By: Katie Milo

Partners: Daniel Pritko, Ansley Friesz, Brittany Vonfeldt

12/10/15
Period 2, Masterson

Water Quality Lab

Pre-Lab Questions
1. Rain water normally is slightly acidic because it contains dissolved carbon
dioxide. This makes regular water at a pH of 7 decrease and create a slightly
acidic substance of 5.6 pH.
2. Oxygen-demanding wastes include nitrates and result from runoff. Oxygendemanding wastes are pollutants because they suck up all the dissolved
oxygen in the water. This harms the wildlife living in the water by killing off
various species of fish. Pollutants are harmful/disruptive to any organism or
its environment that it lives in. Therefore, oxygen-demanding wastes are
pollutants.
3. B.O.D. relates to D.O. because they both correlate in different types of water.
In clean water, B.O.D. is low and the D.O. is high. In dirty water (also known
as the pollution zone), the B.O.D. is high and the D.O. is low. Then, the active
decomposition zone has high B.O.D. and low D.O. Then, the recovery zone
has low B.O.D. and high D.O.
4. Sedimentation occurs in waterways in a few ways.
5. Too much sedimentation can bury aquatic habitats or their eggs. It can also
block proper water flow. Then, if sediment begins to float around in the
water, it can prevent clarity of the water and creating a problem for
vegetation growth and fish who prefer large light supply.
6. Warmer aquatic temperatures have a few impacts on aquatic life. Warmer
aquatic temperatures tend to speed up chemical reactions, resulting in
increase of metabolic activity and more decomposition. Then, the warmer
temperatures cause a decrease of dissolved oxygen. This could kill specific
species of fish that require more oxygen than others. The warmer
temperatures may also kill species because some species have lower
tolerance to warmer waters.
Graph
TEST

TEST RESULTS

Nitrates
Phosphates
D.O.
D.O.

0 mg/L
.4 mg/L
4 mg/L
25 %
Saturation
6
0
0
0
40
10 Degrees C

pH
Iron
Copper
Hardness
Alkalinity
Temperature

QVALUE/QUALIT
Y
95
2
15
15

WEIGHING
FACTOR

TOTAL

.10
.10

9.5
.2

.17

2.55

65
Not present
Not present
Not present
0

.11

7.15

By: Katie Milo

Partners: Daniel Pritko, Ansley Friesz, Brittany Vonfeldt
12/10/15
Period 2, Masterson
#1
Temperature
10 Degrees C
#2
Delta
10 Degrees C
45
.10
Degrees C
TDS
150 mg/L
80
.07
TSS(Turbidity)
23.5 inches
65
.08
B.O.D.
.4 mg/L Dark
D.O
B.O.D.
3.6 *delta*
62
.11
mg/L D.O.
Macroinvertebr 100 Intolerant
ates
(Group 1)
Macroinvertebr 2 Moderate
ates
(Group 2)
Macroinvertebr 100 Tolerant
ates
(Group 3)
Fecal Coliform
N/A
N/A
.16
colonies/100
mL
Water Quality Index: 49.4

4.5
2.6
5.2

6.82

Cummulative Index Value: 404

Post-Lab Questions

1. According to the WQI value (49.4) for our Eco-Studies Pond, our Water Quality
Rating would be Fair Water Quality. Overall, our water quality is not that
great, but okay- considering that our Nitrates Q-value was 95(very high)
(which distinguishes that we had high level of runoff), our D.O.s Q-value was
15(very low) (which distinguishes that it would be harder for fish and marine
life to survive), but our levels of other chemicals all measure 0(other than
alkalinity). These factors show that it may have a hard time for most aquatic
life to live, but specific species of bugs, plants, and animals can survive and
flourish here.
2. Of the tests performed, I think that the dissolved oxygen should have the
greatest impact on the Water Quality Rating. Not only because their
weighing factor is .17, but because they are a major factor in the living
conditions of marine life. Higher dissolved oxygen allows for more
decomposition. Higher dissolved oxygen allows for sufficient quality of life.
Lower dissolved oxygen limits organisms on what they have for survival
supply, possibly killing certain fish. Not only does it affect fish, but the
nitrates and phosphates that enter the water are big factors in decreasing

By: Katie Milo

Partners: Daniel Pritko, Ansley Friesz, Brittany Vonfeldt
12/10/15
Period 2, Masterson
dissolved oxygen. All around, there are factors that affect levels of dissolved
oxygen and there are factors of dissolved oxygen that affect the life around it.
3. If our Eco-Studies shows high NO3- levels, the source might be runoff from
manure, plants, and human wastes. This may show up on agricultural lands
and runoff into the water source.
4. High turbidity might show up from runoff sediment. It could be floating in the
water or it could have settled to the bottom and be made of very small
particles, therefore being easily kicked up or moved around.
5. A cause for higher temperature in different sides of the pond may be that
some are more shaded than others. When water is more exposed to sunlight,
the temperature can rise - as opposed to shaded areas. Another cause for
higher temperatures in different sides of the pond may be the levels of
turbidity/soil erosion. Floating particles/cloudiness tends to warm the water
temperatures.
6. Higher pond temperature may set a problem of lower dissolved oxygen. This
may cause ass death in fish species.
7. A Fecal coliform bacteria test might not be necessary for our Eco-Studies
pond because it is normally found in untreated sewage water. It is a big
indicator of pathogens. However, in our experiment, we are not searching for
pathogens, we are exploring the chemical and physical characteristics of our
water.
8. The importance of the other chemical tests is that they show the presence
of metals, can define toxicity, and can express certain point or non-point
pollution sources in the area. Usually the presence of metals is because of
lowering pH. You can learn from the presence of lead that there may be
gasoline, paint, or pesticides in the water. You can learn from the presence of
copper that the nearby soil may be filled with phosphate fertilizer (therefore
contain copper) or that copper was in the water because of nearby mines,
industrial factories, landfills, and waste disposals. You can learn from the
presence of hardness that there may be soaps and harsh detergents in the
water or dissolved calcium and magnesium. You can learn from the presence
of alkalinity that the water has more hydrogen ions and therefore is less
acidic.
9. Indicator Species are used to assess water quality because they could be
impacted/decreased/increased by certain physical factors, chemicals, or
presence of other organisms. This sends a message to scientists studying the
topic that there is a problem. They are a good measure of determining water
quality because- according to the large difference in numerical value between
my cummulative index value and water quality index (404 vs 49.4)- it
provides a much bigger statement about how much life can survive and how
well it can flourish. Because the cumulative index value is based only on
biological factors and the water quality index is based on all the factors, the
water quality index provides a more overall idea of how well the water quality
is, how polluted it is, and how certain chemicals may be affecting the quality.
The cummulative index value is only based on the organisms living in the
water.