Water Contamination Lab Report
Water quality and contamination
Tijuana R Harvey
SCI207 Dependence of Man on the Environment
Instructor: Kathryn Garland
Nov.3, 2014
Water Quality and Contaminants
Water being one of our most precious resources we have to question the quality of our water quality and things that maybe contaminating it. Water affects not only humans it affects other living things such as animals, plants, and aquatic life and hydroelectric machinery. Some would believe that it should be a human right to have clean quality water for ones uses. As one examine water and where it comes from there and the type of water such as surface water or groundwater. It is apparent the concern of the quality of water and it exposure to contaminants is necessary. …show more content…
According to Kenney (2006) In 1899 The Rivers and Harbors Act was the beginning of the governments concern for water pollution. In section 13 of this Act it would make it against the law to dump any substances of any kind from land or floating craft into the water. Ground water can be exposed to natural contaminants as well as human activity contaminants such as detergent, and oils. If we are going to have water for the future one must find better ways to have quality water free of contaminants.
As one would evaluate the purpose of this lab one can come to the conclusion that everyday contaminants are present in the water and as a result we must understand how to filter these contaminants.
According to (Turks & 2014) only a small portion of the earth’s water is fresh however a larger portion of this fresh water is ice or glaciers. This mean the earth is only able to use the small portion to live on which is why it is important to be able to filter water and have alternative ways of reusing water. According to (Weber, 1973-07) the EPA has conducted studies not only to check for water quality but also to test for good and bad water standard …show more content…
practices.
As we examine this lab and the purposed of these experiments one can see was how contaminants affect our water supply. As each of the contaminant oil, detergent and vinegar were mixed with the groundwater to determine the result of how contaminants can be filter naturally by soil we can identify how soil affects each type of contaminant. Being able to identify what the contaminants are and how they polluting the water are important to maintaining the supply of usable water. Researching how to filter water is essential to safe consumption by humans as well as animals, plants and other user of this resource.
Experiment 1 this experiment show the contaminants administered by human activities and how they can pollute the water and also how the soil has the ability to filter these contaminants. Experiment 2 show one the methods similar to the systems use for filtration of the water by wastewater treatment center to purify and filter water for safe use. Experiment 3 shows bottle water versus tap water and the contaminants in each and how to choose quality drinking water. Experiment 1 I hypothesized that if oil is dumped in the water and filter thru soil that the oil will float to the top of the water and not contaminate the groundwater. In the mixing of vinegar in water and filter thru soil the vinegar will contaminate the water. In the case of the laundry detergent if mixed with the water and filter thru the soil it would also mix with the water contaminating the water.
Experiment 2 I hypothesized that the filtration technique used would cause the water to become clean and clear of contaminants.
Experiment 3 I hypothesized that the Fiji water will have the least contaminants followed by tap water and Dasani being the most contaminated.
Methods and Materials
Experiment 1 the material used were eight 250 ml beakers label 1-8 filling 100ml of water in four of the 250ml beakers. Then leaving one breaker just water I proceeded to fill the other three breakers (250ml) with 10ml of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent. Then use a wooden stick to stir the contents in the beakers. Then observing and recording each of the result in the beakers. Simulating a filter I use a funnel, cheesecloth folded in fours, 60 ml of soil as I pour beaker 1-4 through the filter into the additional 250ml beaker 5-8 filter thru for a minute and observe and record result. Discard soil, cheesecloth, and repeat process above for additional beakers.
Experiment 2 the materials used were 100ml of soil filling a 250ml beaker then fill water to the 200ml mark of the same beaker. Pour the mix solution between two 250 ml beaker for 15 minutes. Pour 10 ml of the solution into a new 100ml beaker. Then pour 10ml of aluminum into the rest of the 250ml beaker stir up with wooden stick for 1-2 min and then let it sit for 15min. then use a clean 250ml beaker with a funnel it should be layered with cheesecloth 40ml sand, 20ml charcoal and 40ml gravel use 100ml beaker to measure all the layers. Then pour water in the funnel till full then rinse and get rid of the water. Continue this process four times then let funnel sit for 5minutes. Then pour ¾ of the contaminated water into funnel without mixing a filter for 5 minutes. Compare10ml save sample to now filter sample. Add some drop of bleach for 1 minute and water is now filter compare 10ml to filter sample.
Experiment 3 materials used were three 250ml beakers label Tap water, Dasani, Fiji, apply ammonia test strip swishing test strip around for 30sec and compare to chart and record result. Then use Chloride strip dip into each water for 1 min shake of water a record results. Next dip 4and1 test strip in and out water for 5secondswait 20 sec then using color chart compare and record result do this with each water beaker. Next use the Phosphate strips dip for 5 seconds then pull out of water and hold horizontal with pad side up 45 seconds and compare to color chart and record result. Finally use Iron strips discard 70ml of water in each beaker leaving 30ml add foil contents to waters cover with parafilm and shake for 15seconds then dip Iron test strip back and forth for 5seconds after 10 seconds compare to chart and record results.
Results
Lab 2 – Water Quality and Contamination
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker
Observations
1
Clear in color, no smell,
2
Yellowish and clear coloring, no smell, vegetable oil stayed on top of water
3
Clear in color , mix with groundwater, faint vinegar smell,
4
Clear and white in color, soap smell, liquid laundry soap mixed with groundwater and formed soap bubbles on top of ground water
5
Brownish in color, soil particle present in water at bottom and top of water, no smell
6
Light brownish color, very little soil apparent at bottom of water,
7
Clear and light yellowish in color, almost no soil apparent, vinegar smell
8
Darker brownish tint in color, soil apparent at bottom of water and some soap suds on the top, and soap smell
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1.
Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis = The oil will float to the top of the water and not contaminate the groundwater.
b. Vinegar hypothesis = The vinegar will mix with the groundwater therefore contaminating it
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis =The laundry detergent will mix with groundwater and change the look of the water.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
a. Oil hypothesis accept/reject = I would accept all of my hypothesis
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject = I accept the vinegar hypothesis as true the vinegar contaminating the water.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject =I accept the laundry detergent hypothesis as true the laundry detergent has alter the look of the water, and mixed to contaminate the water.
3. What affects did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the
water?
Answer = The vegetable oil contaminated the water with dirt and oil left in the water. The vinegar seems to filter the water leaving the least amount of contaminants is the water. The vinegar had the most potent effect on the water. The laundry detergent contaminated the leaving particle of soil and was dark in color.
4. Using at least 1 scholarly source, discuss what type of affects these contaminants (oil, vinegar, detergent) might have on a town’s water source and the people who drank the water?
Answer =
5. Describe what type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid and detergents to flow into the water supply? Additionally, what other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them onto the ground?
Answer = When people change their car oil and not disposing of it properly by letting it run into the storm drains, or washing the car with detergent and rinsing it off onto the streets. The uses of acid in businesses and the lack of proper disposing methods instead sink toilets or alley ways to dispose of these acids. In addition to the ones listed above other product in the household that could contaminant such as cleaning products, paints, medicines, hair products.
Experiment 2: Water Treatment
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on the ability of your filtration technique to remove contaminants.
Hypothesis = The filtration will cause the contaminated water to be cleared and clean looking.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/Reject = I accept the hypothesis that the contaminated water would clear and cleaned by the filtration technique because the newly filtered water is now clear in color and smell better than the contaminated water.
3. What are the differences in color, smell, visibility, etc. between the “contaminated” water and the “treated” water?
Answer = The contaminated water is dark black in color and has a dirt smell versus the filtered water is clear in color and smells like bleach. The contaminated water visibility is none and the filter water visibility is clear and can look right through it.
4. From the introduction to this lab, you know that there are typically five steps involved in the water treatment process. Identify the processes (e.g., coagulation) that were used in this lab and describe how they were performed.
Answer = We used sand charcoal gravel and pebbles and disinfection with chlorine or bleach. The first four elements are layer amongst one another and the contaminated water pass through each element pulling out the contaminates leaving most clean water and some chlorine is add to finish the process and disinfected any bacteria’s left so that the water can be used for drinking and other things.
Experiment 3: Drinking Water Quality
Table 2: Ammonia Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
0
Dasani® Bottled Water
0
Fiji® Bottled Water
0
Table 3: Chloride Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
500
Dasani® Bottled Water
0
Fiji® Bottled Water
0
Table 4: 4 in 1 Test Results
Water Sample pH Total Alkalinity
Total Chlorine
Total Hardness
Tap Water
6
4.0
40
120
Dasani® Bottled Water
3
0
0
0
Fiji® Bottled Water
7
4.0
40
50
Table 5: Phosphate Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
25
Dasani® Bottled Water
25
Fiji® Bottled Water
50
Table 6: Iron Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
0.15
Dasani® Bottled Water
0.15
Fiji® Bottled Water
0.15
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on which water source you believe will contain the most and least contaminants.
Hypothesis = I believe Fiji water will have the least contaminants followed by tap water and Dasani being the most contaminated.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/reject = I reject my hypothesis the Fiji water had some high contaminants and some low. Dasani was the least contaminant of the water and tap water results varying in highs and lows.
3. Based on the results of your experiment, what major differences, if any, do you notice between the Dasani, Fiji, and tap water?
Answer = Tap water is harder than any of the other water
4. Based on your results, do you believe that bottled water is worth the price? Why or why not?
Answer = No I see a lot of close result and believe bottle water should not be as pricey considering it’s not far from tap water.
References:
Kenney, R. (2006). Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, United States. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155764
Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Weber, Cornelius, (1973-07). Biological Field and Laboratory Methods for Measuring The Quality Of Surface Waters And Effluents. Retrieved from http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/1537
Tijuana R Harvey
SCI207 Dependence of Man on the Environment
Instructor: Kathryn Garland
Nov.3, 2014
Water Quality and Contaminants
Water being one of our most precious resources we have to question the quality of our water quality and things that maybe contaminating it. Water affects not only humans it affects other living things such as animals, plants, and aquatic life and hydroelectric machinery. Some would believe that it should be a human right to have clean quality water for ones uses. As one examine water and where it comes from there and the type of water such as surface water or groundwater. It is apparent the concern of the quality of water and it exposure to contaminants is necessary. …show more content…
According to Kenney (2006) In 1899 The Rivers and Harbors Act was the beginning of the governments concern for water pollution. In section 13 of this Act it would make it against the law to dump any substances of any kind from land or floating craft into the water. Ground water can be exposed to natural contaminants as well as human activity contaminants such as detergent, and oils. If we are going to have water for the future one must find better ways to have quality water free of contaminants.
As one would evaluate the purpose of this lab one can come to the conclusion that everyday contaminants are present in the water and as a result we must understand how to filter these contaminants.
According to (Turks & 2014) only a small portion of the earth’s water is fresh however a larger portion of this fresh water is ice or glaciers. This mean the earth is only able to use the small portion to live on which is why it is important to be able to filter water and have alternative ways of reusing water. According to (Weber, 1973-07) the EPA has conducted studies not only to check for water quality but also to test for good and bad water standard …show more content…
practices.
As we examine this lab and the purposed of these experiments one can see was how contaminants affect our water supply. As each of the contaminant oil, detergent and vinegar were mixed with the groundwater to determine the result of how contaminants can be filter naturally by soil we can identify how soil affects each type of contaminant. Being able to identify what the contaminants are and how they polluting the water are important to maintaining the supply of usable water. Researching how to filter water is essential to safe consumption by humans as well as animals, plants and other user of this resource.
Experiment 1 this experiment show the contaminants administered by human activities and how they can pollute the water and also how the soil has the ability to filter these contaminants. Experiment 2 show one the methods similar to the systems use for filtration of the water by wastewater treatment center to purify and filter water for safe use. Experiment 3 shows bottle water versus tap water and the contaminants in each and how to choose quality drinking water. Experiment 1 I hypothesized that if oil is dumped in the water and filter thru soil that the oil will float to the top of the water and not contaminate the groundwater. In the mixing of vinegar in water and filter thru soil the vinegar will contaminate the water. In the case of the laundry detergent if mixed with the water and filter thru the soil it would also mix with the water contaminating the water.
Experiment 2 I hypothesized that the filtration technique used would cause the water to become clean and clear of contaminants.
Experiment 3 I hypothesized that the Fiji water will have the least contaminants followed by tap water and Dasani being the most contaminated.
Methods and Materials
Experiment 1 the material used were eight 250 ml beakers label 1-8 filling 100ml of water in four of the 250ml beakers. Then leaving one breaker just water I proceeded to fill the other three breakers (250ml) with 10ml of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent. Then use a wooden stick to stir the contents in the beakers. Then observing and recording each of the result in the beakers. Simulating a filter I use a funnel, cheesecloth folded in fours, 60 ml of soil as I pour beaker 1-4 through the filter into the additional 250ml beaker 5-8 filter thru for a minute and observe and record result. Discard soil, cheesecloth, and repeat process above for additional beakers.
Experiment 2 the materials used were 100ml of soil filling a 250ml beaker then fill water to the 200ml mark of the same beaker. Pour the mix solution between two 250 ml beaker for 15 minutes. Pour 10 ml of the solution into a new 100ml beaker. Then pour 10ml of aluminum into the rest of the 250ml beaker stir up with wooden stick for 1-2 min and then let it sit for 15min. then use a clean 250ml beaker with a funnel it should be layered with cheesecloth 40ml sand, 20ml charcoal and 40ml gravel use 100ml beaker to measure all the layers. Then pour water in the funnel till full then rinse and get rid of the water. Continue this process four times then let funnel sit for 5minutes. Then pour ¾ of the contaminated water into funnel without mixing a filter for 5 minutes. Compare10ml save sample to now filter sample. Add some drop of bleach for 1 minute and water is now filter compare 10ml to filter sample.
Experiment 3 materials used were three 250ml beakers label Tap water, Dasani, Fiji, apply ammonia test strip swishing test strip around for 30sec and compare to chart and record result. Then use Chloride strip dip into each water for 1 min shake of water a record results. Next dip 4and1 test strip in and out water for 5secondswait 20 sec then using color chart compare and record result do this with each water beaker. Next use the Phosphate strips dip for 5 seconds then pull out of water and hold horizontal with pad side up 45 seconds and compare to color chart and record result. Finally use Iron strips discard 70ml of water in each beaker leaving 30ml add foil contents to waters cover with parafilm and shake for 15seconds then dip Iron test strip back and forth for 5seconds after 10 seconds compare to chart and record results.
Results
Lab 2 – Water Quality and Contamination
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker
Observations
1
Clear in color, no smell,
2
Yellowish and clear coloring, no smell, vegetable oil stayed on top of water
3
Clear in color , mix with groundwater, faint vinegar smell,
4
Clear and white in color, soap smell, liquid laundry soap mixed with groundwater and formed soap bubbles on top of ground water
5
Brownish in color, soil particle present in water at bottom and top of water, no smell
6
Light brownish color, very little soil apparent at bottom of water,
7
Clear and light yellowish in color, almost no soil apparent, vinegar smell
8
Darker brownish tint in color, soil apparent at bottom of water and some soap suds on the top, and soap smell
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1.
Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis = The oil will float to the top of the water and not contaminate the groundwater.
b. Vinegar hypothesis = The vinegar will mix with the groundwater therefore contaminating it
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis =The laundry detergent will mix with groundwater and change the look of the water.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
a. Oil hypothesis accept/reject = I would accept all of my hypothesis
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject = I accept the vinegar hypothesis as true the vinegar contaminating the water.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject =I accept the laundry detergent hypothesis as true the laundry detergent has alter the look of the water, and mixed to contaminate the water.
3. What affects did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the
water?
Answer = The vegetable oil contaminated the water with dirt and oil left in the water. The vinegar seems to filter the water leaving the least amount of contaminants is the water. The vinegar had the most potent effect on the water. The laundry detergent contaminated the leaving particle of soil and was dark in color.
4. Using at least 1 scholarly source, discuss what type of affects these contaminants (oil, vinegar, detergent) might have on a town’s water source and the people who drank the water?
Answer =
5. Describe what type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid and detergents to flow into the water supply? Additionally, what other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them onto the ground?
Answer = When people change their car oil and not disposing of it properly by letting it run into the storm drains, or washing the car with detergent and rinsing it off onto the streets. The uses of acid in businesses and the lack of proper disposing methods instead sink toilets or alley ways to dispose of these acids. In addition to the ones listed above other product in the household that could contaminant such as cleaning products, paints, medicines, hair products.
Experiment 2: Water Treatment
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on the ability of your filtration technique to remove contaminants.
Hypothesis = The filtration will cause the contaminated water to be cleared and clean looking.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/Reject = I accept the hypothesis that the contaminated water would clear and cleaned by the filtration technique because the newly filtered water is now clear in color and smell better than the contaminated water.
3. What are the differences in color, smell, visibility, etc. between the “contaminated” water and the “treated” water?
Answer = The contaminated water is dark black in color and has a dirt smell versus the filtered water is clear in color and smells like bleach. The contaminated water visibility is none and the filter water visibility is clear and can look right through it.
4. From the introduction to this lab, you know that there are typically five steps involved in the water treatment process. Identify the processes (e.g., coagulation) that were used in this lab and describe how they were performed.
Answer = We used sand charcoal gravel and pebbles and disinfection with chlorine or bleach. The first four elements are layer amongst one another and the contaminated water pass through each element pulling out the contaminates leaving most clean water and some chlorine is add to finish the process and disinfected any bacteria’s left so that the water can be used for drinking and other things.
Experiment 3: Drinking Water Quality
Table 2: Ammonia Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
0
Dasani® Bottled Water
0
Fiji® Bottled Water
0
Table 3: Chloride Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
500
Dasani® Bottled Water
0
Fiji® Bottled Water
0
Table 4: 4 in 1 Test Results
Water Sample pH Total Alkalinity
Total Chlorine
Total Hardness
Tap Water
6
4.0
40
120
Dasani® Bottled Water
3
0
0
0
Fiji® Bottled Water
7
4.0
40
50
Table 5: Phosphate Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
25
Dasani® Bottled Water
25
Fiji® Bottled Water
50
Table 6: Iron Test Results
Water Sample
Test Results
Tap Water
0.15
Dasani® Bottled Water
0.15
Fiji® Bottled Water
0.15
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on which water source you believe will contain the most and least contaminants.
Hypothesis = I believe Fiji water will have the least contaminants followed by tap water and Dasani being the most contaminated.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/reject = I reject my hypothesis the Fiji water had some high contaminants and some low. Dasani was the least contaminant of the water and tap water results varying in highs and lows.
3. Based on the results of your experiment, what major differences, if any, do you notice between the Dasani, Fiji, and tap water?
Answer = Tap water is harder than any of the other water
4. Based on your results, do you believe that bottled water is worth the price? Why or why not?
Answer = No I see a lot of close result and believe bottle water should not be as pricey considering it’s not far from tap water.
References:
Kenney, R. (2006). Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, United States. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155764
Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Weber, Cornelius, (1973-07). Biological Field and Laboratory Methods for Measuring The Quality Of Surface Waters And Effluents. Retrieved from http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/1537