Final Lab Report Research Paper

Running head: WATER AND CONTAMINATION

Water and Contamination

Shante' Smith

SCI 207: Our Dependence upon the Environment

Instructor: Clifford Blizard

February 27, 2017

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WATER AND CONTAMINATION 2

Water and Contamination

Introduction

Water is a vital resource for the human life survival as well as other living beings. The

earth is however not endowed with fresh water sources, and hence a lot of water purification is

always needed before consumption of the water. Research has been carried to check on the

contamination levels of water from different sources. According to Hawkins, (2017), using

bottled water which has more mineral content is safer than the tap water. This is further backed

by Poland survey which showed that bottled water was preferred based on its taste, odor and

maybe color, and this has constantly led to the rise of the bottling water ready market (Górski &

Siepak, 2014). The organoleptic has also been evident in surveys conducted in France. The

research done by …… show that some prefer bottled water for health-related reasons. Another

reason for consumption of the bottled water would be packaging and the marketing tools that

entice the potential customers (de Queiroz, Doria, Rosenberg, Heller, & Zhouri, 2013).

Due to the limited research, available, it is important to do more lab analysis on the

mineral contents of the Dasani water, Fiji water, and tap water to determine which is best for

human consumption and what each category lacks (de Queiroz et al., 2013). This will be used to

create public awareness to individuals demystify on the safety and health risk on water. This will

lead to the reduction in the cases of drinking contaminated water that exposes one to diseases

such as typhoid and ingesting of harmful toxins.

The hypothesis being experimented on is whether the bottled water contains fewer

chemicals, if any, that come from the local tap water and should be healthier. Fiji water is

expected to contain the least number of contaminants because the water is bottled at the source.

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WATER AND CONTAMINATION 3

It is bottled from an artesian aquifer and remains untouched by man (FijiWater.com). An artesian

aquifer is essentially a well that is in particular geologic layer that stores water. Following the

Fiji water, the Dasani water will contain more contaminants than the Fiji water but less than my

local tap water because Dasani is just purified water. Dasani's purified water is filtered using

reverse osmosis then minerals are added in after the purification process (Dasani.com). Finally,

the local tap water is expected to contain the greatest number of contaminants because there is no

purification system in place.

Materials and Methods

The experiment requires the sample of Fiji bottled water, Dasani bottled water and tap

water. To aid in testing the mineral components use the Ammonia test strips, Chloride test strips,

4 in 1 test strips, Phosphate test strips, and Iron test strips. Other additional equipment are

beakers, stopwatch, parafilm, and pipettes

Using the Ammonia strips test, insert a strip in each of the labeled beakers, working on

each beaker at a time, and ensure its fully submerged and move it up and down the beaker for 30

seconds. Then remove the strip from the water and shake off to get rid of excess water and hold

the strip pad side up for 30 seconds (Van Hulle & Cristina Ciocci, 2012). Holding the pads away

from you now compare with that of the color chart table and collect the results. Carry out the

same procedure for the two samples and record the results.

The chloride test strips are carried out by immersing “the pads” in the water samples for 1

second and then remove from water and shake off excess water leaving it for 1 second before

comparing the “pads” to the color chart and record the results. One should repeat the procedure

on the other two samples.

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WATER AND CONTAMINATION 4

In the 4 in 1 method, the strips are immersed in the sample water in a back and forth

movement for 5 seconds. Then remove the strip and shake off fast before leaving it for 20

seconds. Compare the strips on the color chart to match on Total Alkalinity, Total Chlorine and

Total Hardness and record results. Finally, repeat the procure for the other two samples.

The phosphate test is a bit different, and the strip is immersed in the sample water for 5

seconds and removed from the water. While still soaked in water, the strip is held horizontally

with the pads on the upside for 45 seconds (Van Hulle & Cristina Ciocci, 2012). Compare the

test pad on the color chart and record the results. Repeat procedure for the other two samples of

water.

On the iron test strip, the sample water is measured 30ml into a beaker, and the reducing

powder is added to the beaker and covered with parafilm then shake the beaker vigorously for

15seconds. Dip iron strips into the beaker in a back and forth movement for 5 seconds and then

remove iron strips from the beaker and shake off excess water. Wait for 10 seconds before

comparing the test strips to the color chart and record results (Van Hulle & Cristina Ciocci,

2012). Repeat the procedure for the other two samples.

The PH test involves measuring 25ml of sample water to a beaker and the using a pipette

add 5ml of jiffy juice and mix by swirling the beaker and then compare the color of the water

with that of the Ph chart. Repeat the test on the other two samples.

Results

Table 1: Test Results Water Sample Ammonia

Test Chlorine

test Phosphate Iron pH

Tap Water 0(mg/L) 0(mg/L) 50ppm 0.15ppm 7 Dasani® Bottled Water 0(mg/L) 0(mg/L) 10ppm 0ppm 3

Fiji® Bottled Water 0(mg/L) 0(mg/L) 100ppm 0ppm 6

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WATER AND CONTAMINATION 5

Table 2: Test Results

Sample water Total Alkalinity Total Chlorine Total Hardness

Tap Water 0(mg/L) 4.0(mg/L) 50(mg/L) Dasani® Bottled Water 0(mg/L) 0(mg/L) 0(mg/L) Fiji® Bottled Water 0(mg/L) 4.0(mg/L 50(mg/L)

According to the experiment carried out, it was established that all the water sampled i.e.

Fiji, Dasani and tap water did not contain ammonia and chlorine. The 4 in 1 test shows that there

were no alkalinity levels in all the water samples. However, the Total Chlorine and Total

hardness were noticed on the Tap water and Fiji water at similar proportions. The phosphates

show greater levels in Fiji water and least on the Dasani Bottled water. The iron test was only

positive on the tap water. Finally, using the Ph kit, the highest levels were recorded in the Tap

water and least on the Dasani Bottled water.

Discussion

About the hypothesis drawn, one would reject the hypothesis because the Fiji Bottled

Water contained the same amount of chlorine and hardness as the tap water and the bottled

Dasani water contained no hardness or chlorine. Also, the Fiji Bottled Water had the highest

amount of phosphate present followed by the local tap water then the Dasani Bottled Water. As

far as the iron test the Dasani water and Fiji water was the same and my local tap water had .15

ppm of iron present in its water (Górski & Siepak, 2014). Finally, pH results showed that Dasani

had the least amount of pH present followed by Fiji than the local tap water. In conclusion, the

Dasani Fiji Bottled Water and my tap water almost the same number of contaminants.

Surprisingly, the Dasani Bottled Water that is just purified tap water had the least number of

contaminants even with the minerals added in the water after the purification process (Saylor,

Prokopy, & Amberg, 2011).

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WATER AND CONTAMINATION 6

The consumption of water is critical and is affected by many factors, this research backs

up previous research carried on the same topic, and the results are much similar. Just like the

study conducted by de Queiroz, Doria, Rosenberg, Heller, & Zhouri, (2013) that also found

contamination in tap water as compared to bottled water. The research did not focus on the

different brands of bottled water to check consistency. The major research carried out shows

drinking too much-chlorinated water may impose the health risk of bladder cancer there also so

many other long-term downsides in drinking chlorinated water. The source of the tap water is

quite varied, and hence this may greatly influence the experiments carried out in different

geographical regions

Conclusion

The bottled water is worth the price, but the source of water and process of purification

should be kept in mind because you may be drinking water that contains more contaminants than

the local tap water (Hawkins, 2017). In this instance, the Dasani Bottled Water would be worth

the price to protect one from any health risks. Further research needs to be carried out by

examining the contamination levels of various brands of bottled water before being launched in

the market.

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References

Chemical Quality of Tap Water versus Bottled Water: Evaluation of Some Heavy Metals and

Elements Content of Drinking Water in Dakhlia Governorate - Egypt. (2010). The

Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness, 9(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.5580/12ef

de Queiroz, J., Doria, M., Rosenberg, M., Heller, L., & Zhouri, A. (2013). Perceptions of bottled

water consumers in three Brazilian municipalities. Journal of Water and Health, 11(3),

520. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wh.2013.222

Górski, J. & Siepak, M. (2014). Assessment of metal concentrations in tap-water – from source

to the tap: a case study from Szczecin, Poland. Geologos, 20(1).

http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/logos-2014-0004

Hawkins, G. (2017). The impacts of bottled water: an analysis of bottled water markets and their

interactions with tap water provision. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, e1203.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1203

Saylor, A., Prokopy, L., & Amberg, S. (2011). What’s Wrong with the Tap? Examining

Perceptions of Tap Water and Bottled Water at Purdue University. Environmental

Management, 48(3), 588-601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9692-6

Van Hulle, S. & Cristina Ciocci, M. (2012). Statistical evaluation and comparison of the

chemical quality of bottled water and flemish tap water. Desalination and Water

Treatment, 40(1-3), 183-193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.671166

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