chudney Hill, Shauntavia Sawyer
PROBLEM STATEMENT
TESTING FOR POLLUTION
What 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?
CONNECTING THE LITHOSPHERE TO POLLUTION
SEWAGE & RUNOFF
We tested our water samples for:
Nitrate
Phosphate
Dissolved Oxygen
pH
(PPM- parts per million)
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 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.
HYPOTHESIS
If 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)
CONNECTING THE ATMOSPHERE TO POLLUTION
PH
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds Earth. Polluted
water can evaporate into the atmosphere, forming acid rain.
SCALE
Water with a pH value between 6.5 and 8.0 is acceptable
HYDROSPHERE - The hydrosphere is the collection all of Earth's
water. The Pasquotank River is a part of the hydrosphere.
Our pH Results:
DS01-7.22
PR02-6.6
ECSU03-6.6
ECSU04-7.21
CS05-7.84
BIOSPHERE - The Biosphere is all of the life on Earth. Chemicals are
being tossed in to our oceans and rivers by humans, biosphere
inhabitants.
This was overall a good learning experience and a
good opportunity.
YELLOW SPRINGS
INSTRUMENTATION
(YSI)
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!
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• Get going on fixing outdated municipal water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.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN SCALE
All of our samples were out of healthy range for dissolved
oxygen. This may be due to false readings on the YSI.
ECSU03 and CS05 showed unhealthy levels.
Dissolved Oxygen Chart
DS01-40.3
PR02-21.37
ECSU03-4.8
ECSU04-9.00
CS05-4.09
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
WATER QUALITY
Water quality is made up of many different parts which include: physical,
chemical, and biological characteristics. These characteristics are
compared to a set of standards.
REFLECTIONS
We learned that the Pasquotank River is contaminated
by sewage and by pollution.
All of our samples showed a healthy level of pH.
BURROUGHS WELLCOME SAMPLING SITES 08
Agriculture is a
leading source of
water pollution in
rivers and lakes
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PHOSPHATES
CONTRIBUTORS OF POOR WATER QUALITY
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
ECSU04-2ppm
CS05-1ppm
• Sewage overflows
• People polluting it
• Various aquatic activities (boating,
water skiing, swimming, etc.)
• Storm water runoff
• Fertilizer runoff
REFERENCES
NITRATES
EFFECT OF POOR WATER QUALITY
The federal standard for nitrate in drinking water is 10 mg/l
nitrate-N, or 50 mg/l nitrate-NO3
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
All of our samples showed normal levels of nitrates.
Dr. Botti
Dr. Porter
Dr. Pringle
Dr. Rossbach
Ms. Noble
Mrs. Stamper
Mrs. Jenkins
Mrs. Fowlkes
http://www.midwestadvocates.org/assets/toxics%20large.gif
http://www.hakkoairpumps.com/images/dissolved_oxygen_ chart.gif
http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/images/ phscale.gif
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/crops/00517.html
http://www.bestfish.com/tips/102998.html
www.wikipedia.com
http://www.google.com
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2008/01-08/water-pollution-solutions-article.htm