Memorandum
To: Town of Framingham
From: Michael Baldwin
Date: October 17, 2015
Subject: Farm Pond water quality testing
Introduction:
My name is Michael Baldwin, I am a senior at Framingham State University where I am studying environmental science. The ecology class at the university was recently tasked with collecting water quality data on Farm Pond. This memo intends to inform the town of Framingham of the data that was collected, and how it might be analyzed to better understand the water quality and ecosystem health of Farm Pond as it relates to recreational use.
Methods:
In order to assess the water quality of Farm Pond the class collected a variety of data. The class was broken into groups which collected multiple types of data from different parts of the pond. Data was collected from both littoral (area shallow enough for rooted vegetation) and limnetic (area too deep to support rooted vegetation) zones in the pond.
In the littoral zone three groups collected data on water temperature, pH, water depth and biota.
Sampling was done along three transects, where samples were taken at 1,2,3 and 4 meters from shore.
Water pH was measured using standard pH paper as well as an electronic pH meter. Water temperature was measured using a thermometer. Water depth was physically measured. Biota data included the percentage of vegetative coverage in sample plots which was measured visually. In addition, samples of benthic macro-invertebrates were taken using a net drag
We did 3 different test to help conclude the water quality. The first testing/station i did was to see what kind of critters were living in the water. Then, my next group was to take a test to see if eutrophication was in the water. We also took
The first station we had was counting crustaceans and macroinvertebrates in the water. We found 113 critters that belonged in group 1 which means it is quality water. There were 2 organisms in group 2 which was somewhat quality water. Also, 16 critters in group 3 which means the water is very polluted. Overall, based on the critter
I infer that the water quality was affected more by other factors. The two sites with about the same amount of human activity were McKinney Falls State Park and Bulls Creek. On the other hand, Wild Basin swimming is not allowed. Our results showed that the order from greatest to least amount of nitrate and phosphorous concentration was Bulls Creek, McKinney Falls, and Wild Basin at the lowest. Hence, because Bulls Creek was had the high amounts of human activity and nitrate and phosphorous levels, this relates
The first tests were to determine the chemical composition of the creek. Two types of pollution problems were being tested. One is called eutrophication and is when the creek or any body of water has too many nutrients in the water. It is bad for the creek. The other type is acid rain, which is when the burning of fossil fuels causes rain that is acidic. That rain subsequently drains into the creek. We performed a phosphate test, which uses scientific tools to measure the level of phosphate in the water. A similar test we executed was a nitrate test. A healthy result on both of those tests would have been a low number. Additionally, we tested the creek for dissolved oxygen, which should have been a higher number rather than a low number. The creek was also tested using a pH scale, where the numbers range from zero to fourteen, seven being the best. Lastly, we tested the rocks found in the creek to see if they would work to neutralize acid. We did this by putting acid on the rocks and observing if they bubbled and sizzled or not. The next experiment was to find organisms in the creek. We found a variety of macroinvertebrates and classified them
Underwater grasses, or Elodea, was observed as well. This wide variety of life is a good indicator of the water’s health.
The variations of tidal levels have created different degrees of sun and air exposure that have resulted in three zones, generally, the supra-littoral zone, littoral zone and the sub-littoral zone (See Appendix A, Figure 3). Diverse animal and plant organisms excel at surviving and dealing with different degrees of abiotic and biotic factors and as a result the rocky shore ecosystem is comprised of a series of bands known as vertical, or in this instance, intertidal zonation (See Appendix A, Figure 1). Abiotic stresses such as light intensity and wave action typically set the upper boundaries where as biotic stresses set the lower boundaries and limit the distribution of many organisms to particular strata (See Appendix A, Figure 2). It is due to the species distribution among the different zones that the rocky shore ecosystems cannot be defined as a uniform habitat, rather a dynamic and complex one (Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, 2013).
3. Soil samples were collected at varying distances from the lake at 10m increments (0-40m) using the shovel and meter stick. Soil samples were only collected from a depth of about 2-8 inches.
Another goal was to track changes in water quality, especially the expected reduction of nutrient inputs from the watershed from the installation and improvement of collection and treatment infrastructure in the County. Objectives of the AMP, in accordance with the ACJ are as follows:
If students find the amount of the different chemicals, then the students can find out if the creek is polluted. There are two particular pollution issues everyone is dealing with. One pollution issue is Eutrophication. Or otherwise known as Nutrient Pollution. Another pollution issue is Acid Rain.
The primary purpose of Experiment 22: An Analysis of Water Quality was to determine the quality of four different samples of water using multiple tests. During the experiment we tested to find the pH, nitrate, chloride, conductivity, alkalinity and hardness levels of all samples. Since all of these techniques have been previously used, the secondary purpose of this experiment was to review and combine these techniques. Knowing and understanding the purpose behind these testing practices allows us to apply them to real world situations.
Water quality describes the condition of the H¬2¬O, including chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. The water quality test that are generally carried out are pH, turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, dissolved phosphate and nitrate. Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of free present in H¬2¬O. It is an important parameter in assessing water quality because of its influence on the organisms living within a body of H¬2¬O. Dissolved oxygen is oxygen gas molecules (O2) present in the water. Generally, oxygen is spread through diffusion, which is determined by many factors including temperature of water, rapids, falls, time, climate and altitude. For example, a stagnant H¬2-O will have less dissolved oxygen than a fast flowing
Many abiotic factors were measured, some including: temperatures, pH levels and flow or speed rates for the water and atmospheric conditions. Although the most important environmental abiotic data collected were influenced by the focus questions. These were the turbidity & dissolved oxygen, coliform levels and nitrates and phosphate levels.
Newsletter and Technical publications, Lakes and Reservoirs VoL.3, Water Quality: The Impact of Eutrophication, Published from website United Nations Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
The mean values of selected analytical water quality parameters, among the four seasons from April 2015 to February 2016, revealed that generally most selected physico-chemical properties (Temp., pH, E.C., Ak., Turb., T. hard., D.O, B.O.D, NO3, NO2, NH3, Cl-) of water samples were within permissible limit (WHO 2004).
In 2016, the City of Baltimore Works Department of Public Works (BCWDP) conducted approximately 150,000 potable water quality analyses as part of an ongoing effort to assure a god water quality. The Baltimore municipal water was assayed for more than 90 potable water contaminants. A detailed result of the finished water quality test was provided in accordance of the standard required by Environmental protective Agency (EPA) Water Testing Regulations who regulates the substances found in drinking water. At the complete of these potable water tests Baltimore City’s excellent drinking water meets or exceeds all required standards. (BCWDP, 2017).