Alexis Roberts, Gracee Samia, Kayla Cook

AP Environmental Science

Mrs. Norris

2 May 2017

Water Quality Lab

Introduction

There are many sources of water pollution, some of which include air pollution, chemicals,

microbiological sources, mining, nutrients, oxygen depleting substances, and thermal sources. With regards to

air pollution, pollutants such as mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxides and ammonia fall out of the air and into

the water. Considering they fall from the atmosphere and into a body of water, it may cause mercury

contamination in fish and acidification and eutrophication of lakes. In addition to air pollution, methylmercury

serves as another source of water pollution. Some of the natural sources of mercury come from volcanoes,

natural mercury deposits and volatilization from the ocean. However, mercury also comes from human made

sources such as coal combustion, waste incineration, and metal processing. Mercury is one of the more harmful

pollutants in water because it bioaccumulates, resulting in the death of fish populations in bodies of water. The

most prominent source of mercury entering water as a source of pollution, though, is through deposition from

the atmosphere in the form of rainfall. Once mercury is in the surface water, it enters a cycle in which one form

can be converted to another (Iowa Department of Natural Resources, pg. 1).

Some of the other chemicals that may contribute to water pollution include metals, solvents and oils,

detergents and pesticides. All of the chemicals listed bioaccumulate in aquatic populations, resulting in the

death of organisms. One contributor to the chemicals entering the water as a pollutant is from road runoff and

other non-spill sources impart an amount of oil to oceans. Other sources of water pollution include the discharge

of oil wastes and oil-contaminated ballast water and wash water. Drilling and extraction of oil and gas are also

primary sources of water pollution and contamination. One of the more dangerous effects of chemicals entering
the aquatic environment is the growth hormones and antibiotics entering the water from animal farming

operations. Considering wastewater treatment facilities are unable to filter out personal care products,

household products or pharmaceuticals and as a result the chemicals directly enter local waterways. As far as

microbiological sources, wastewater is discharged directly into rivers and streams without treatment, which can

lead to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, shigella, polio, meningitis and hepatitis. Additionally,

leaking septic tanks and other sources of sewage can cause groundwater and stream contamination. Mining is a

major form of pollutant that is present in an aquatic ecosystem considering mining exposes heavy metals and

sulfur compounds that were located in Earths surface. However, rainwater leaches the compounds out of

Earths surface , which results in acid mine drainage and heavy-metal pollution. Rainwater also transfers

pollution from piles of mining waste to freshwater supplies, such as cyanide entering the water source. Nutrient

pollution is particularly a problem in estuaries and deltas where runoff that was aggregated by watersheds is

dumped at the mouth of major rivers. In addition to nutrients, oxygen depleting substances are caused by

biodegradable wastes in receiving waters, which results in increases in anaerobic bacteria that produce

ammonia, amines, sulfies and methane. In retrospect, dead zones are caused by excessive amounts of nutrient

pollution, mostly nitrates and phosphates, from human activities like agriculture, sewage and land runoff.

Lastly, thermal pollution is produced by industry and power plants. Specifically, heat reduces the ability of

water to hold oxygen and causes death of organisms that cant tolerate heat or low oxygen levels.

Negative outcomes of contamination might include a loss of biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem, death

of organisms as a result of pollutants in the water and the inability of the organisms to adapt to the conditions.

Some other negative outcomes that result from contamination of water sources would be the loss of a water

source. If a pollutant enters groundwater or an aquifer, it is no longer able to be used as a source of drinking

water. In addition to a loss of a water source, eutrophication of water due to runoff causes dense plant growth

and death of other organisms because of a lack of oxygen. Eutrophication also causes algal blooms which cause

death to aquatic wildlife.

 In order to determine the quality of a body of water, a variety of tests could and must be performed such

as testing for dissolved oxygen levels, temperature, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates, phosphates and

turbidity. It is important to test for dissolved oxygen levels because all organisms need some form of oxygen to

survive. It is apparent that cold water holds higher dissolved oxygen levels, which denotes a healthy aquatic

ecosystem, while warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen and is not as stable of an environment. High levels

of bacteria from sewage pollution is the main contributor as to why dissolved oxygen levels may decrease in

water. To effectively test for dissolved oxygen in a closed setting, dissolved oxygen testabs are used and then

after about 4-5 minutes the temperature and dissolved oxygen level at 4 or 8 ppm help to determine the percent

saturation.

To test for temperature of a water sample, a person must use a thermometer to read the water sample.

Temperature is important to test for because it affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which

affects the rate of photosynthesis and how well aquatic organisms can survive. Another important test to be used

to determine water quality is pH. pH in general, tests for how acidic or basic the water is, with 1-6 being acidic,

7 neutral, and 8-14 basic. A pH of 6.5-8.2 denotes a health pH level for water where organisms can survive and

prosper. To test for pH one must obtain a pH testab and then submerge it in water. After being submerged for a

period of time, the color on the testab will match one of the colors on the pH scale so the pH level can be read.

Biochemical oxygen is how much dissolved oxygen is being used by bacteria in an aquatic environment in

order to break down organic wastes.

In polluted water sources, the majority of the available oxygen is consumed by the bacteria which

removes oxygen for the use of other organisms. In order to read a BOD, you must take a water sample and place

it in an extremely dark environment for multiple days and then place dissolved oxygen testabs in the water

sample. Once the testabs have dissolved, you then compare the color with the DO chart to get the reading. In

particular, nitrogen is one of the most significant elements in an aquatic ecosystem because it is required by all

organisms to build proteins. Specifically, nitrate is released by the decomposition of organisms in the
ecosystem. If there is an excess of nitrogen in the ecosystem it will result in excessive plant growth and decay,

promoting bacterial decomposition. To test for nitrogen in a water sample, a nitrogen wide range CTA testab is

placed in a water sample and then after 5 minutes the color of the sample to the nitrogen chart to determine the

level of nitrates in the water. In addition to nitrates, phosphates are another kind of water sample that helps to

determine water quality. Phosphates are important for plant and animal growth in the water, as well as

metabolic reactions. If there are excessive amounts of phosphates in the water it will lead to overgrowth of

plants and increased bacterial consumption. To test for phosphates in a water sample, a phosphorus testab is

inserted into a water sample and then after a few minutes, you compare the color on the tab to the phosphorous

chart. Lastly, turbidity is a common test for water quality. Turbidity is how clear the water, caused by

suspended material such as clay, silt or sand. Turbidity could be tested by using a secchi disk icon and sticking

it onto a water sample jar and then comparing the color of the icon to the turbidity chart.

Some ways to resolve water pollution include preventing groundwater contamination, reusing treated

wastewater for irrigation, working with nature to treat sewage, reduce, reuse, recycle, slowing population

growth and minimizing the use of pesticides near bodies of water. Another way to resolve water pollution is to

decrease the amount of air pollutants, so that they dont settle into the water and to decrease greenhouse gas

emissions, which will, in turn, decrease the amount of acid rain that enters the aquatic ecosystem. In addition to

physical means of reducing water pollution, by educating people about the harmful effects of their action and

pollution in general, it can help to minimize the exposure and risks of water pollutants.

Purpose

The objective of this experiment is to determine the current water quality of Smith Creek and compare

its quality to the historic record.

Hypothesis
 If water samples are taken from Smith Creek and HHS pond annually from 1994-2017 and are compared

in terms of temperature, pH, phosphate and nitrate levels, and dissolved oxygen content, overall, both the HHS

pond and Smith Creek will exhibit a decrease in water quality. Therefore, both the HHS pond and Smith Creek

will increase in temperature by 10, and both ponds pHs will decrease by 5. Also, both ponds phosphate and

nitrate content will increase by 2 ppm. The dissolved oxygen content will decrease by 10 ppm. This decrease in

water quality is a result of the increase in the deforestation of the Neuse River Watershed for construction and

suburbanization of the area.

Procedure

1. Collect water samples from Smith Creek.

2. Perform the following tests according to instructions provided:

a. Temperature

b. pH

c. Phosphate

d. Nitrate

e. Cumulative Index Value (virtual)

f. DO

Data & Analysis

1. Identify the:

a. Date: 4/5/17

b. Time: 1:00 p.m.

c. Location: Smith Creek and HHS Pond

d. Air Temp: 20
 e. Humidity: 63%

2. Complete the table with your results of the tests using the water quality kit.

Test Smith Creek HHS Pond

Temperature 19 20.3
pH 6.5 6.2
Phosphate (ppm) .2 ppm 0 ppm
Nitrate (ppm) .59 ppm .88 ppm
Turbidity 0 JTU 0 JTU
Dissolved Oxygen (ppm) 4 ppm 4 ppm
Chlorine (ppm) 0 ppm 0 ppm
Ammonia (ppm) .283 ppm .45 ppm
Table 1: Water quality indicator test results on Smith Creek and the HHS Pond in 2017.

3. Calculating Dissolved Oxygen - In order to calculate the dissolved oxygen levels, you need to compare

them to the water temperature.

4. Determine the potential dissolved oxygen level by using the chart below.

a. The potential dissolved oxygen level is about 8.6 ppm (DO).

Potential DO
Temperature DO
(C) (ppm)

0 13.7
5 12.0
10 10.7
15 9.5
20 8.6
25 7.8

5. Use the following formula to determine the percent oxygen saturation by dividing the actual dissolved

oxygen level by the potential dissolved oxygen level.

 6. Graph your data and write an explanatory paragraph.
Test Ideal Results Poor Results Smith Creek HHS Pond

Temperature N/A N/A 19 20.3

pH 7 Below 6.5 or 6.5 6.2

Above 8.2

Phosphate (ppm) 0 Above 0.1 0.2 0

Nitrate (ppm) 0 Above 10 0.59 0.88

Turbidity (JTU) 0 NTU Above 1.0 NTU 0 0

Dissolved 91-110% <50% saturation 4 ppm 4 ppm

Oxygen (ppm) saturation 48.8% saturation 48.8% saturation

Ammonia (ppm) 0.02 - 0.06 ppm <0.06 ppm 0.283 0.45

Table 2: Water quality indicator test results of HHS Pond and Smith Creek compared to ideal and poor results.
Fig. 1: pH Levels of tested water in Smith Creek and HHS Pond from 1994-2017.

Fig. 2: Temperature (C) of tested water in Smith Creek and HHS Pond from 1994-2017.

Fig. 3: Phosphate levels of tested water in Smith Creek and HHS Pond from 1994-2017.
Fig. 4: Nitrate content of tested water in Smith Creek and HHS Pond from 1994-2017.

Fig. 5: Dissolved Oxygen level of tested water in Smith Creek and HHS Pond from 1994-2017.

Fig. 6: Ammonia content of tested water in Smith Creek and HHS Pond from 1994-2017.
 Considering the data collected from both Smith Creek and the Heritage High School Pond, it

demonstrates differences and similarities in water quality on the basis of using different water quality tests. In

particular, comparing the historic levels of pH levels of Smith Creek it is clear that they have declined over

time, meaning that the water is more acidic than it was in previous years, most likely due to an increase in acid

rain levels and sulfur and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. When comparing pH of the HHS Pond over

time, it is apparent that it was fairly low, but spiked and lowered again, possibly due to increased amounts of

runoff into the pond. With regards to temperature, it is evident that they have increased steadily over time in

both the HHS Pond and Smith Creek, which is mostly likely caused by overall climate change and global

warming.When looking at the current and historic data, it is apparent that phosphate levels in both Smith Creek

and the HHS Pond started low or barely at all and then spiked greatly within the previous few years. Upon

looking at the nitrate levels in Smith Creek have steadily declined over time, while nitrate levels have risen in

the HHS Pond, which denotes more plant growth and efficiency in the Pond and less occurring in Smith Creek.

For a period of time, the dissolved oxygen levels in Smith Creek decline but are on the rise again, possibly

meaning that there isnt as much bacteria using up the oxygen in the creek. However, in the HHS Pond the

dissolved oxygen levels have increased. As far as ammonia levels, they have increased a small amount in Smith

Creek and have extremely increased in the HHS Pond, which denotes more toxicity in the water.

Conclusion
Overall, the results of Smith Creek and HHS Pond indicated that the water quality of both aquatic

habitats was degrading over time. This can best be depicted in the graphs showing the temperature of the areas

over a historical time period and of the decrease in dissolved oxygen levels over time. Warmer water cannot

hold as much dissolved oxygen as cold water can, and this explains the decrease of dissolved oxygen over time

as well. Decreased dissolved oxygen content is negative for the environment because it is what provides aquatic

life the oxygen needed to survive. Natural waters with consistently high DO levels are most likely healthy and
stable environments that support a diversity of aquatic organisms. The nitrate and phosphate levels over the

historical time period were not consistent. The nitrate content was at its highest in 1994 in the Smith Creek

water sample. It then gradually decreased over the years up until 2017. However, the nitrate content in the HHS

Pond water sample suddenly increased in 2017. Additionally, the phosphate levels reached its highest between

the years of 2015 and 2016. Then it also settled off. This could be due to yearly construction around the pond

areas. For example, in 2017 a greenway was built behind HHS, and trees were cut down to make room for the

trail. This decrease in trees reduced the filter that trees provide for the ecosystem, and it made it easier for

fertilizer runoff to penetrate the streams of the HHS pond and increase the nitrate content. As far as ideal results

went, however, the only test that indicated poor results was the dissolved oxygen test in the waters of both

HHS pond and Smith Creek. Both had 48.8% oxygen saturation, while the ideal is 91-110% saturation. Besides

this category, the HHS Pond and Smith Creek havent reached poor results yet.

Watersheds are areas of land that drains into a lake or stream. As water drains from the watershed into

lakes, it can pick up contaminants like sediment, chemicals, and waste and then deposit them into lakes or

streams (Iowa Department of Natural Resources, pg. 1). The majority of water quality problems in North

Carolina is nonpoint source pollution. This typically occurs when precipitation such as rainfall, snowmelt, or

irrigation runs through the land; it picks up pollutants such as excess soil, bacteria from manure, and nutrients

from farm fertilizers. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus and very prevalent nonpoint pollutants because

they come from fertilizers and from manure and human sewage. Nitrogen and phosphorus are major

components in the development of algal blooms and of dead zones. A leading cause of this nonpoint source

pollution occurs from deforestation in the watershed. Without trees to filter the sediments, nutrients, and

bacteria, these contaminants flood the watershed at higher rates and disrupts the ecosystem (Forest Research

Institute Zvolen, pg. 1). Additionally, deforestation affects the climates of its surrounding areas. Soils in

watersheds are moist, but this is due to the tree cover, which blocks the sun out and keeps the area cool. As it

has been seen in the data set, warmer temperatures of water cannot hold as much dissolved oxygen, and this has
negative effects on the living organisms within the watershed (National Geographic, pg. 1). In North Carolina,

deforestation occurs often as construction sites build and develop new areas. Sedimentation is the number one

pollutant in North Carolinian waters, and much of it occurs as a result of deforestation of construction sites (

By looking at the sources of contamination for rivers and ponds, specifically the HHS pond and Smith

Creek, preventative and reductive solutions can be made. To rid the waters of excess nitrate and phosphorus

intake, the government should control farm contaminants by applying mitigation tools or by limiting their use of

fertilizer. More trees should be planted around water sources to act as natural filters and protect the water from

rapid sediment and pollutant increases. Because sediment is the number one pollutant in streams, lakes, and

rivers in North Carolina, construction sites should be extremely careful in the amount of disruption to the land

they cause. The property owner and construction company should both determine the specific practices needed

during construction to prevent off-site sedimentation.

Macroinvertebrates, such as mayfly nymphs, and caddisfly larvae, are indicator species that help

determine the level of pollution that is in a specific environment. This is because they are pollution-intolerant,

so when they are not present in water, it is evident to researchers that the water is not of high quality because it

cannot sustain the macroinvertebrate. Because neither the HHS Pond nor Smith Creek have reached poor

results in any category besides dissolved oxygen, it would be easy to infer that there would be a moderate to

large macroinvertebrate population in Smith Creek. However, the dissolved oxygen sag curve contradicts this

assumption. As dissolved oxygen reaches an oxygen sag, these clean water organisms cannot survive, and do

not reappear until the septic zone is cleared. Thus, if a researcher studied the macroinvertebrate population of

Smith Creek, they would see that there is a very small population that is declining as the Smith Creek water is

warming due to lack of tree shade from deforestation, and this warming is in turn decreasing the amount of

dissolved oxygen in the water.

 Works Cited

"Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet." Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet. National Geographic, 27

Apr. 2017. Web. 02 May 2017.

"Environmental Protection." Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa Department of Natural Resources,

n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.

Hlsny, Tom, Duan Koick, Martin Maretta, Zuzana Sitkov, Ivan Barka, Milan Konpka, and Helena

Hlavat. "Effect of Deforestation on Watershed Water Balance: Hydrological Modelling-based

Approach" Forestry Journal. N.p., 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 02 May 2017.

"Protecting Streams from Water Pollution." Raleigh, North Carolina. City of Raleigh, 22 Aug. 2016. Web. 02

May 2017.

THORPE, GARY. AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. S.l.: BARRON'S, 2015. Print.