Water Quality in Urban Environment - Lab Report Example

Values within a recommended range identify certified quality while extreme values mean poor quality of a tested water sample that should not be recommended for consumption. Turbidity, temperature, pH level, oxygen concentration, hardness, and concentration of elements like aluminum, nitrogen ions, phosphate ions, and ammonia molecules are examples of determinants of water quality (Miller and Spoolman, p. 532).

The used materials for the experiment are a water sample, open containers, turbidity chart, thermometer, and pH indicators.

The water sample was collected on Cherry Creek using a wide-mouthed jar and the jar was rinsed three times. The jar was then held from its base, immersed in water, and then turned into the water current. Water was allowed to flow into the container for 30 seconds and filled up to the turbidity line. A turbidity chart was then held against the container and comparisons were made to determine the water sample’s turbidity level that was recorded. Tests were then conducted for alkalinity level, pH dissolved oxygen, hardness, temperature, and nitrate and phosphate levels. Results were recorded for each measurement.

The water sample reported a turbidity level of 20 jhu units, a value that is far beyond the recommended level of fewer than 1 jhu. The concentration of dissolved oxygen that was reported at 5 ppm is consistent with the recommended level of between 4 and 5 ppm. The alkalinity level of the water sample was recorded at 400 ppm, far above the minimum recommended value of 30 while the temperature was recorded at 160 c, a comparatively lower value than the recommended 250 c. The hardness measure also superseded the recommended minimum value of 60 ppm while the reported pH level was within the recommended range of between 5 and 9 units. Nitrogen, phosphate, and ammonia levels were reported at 3, 2, and 0 units, values that are within the recommended levels of 3, 2.25, and 1.5 units respectively (Twort, Ratnayaka, and Brandt, 222- 225).

The sample’s low temperature was lower than the recommended levels for water quality. Its biological properties, as reported through turbidity level, also identify excess pollutants and hence the poor quality. The chemical properties in alkalinity level, pH level, nitrogen, ammonia, and phosphorous concentrations, together with oxygen concentration are however within quality limits. The physical and biological properties, therefore, identify the poor quality of the water sample for human consumption and aquatic life.