We did an experiment to see if the Conodoguinet Creek is polluted. Through our testing, we found that the water is not very polluted. We conducted many different types of tests to come to this conclusion. A few of the tests that we conducted were alkalinity, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and discovering creatures in different groups. We looked at the different macroinvertebrates that live in the water. Also, we tested the velocity of the surface water. The Conodoguinet Creek is located in Cumberland County, and is 101 miles long. The Conodoguinet Creek flows into the Susquehanna river.
One of the tests that we did was called the critter count. In that experiment, we found several rocks in the creek and looked at them closely to discover what types of bugs - critters - were on them. The largest number of stream insects and crustaceans we saw were in group 1 where we saw 49 critters. In the second group, we found 13 critters total. In the third group, we saw 12 critters. If the water was polluted, we would have seen a bigger
…show more content…
number of the critters in group 3 than we did in group 1. The critters in group 1 can survive only in a clean, unpolluted environment. A few examples of some of the critters in group 1 that we saw were gilled snail, riffle beetle, water penny, dobsonfly, and the caddisfly. In group 2 some of the critters we saw were clams, crana fly, and crayfish. In group 3 we found the aquatic worm, and the midge fly larva. I calculated the percentages of the different macroinvertebrates, or the critters. 66.2% of the critters we saw were in group 1, 17.6% of the critters were in group 2, and 16.2% of the critters were in group 3. In conclusion, identifying the critters was a good test to see if the water is polluted. Another test that we did was the eutrophication test to see if the water is polluted.
In the eutrophication test, we tested the phosphate, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen in the Conodoguinet Creek. We had a total of 9 tests for each of these items. Everyone who conducted these tests that day got the same results. The average for phosphate is 0.1, which is very good for the creek. The lower the phosphate, the better and less polluted the water is. 0.9 was the average for nitrate in the water. Nitrate is just like phosphate, the lower the nitrate the better the water quality is. The average for the dissolved oxygen is 9.8, which isn’t the best it can be, but it isn’t bad either. The average for the dissolved oxygen was lower because the weather was warm over the past few months, so that made the dissolved oxygen go down. Since the number was medium it shows us that the Conodoguinet Creek is not that polluted by doing this
test. The last tests that we did to see if the conodoguinet creek is polluted were the acidity tests. We used the pH paper, which is filter paper that is treated with natural water soluble dye from lichens, to test for acidity. The results for each group was 7, so the average for how much pH is in the water is 7. Since the average is 7, the acid in the water isn’t very strong-it’s neutral. This test tells us that the water isn’t polluted. We also tested how much alkaline is in the conodoguinet creek. Two of the groups got 12, and one of the groups got 15. The average of the amount of alkaline in the water is 13. The higher alkalinity you have in the water the better. The highest number we could’ve averaged was 14, so it’s good that we have a high amount of alkaline in the water. We collected a total of 94 rocks from the conodoguinet creek and tested them to see how many rocks would neutralize acid. 65 of the rocks neutralized the acid, and 29 of them didn’t neutralize any acid. We know there is limestone in the creek because limestone neutralizes acid. If there wasn’t limestone in the creek, there would be more pollution in the creek, because acidic water is usually polluted water. This test shows us that our creek is definitely not polluted. As you can see, the water is not polluted for many different reasons. Our tests that we conducted were accurate to determine if the water was really polluted. Most people might say that the Conodoguinet creek is polluted just by looking at it, but once you do the real tests you’ll figure out that it isn’t polluted. You can’t always know that a body of water is polluted just by looking at it. As soon as you start to learn about acids and pollution you’ll be able to test any water!
The heavy metals found in the water being lead, tin, copper, and ammonia would then be highly probable. To fix this problem the answer is simple, “The answer, according to the agency and an outside expert, is twofold: treatment and dilution” (Pappas, 1). Treating the water is simple: the water needs the acidity to be reduced. After that is done, you must dilute the water (add water to the creek). However, the problems will never fully go away, but they will be greatly reduced.
The data we found supported our original water hypothesis. My group and I believed that adding ammonium nitrate into our eco-column would ultimately damage the ecosystems. The increase in levels of minerals from the aquatic ecosystem also indicates that the entire column was being destroyed. Through this experiment, I have learned that too much nutrients and minerals within an ecosystem can be extremely harmful to the wildlife. Throughout this experiment the water in our eco column began to turn yellow because of a surplus of nitrogen and phosphorous in the eco-column. In some of the eco-columns of the other groups in the classroom, they had eutrophication in the early stages of their eco-column which resulted in the death of many of their
INTRODUCTION: There are over 50 lakes and ponds in Cumberland County, Maine, all of various sizes and shapes. Many of these lakes serve different purposes, from hydrating plants to being a source of water for both animals and humans. With this responsibility, comes the question, are these ponds and lakes safe drinking water for animals and humans? Contaminated water poses a risk for both humans and animals.
Admittedly, 2/3 of the world’s population living with water shortages is a scary enough statistic to send a shiver up the spine. Barlow doesn’t stop there however; she goes on to say that only 2 % of the U.S. rivers and wetlands remain untouched. What does that mean for the creatures that lived there? Covered that too, “37% of freshwater fish are at risk of ...
Television commercials, print ads, and billboards in the Washington, DC, area are asking residents to connect two things many might find unrelated: lawn care and seafood. In one commercial, a man stuffs a big plateful of grass in his mouth after a voice-over says, “Spring rains carry excess lawn fertilizers through our sewers and rivers and into the Chesapeake Bay, where the blue crab harvest has been extremely low. So skip the fertilizer until fall, because once they’re gone, what’s left to enjoy?”(Environment, p. 7)
Problems like these are just one of the many causes of water pollution. Coal, storm water, and pigs are some of the biggest threats to the Cape Fear River, the ocean, and other bodies of water that surround Wilmington. In this paper, we will focus on causes and effects of water pollution then look at some possible solutions for the problems, particularly here in Wilmington.
The industrialization of Canada is severely affecting the nations lakes, streams, and rivers. If something is not done to improve the situation it is going to have some severe environmental problems in its future. The following essay will be looking at the factors that cause pollution, and the effect that pollution has on the environment of Canada. It will also explore some of the methods used to treat and clean-up wastewater, and oil spills.
The Chesapeake Bay has faced an excessive amount of pollution over the past century. The water in the bay has become so highly polluted that It is capable of causing harm to humans coming in direct contact with the water. Although algae serves a vital role in the bay’s ecosystem, it also creates a problem that is causing a large amount of the problem.
'Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives(in) it. ' (Azeem 1). In Canada, most people live in the southern part along with many agricultural and industrial activities causing the worst cases of water pollution. Water pollution is caused by population growth and industrialization, but can be prevented if proper controls are taken into consideration to help reduce the discharge of waste materials. Water pollution has been a huge disadvantaging concern for humans as well as wildlife for over many decades, but can actually be prevented if attempted. Preventing waste materials from being dumped into lakes and rivers, controlling
About 80% of the state's surveyed freshwater rivers and streams have good water quality that fully supports aquatic life uses, while 17% have fair water quality that partially supports aquatic life uses, and 3% have poor water quality that does not support aquatic life uses. Ten percent of the surveyed rivers do not fully support swimming. The major sources of impairment are agriculture, responsible for 53% of the impaired river miles, urban runoff, responsible for 16%, and construction, responsible for 13%. These sources generate siltation, bacteria, and organic wastes that deplete dissolved oxygen. Only 17% of the surveyed lakes in North Carolina are impaired for swimming, and 6% are impaired for aquatic life uses.
Latham, A., Wright, E., & Tsang, A. (n.d.). Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem. Retrieved from University of Michigan website: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section5group1/introduction_and_background
Latham, A., Wright, E., & Tsang, A. (n.d.). Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem: Introduction and Background. Pollution's Effects on the Great Lakes Ecosystem: Introduction and Background. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section5group1/introduction_and_background
Today's waters are constantly being treated like sewage dumps or trash cans. We use them as garbage cans every day polluting the water more and more. "Pollution is often by way of rivers, drains and outflow pipes." Causing an outflow of sewage into our ocean waters. This is not only affecting the community but also the marine life and other sea creatures living in the ocean." This pollution includes human sewage and domestic waste water, factory outflows of acids and poisonous metals, engine oil from roadside drains and garages, farm chemicals washed off the land by rain, building-site rubble, nuclear waste from power plants, and oil from wells, refineries, and tankers." Stating that most of today's waste is from factory or factory ran products that shouldn't be polluting the water
Smith, Zachary A., and Grenetta Thomassey. Freshwater Issues: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2002. Print
Richmond, E., (2010). Pollution of streams by garbage and trash. Water encyclopedia. Retrieved: November 10, 2010, from: http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Oc-Po/Pollution-of-Streams-by-Garbage-and-Trash.html