Water Quality and Contamination

Water Quality and Contamination

Abstract:

Exposing the affects that common household items like vegetable oil, liquid laundry detergent, and vinegar have on ground water is the bases of this experiment. This exercise was comprised of 10 ml of ground water being mixed with 10 ml of vegetable oil, liquid laundry detergent, vinegar, and later potting soil to determine the pollutants effect on tap water. Each common household contaminate was blended in a beaker, and filtered with ground water, and soil by a large piece of cheesecloth. Discoloration, separation in an oily like substance, and foam, are some of the reactions from the tests that determines that contaminated groundwater cannot be filtered by hand for consumption. The water and quality experimentation was conducted to show that contaminated water is unsafe to drink, and that it cannot be filter without chemicals, and the process of coagulation. Coagulation begins with aeration in which air is added to the water to let trapped gases escape while increasing the amount of oxygen within the water. Then the process of coagulation or flocculation, is completed by vigorously mixing chemicals, such as filter alum, are added to the incoming water, and then stirred in a powerful mixer (managedcourse.next.ecollege.com)

Introduction:

In week two of Dependence of Man on the Environment, we learned how to examine and filter contaminated water. Our water sources can be contaminated by a variety of things such as human waste, chemicals, pollution, and poor water purification management. In this particular experiment, we used different household items, such as vegetable oil, laundry detergent, vinegar, potting soil processed in beakers, and cheesecloth to clean the water sample. Before starting my experiment, I projected that the tap water would possess the most chemicals, alongside Dasani, and that Fiji would be the water with the least contaminated.

The water quality tests are conducted to determine the quality of the water and any risks associated with the findings for consumer health. "Roughly 884 million people — 1 of every 8 in the world — still lack access to safe drinking water, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF" (Chu, 2011). Singapore once heavily dependent on Malaysia for its water supply enacted recycling sewage and other wastewater for consumption. Singaporean delegates claim that the water is as pure as distilled water (Chu, 2011).

One might say that the main reason that we are having issues with receiving clean drinking water is the cost to manufacture, and maintain filtrations systems that will kill any contaminants that are found in water. The reason for the water quality and contamination experiments is to see the different effects that common items have on water. I hypothesized that when mixing vegetable oil with water, it would separate even when stirred. When mixed with vinegar, water turns slightly yellow, and has a strong odor. In my final experiment, my results showed that mixing ground water with laundry detergent did not change the color but caused bubbles to form at the top of the beaker. "In the Pacific Southwest, 80% of public water supply systems rely to some extent on ground water. Ground water is vulnerable to contamination from activities occurring on and below the earth's surface" (www.epa.gov).

Materials and Methods:

In the drinking water, experiment beakers were used to test the ground water. Eight different areas were covered in each test. To conduct the test of the tap water the following materials were used: tap, Dasani, and Fiji water, cheesecloth, a funnel, wooden stirs. In addition to that, 10ml of the following were used: vegetable oil, vinegar, liquid laundry detergent, and 60ml of potting soil. In each sample, 10 ml of vegetable oil, vinegar, and liquid laundry detergent were mixed with ground water to compile data. For the second portion of my experiment cheesecloth were used in examples 5-8. The cloth was cut into four large pieces, and used as a filter to show the outcome of the liquid once mixed with potting soil. To begin the experiment with the potting soil, I needed 60ml of potting soil, which I measured using the 100ml beaker. This allowed me to pour 10ml of water into a separate container to start my experiment. This process was repeated with vegetable oil, vinegar, liquid laundry detergent. My results for the effects of drinking water quality are noted below:

Results:

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

Tap Water 0

Dasani® Bottled Water 500

Fiji® Bottled Water 500

Table 4: 4 in 1 Test Results

Water Sample pH Total Alkalinity Total Chlorine Total Hardness

Tap Water 4 80 0.02 0

Dasani® Bottled Water 3 120 0 50

Fiji® Bottled Water 7 80 0.2 50

Table 5: Phosphate Test Results

Water Sample Test Results

Tap Water 25

Dasani® Bottled Water 10

Fiji® Bottled Water 100

Table 6: Iron Test Results

Water Sample Test Results

Tap Water 0.3

Dasani® Bottled Water 0

Fiji® Bottled Water 0.15

For researching examples 1-4, the water sample used is clear, and does not possess an odor. When mixed with vegetable oil it turns yellow and appears to be oily. The oil once stirred begins to separate. The next water sample is mixed with vinegar and it begins to cloud slightly, the color of the water stays the same. Now when mixed with liquid laundry detergent small bubbles begin to form inside the beaker, and larger ones start to generate at the top. Surprising the detergent does not settle at the bottom of the beaker. Observation 5-8 offers different results. When water is filtered through soil, and cheesecloth, it becomes muddy, and leaks though the cloth into the beaker. When the ground water sample was mixed with vegetable oil, and poured through the cheesecloth, and soil, the liquid was absorbed. For test number seven water, vinegar, and soil are filtered through cheesecloth.