Activities Review for the Water Unit Test

 The concentration of a solution is expressed in terms of parts of solute to parts of solvent.  So, if we have 10 parts per million as opposed to 100,000 parts per million. Which one is more saturated?  Serial dilution – process of making a solution gradually more dilute (systematic, repeated, same)  Concentration – the amount of a solute per solution Parts Per Million

Testing Water Quality  The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments were enacted in 1972 in response to public demand for water- pollution control to protect humans, wildlife, and aquatic life.

Clean Water Act  Outlined a policy for setting water quality standards and regulating pollutants discharged into waters of the United States.  It became illegal for any person to release any pollutant into water without a permit and allowed the EPA to establish wastewater standards for industries.  Wastewater treatment plants were also funded with this act.

Conducted tests  Appearance/Turbidity – water should be clear and free of any suspended materials.  Odor – Odor should not exceed a threshold value of 3 – noticeable but acceptable.  pH – a pH level between 6.5 and 8.5 is acceptable. pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. (The reason we test for pH has to do with the environment – if it is too high/low, it can be harmful to plants and animals.

More tests  Iron – Iron levels should not exceed 100 parts per billion (ppb). Levels over 300 ppb affect the appearance and taste of the water.  Nitrates – Nitrate levels should not exceed 10 ppm. Higher levels may cause serious problems in infants.  Copper – levels should not exceed 1.3 ppm. Short periods of exposure to levels over 1.3 ppm can cause nausea and vomiting.

 The Willow Lake Water was turbid, but did not contain detected levels of iron, copper, or nitrate.  The pH was normal because the indicator was green colored.  The cloudiness could have been caused by the soil that washed into the lake with rainwater.  The Fenton River water had a low pH because the indicator turned orange, but did not contain iron, copper, or nitrate. The low pH could have been caused by industrial waste or fertilizer that washed into the river. However, it did NOT appear turbid.  The well water had detected levels of nitrates, which went over the federal standard of 10 ppm. No iron or copper were detected in the well water. The pH was normal and did not appear turbid. Nitrates could have been from fertilizer soaking into the ground and getting into the aquifer. Results of testing

 Based on the results of the tests, Willow Grove needs to treat the groundwater so that the nitrates are removed from the well water. This is important because 50% of the residents drink well water.  Also, the town should figure out what is causing the acid in the river to prevent the levels from rising. The river is used by the town for swimming, boating, recreation, and irrigation, so it is important for it to be clean and safe.  The town should also figure out what is making the lake turbid, but it is still safe to drink because it is treated by the water district to remove the cloudiness. More results

 We conducted two sequential procedures to clean a dirty water sample.  The procedures were similar to the processes of coagulation and filtration that a typical water treatment plant uses to purify water from surface water sources before piping it to homes and businesses. Water Purification

 Coagulation – involves using chemicals to attract contaminants into large clumps  Filtration – traps and separates solid contaminants from the water by making the water flow through filters. Water Purification

 Reservoir – water gathers in a large pool  Coagulation – involves using chemicals to attract contaminants into large clumps  Flocculation – chemicals added to water to attract contaminants – creates clumps  Sedimentation – Involves letting the clumps formed by flocculation sink to the bottom of the water  Filtration – removes solid contaminants from the water  Disinfection – chlorination – disinfectants in the water to remove biological contaminants such as viruses and diseases  Treated Water Reservoir –  Delivered to homes and businesses. Steps