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Final Lab Report: Water Quality and Contamination 1

Abstract:

For these the three experiments we conducted here, we used oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent, as well as soil to simulate contaminated groundwater. We then constructed a variety of filters to attempt to clean the groundwater and make it potable. We also tested various bottled and tap waters for certain chemicals.

Introduction :

Water quality and contamination are big issues for society. We survive off of less than 1% of the available freshwater on Earth, and much of that water is contaminated. Contaminates can be natural, animal, or manmade. There are a lot of dangers associated with drinking or cooking with contaminated water. Diseases, poisons, and toxins can be found in contaminated water. There is also a possible correlation between an increased cancer risk and consuming contaminated water. The objective of the first experiment we conducted was to test the ability of soil to remove oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent from the environment before it reaches groundwater. We want to know this because often we add laundry detergent to water in the washing machine, or notice oil within a puddle on the street. These chemicals run off into local water sources, but run through soil first. It is important to know how effective the soil is at removing chemicals like oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent.

If the oil is introduced to groundwater, then the groundwater will become slightly contaminated, but since oil and water don’t mix, it won’t be as bad as vinegar and laundry detergent. If the vinegar is introduced to groundwater, the ground water will become contaminated and will not be able to become uncontaminated. If the laundry detergent is introduced to groundwater, the ground water will become contaminated and will not be able to become uncontaminated.

The objective of the second experiment we conducted was to test the abilities of another filtration method on contaminated water. With so little of our water on Earth readily drinkable, it is important to figure out methods to make groundwater and other water potable.

If we use sand, activated charcoal, and gravel, then we will be able to remove large debris from contaminated water.

The objective of the third experiment we conducted was to find out the level of certain chemicals in both mass marketed/easily available bottled water and tap water from our home. This is especially important to society, because society needs to know exactly what it is drinking.

If the tap water isn’t filtered, and comes straight from a well or city water pump, then it will contain the most contaminates. If the bottled water is straight from the source (Fiji, based on marketing), then it will contain the least amount of contaminates.

Materials and Methods: For the first experiment, we used permanent markers to label eight (8) 250mL beakers 1-8. Then we set beakers 5-8 aside. We filled beakers 1-4 with 100 mL of water using our 100 mL graduated cylinder. We added 10mL of vegetable oil to beaker 2, 10mL of vinegar to beaker 3, and 10mL of liquid laundry detergent to beaker 4 using the 100mL graduating cylinder. We mixed each beaker with a wooden stick, and recorded our observations on the Week 2 Lab Reporting Form.

We then cut a piece of cheesecloth into five pieces, and reserved one for the next experiment. We folded the cheesecloth so that each piece was four layers thick, and then placed one of the pieces inside our funnel. We placed 60mL of soil into the funnel on top of the cheesecloth and then poured beaker 1 through the funnel into beaker 5. We replaced the cheesecloth, and then repeated the funnel procedure with beaker 2 into beaker 6. We followed the same procedure for beakers 3 and 4 as well, pouring them into beakers 7 and 8, respectively. We then recorded all of our observations on the Week 2 Lab Reporting Form.

For the second experiment, we added 100mL of soil to the 250mL beaker. We then filled it to the 200mL mark with water. We poured the soil solution between that beaker and another 250mL beaker 15 times to agitate and aerate the solution. We then poured off 10mL of the solution into a clean 100mL beaker to be used as a control to compare the final “treated” water to. We then added 10 grams of alum to the 250mL beaker of soil solution. We slowly stirred the mixture with a wooden stick for approximately 2 minutes, and then let it sit for 15 minutes.

We then cleaned out the second 250mL beaker and placed a funnel lined with a cheesecloth 4 layers thick. In the funnel, we layered 40mL of sand, then 20mL of activated charcoal, then 40mL of gravel. We solidified the filter by slowly pouring clean tap water through the filter until it was full approximately 4 times. After that, we let the funnel and beaker sit for 5 minutes. Then, without mixing the soil solution, we poured about ¾ of it through the funnel and let it sit for 5 minutes. We noted the smell of the newly filtered “contaminated water” and then added a few drops of bleach and stirred for about 1 minute. We compared the newly treated water with the control “contaminated” water we kept separate in the beginning of the experiment, and recorded our observations on the Week 2 Lab Reporting Form.

For the third experiment, we used a permanent marker to label three 250mL beakers “Tap Water,” “Dasani,” and “Fiji,” and poured 100mL of each type of water into the respective beakers. We then tested each beaker for their ammonia levels using ammonia test strips, and recorded our results on the Week 2 Lab Reporting Form. We also tested each beaker for chloride, pH, total alkalinity, total chlorine, total hardness, phosphate, and iron using their respective test strips. We recorded those results on the Week 2 Lab Reporting Form as well.

Results : Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination

Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker	Observations
1	Clear, no smell, 100ml
2	Cloudy, oil beading on surface, buttery smell, 110 ml
3	Clear, bitter smell, 110ml
4	Milky, soap smell, ~100ml
5	Clear, no smell, small particles on bottom of beaker, 85ml
6	Clear with large oil drops on surface, small particles on bottom of beaker, butter smell, 80ml
7	Clear, bitter smell, ~100ml
8	Milky/grey, large particles on bottom of beaker, no smell, 90ml

The oil produced the least amount of contaminated water after filtering through the soil. The vinegar produced the most contaminated water and the least amount of soil particles. The laundry detergent produced the most soil particles, both visible in the water and on the bottom of the beaker. The laundry detergent had the most potent effect on the water. Experiment 2: Water Treatment: We started with aeration, which was achieved by mixing the soil and water between two 250ml beakers 15 times. We then moved to coagulation, in which we utilized alum being mixed into the soil and water mixture. By letting the water sit for 15 minutes, we allowed sedimentation to occur. Then, in filtration, we poured the water through a 4 step filter (cheesecloth, sand, activated carbon, gravel) into a clean beaker. Finally, we added bleach to the newly treated water as part of the disinfection process.

Experiment 3: Drinking Water Quality

Table 2: Ammonia Test Results
Water Sample	Test Results
Tap Water	0 mg/L
Dasani® Bottled Water	0 mg/L
Fiji® Bottled Water	0 mg/L

Table 3: Chloride Test Results
Water Sample	Test Results
Tap Water	0-500 mg/L
Dasani® Bottled Water	0 mg/L
Fiji® Bottled Water	0 mg/L

Table 4: 4 in 1 Test Results
Water Sample	pH	Total Alkalinity	Total Chlorine	Total Hardness
Tap Water	6	0mg/L	.2 mg/L	50 mg/L
Dasani® Bottled Water	3	0 mg/L	0 mg/L	0 mg/L
Fiji® Bottled Water	7	0 mg/L	1.0 mg/L	50 mg/L

Table 5: Phosphate Test Results
Water Sample	Test Results
Tap Water	10 ppm
Dasani® Bottled Water	0 ppm
Fiji® Bottled Water	10 ppm

Table 6: Iron Test Results
Water Sample	Test Results
Tap Water	0.15 ppm
Dasani® Bottled Water	0 ppm
Fiji® Bottled Water	0 ppm

Discussion: We accept the hypothesis we made in regards to the oil in the first experiment, because the other two contaminates were much worse. We reject the vinegar hypothesis from the first experiment. This contaminate (vinegar) actually did the least amount of contamination. We accept our laundry detergent hypothesis, because this was the worst contaminate of the group. We accept our hypothesis for our second experiment. We were able to remove large debris, as well as color, some smell, and small particles from the contaminated water using our filter. We accept our hypothesis for out third experiment. The tap water had the most contaminates, although Dasani was close behind. Fiji also had the least amount of contaminates.

Conclusion: In conclusion, I believe that contaminants such as oil, acid, and detergents cause obvious effects to a water source, and although the earth is able to filter a noticeable amount of the chemicals before they reach a groundwater supply, there are still trace amounts that enter into the water system. By filtering this water before it reaches the city’s tap system, the water is then effectively purified to bottled water standards.

References

Bensky, G. (2000). It's the water, stupid: Effective filtration is paramount for maintaining both safety and quality standards. Nation's Restaurant News, 34(30), 19-19,38. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/229313402?accountid=32521

Bottcher, A., & Rex, A. (2012). Environmental science student manual. Sheridan, CO: eScience Labs.

Crane, C. (2011, Nov). Bottled vs. tap. Scholastic Choices, 27, 10-12,T7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/912203725?accountid=32521

Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.