Chloride Concentration in South Florida Canal - Essay Example

Supervisor’s due: Testing Chloride Concentration in South Florida Canal A number of water sources makeup the South Florida canal. The canal has a significant role to play in the ecosystem. The composition of water bodies in the Florida canal is affected by several factors such as industrial chemicals and natural forces like runoff seeping. The quality of water affected by such factors is its salinity. The changes in water quality in the Florida canal because of chemical composition has lead to intensified research aimed at improving water quality. This essay is a report based on a field trip to the Florida canal aimed at studying salinity levels of water bodies in the area. The report introduces the study by discussing on the water salinity levels in the Florida by describing variation in chemical composition of water bodies. The article further discusses the methodology used in the research by describing the procedures involved in evaluating the salinity of water in the canal. A distinct results presentation of the research together with other findings is shown in the report. The results are discussed effectively through graphical methods and complete analysis of the respective graphs is given. The report concludes by providing the possible solutions to the increasing levels of water salinity in the Florida canal. Introduction The Florida canals are located in South Florida is occupies a relatively low lying highly carbonate area in terms of the topographical dimension. The area receives a relative relief rainfall pattern and the rainfall distribution is 10mm over 100 Km range. South Florida lies mainly on bedrock whose composition was mainly carbonated material, which was formed over one-twenty years ago. The South Florida canals are mainly wetlands forming a critical component of the ecosystem. The increasing levels in chlorine and other chemicals in the canal is a major concern for the government and researchers in general (Gleason 165). Agricultural, household and industrial activities contribute a lot in the increasing levels of chemicals in the canal over the last one hundred years. The quality of water bodies in the Florida canal is deteriorating because of several factors such anthropologic activities, wetlands eutrophication and methyl-mercury pollution in the canal. Eutrophication is mainly caused by high levels of phosphoric materials from the industries. Marine life in the canal is deteriorating as a result of methyl-mercury pollution from industrial activities (F. McPherson 59). Moreover, the rate at which the wetlands dry is increasing as due to anthropogenic activities in the Florida canals. This affects the effectiveness at which water flows into the canal that is a big blow to the ecosystem balance. This research, however, focuses on determining the levels or concentration of chloride in the Florida canals. The results used in the discussion were obtained during the field trip to the canal. The report recommends on measures, which should be called the involvement of authorities to ensure that the standard chloride levels are maintained, are maintained in the canal (Gleason 187). Thos will be achieved by evaluating factors causing the rise in chloride levels in the canals and formulating ways through which the selected factors can be of application to provide a permanent solution tom the problem. Research Hypothesis Chloride concentration in South Florida canal is approximately 50ppm. This concentration level is relative below the levels recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which is 19,300 ppm. However, chloride levels in the canal are higher than the 2.0 mg per liter recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. The high amounts of chlorides can be hazardous to the aquatic life in the canal. This paper seeks to find the exact levels of chloride in the canal and eventually obtain the best solution to the increased amounts of chloride in South Florida canal. Research Methodology 62 water samples were collected from different parts of South Florida canal. The collected samples were then divided among the four groups and each group comprised of two or more members. The groups were differentiated by using color green, purple, blue and Red. This implies each color presented a research group. The collected samples were classified according to their longitudinal and latitudinal locations. The particular groups were then given the responsibility of collecting data based on the specified geographical orientation. Titrations were then conducted on the three diluted IAPSO seawater standards. A 2mL burette was filled with silver nitrate solution and 10mL of water containing 100µL of Indicator solution was added. A stir bar was used to add the Indicator solution vial. Silver Nitrate solution was gradually added to the water sample while the water sample was continuously stirred. The Silver Nitrate solution gradually changed its color but once the color turned to brown-pink, its addition to the water sample was stopped. The Volume of Silver Nitrate solution added to the water sample was then used to obtain Chloride concentration in a particular sample. The different research groups used the same data collection and analysis methods, which helped in reducing errors rising during the data collection and analysis process. Data collected was organized based on the replicates, implying that bottles with similar results were kept for further study. Table1: Various Research Groups Group1 Group2 Group3 Group4 Green Steve Xia Franis Devika Kamari Nicole Frank Danielle Caitlin Results Table 2: The Replicates Bottles 1 2 27 0.12 0.14 0.13 0.01 55 0.11 0.15 0.13 0.03 15 0.1 0.16 0.13 0.04 23 0.09 0.17 0.13 0.06 47 0.08 0.18 0.13 0.07 45 0.07 0.19 0.13 0.08 18.07 The analysis of the each group data was done in Microsoft office excels and the end result shown above was the average results obtained by the respective groups. The final data analysis for purple group is shown in table 3. Table 3: Final Data for the purple group Purple 1 2 3 Mean s.d. 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.00 0.14 0.14 0.13 0.14 0.00 0.28 0.28 0.25 0.27 0.02 The other groups presented their respective as shown in in table 3. The final evaluation of the results is indicated on table 2 above. After analysis, the data was then presented in graphical form as indicated in figure 1 and figure 2 below. Figure1 Figure2. Discussion The values obtained by the four groups were almost similar as shown in the graph. It is eminent in the graphs that the results ranged from 0.997126 to 0.998797. These values represented the concentration of Chloride as well as the levels of Silver Nitrate available in South Florida canal. The average chloride concentration obtained from the analysis of the research data is 0.997126, which is extremely low as compared to the stipulated concentration of 2mg per litre. The low concentration of Chloride in South Florida canal is clear indication of the high levels of pollution taking place around the place. This is because increases for salts as nitrates lead to decreased concentration of other salts such as chlorides. Chlorides are mainly consumed by most of the marine life though in minimal amounts (McPherson 69). They are essential for the growth of various marine plants and another organism. The South Florida can be referred to as the indirect dumping site for most of the industrial waste chemicals like Methyl-mercury that causes a severe imbalance of salt levels in the canal. This is because; contaminated water finds its way into the canals through the different water movement mechanisms. There is uncertainty about the increase in water contamination rates as a result of the activities taking place in the canal. The establishment of aquifers around the canal is another contributing factor to the increase in chloride levels in South Florida canal. This is because the groups whose samples came from the areas near the aquifers recorded higher chloride levels than other groups. Other results also showed that, data obtained from the shallow parts of the canal indicated slightly high amounts of chloride. This implies that the chloride levels are actually high in a shallow part of the canal and places where aquifers have been constructed. The salt intrusion in South Florida canal is also as a result of low water tables resulting from an increase in the oil drilling activities around the area. This leads to subsurface lateral seawater movement, water seepage from other canals and vertical still water movement. These are the general causes of the increase in the amounts of chloride and other salts in South Florida canal. For Example, seawater generally contains a high concentration of Chlorides hence once it moves into the canals; the result is an increase in salt levels in the canals. Underground and still water contains large amounts of chlorides, which are easily transferred to the canals after its exposure due to drilling activities. The results also indicate that nitrate levels were almost the same as that of Chloride. This a true indication of the increased levels of salts in the South Florida canal. The other cause in the increase for chloride in South Florida canal is the agricultural activities of the people living around the place. The use of chemicals for agricultural purposes tends to amount of salt increment in the soil. This salt is then transferred to the canal through a runoff occurring after a heavy downpour. South Florida canal is the main source of fresh water for the people living in Florida. The increase in chloride levels in the water implies that the fresh water supplied to the citizens will be reduced. The aquatic life supported by South Florida canal is highly affected by the high amounts of chloride in the water. This is because most of Aquatic animals found in South Florida can are mainly fresh water animals and an increase in chloride levels is a threat to the lives which might cause a severe ecosystem imbalance (Manzano 47). Conclusion Accuracy of the results was highly limited by inadequacy in the number of samples. The South Florida canal covers a large geographical area, which requires more samples to obtain accurate results. The research was timely since it was carried out at the time the problem of high levels of Chloride in South Florida canal is becoming a challenge to every environmentalist. Recommendations The problem of high chloride levels in South Florida canal can be solved through the participation of all parties involved. The government should come up measures that regulate the model of activities done by the people living near the canal. Organic agriculture is a major step into improving the quality water from the canal. Oil drilling near the canal should be minimized to minimize the possibility of sea and ground water from coming into contact with the fresh water from the canal. Works Cited Gleason, Patrick J. Environments of South Florida: present and past. Miami: Miami Geological Society, 2011. Manzano, Marisol. Groundwater and saline intrusion. New York: IGME, 2005. McPherson, Benjamin F. The Environment of South Florida: A Summary Report : a Description of the South Florida Ecosystem and Changes Resulting from Mans Activities. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2009. McPherson, F. The south Florida environment: a region under stress. Washington, D.C: U.S. G.P.O, 1996. Read More