Introduction

n    Water quality varies by source.

n   Streams

n   Rivers

n   Lakes and Ponds

n   Groundwater

n    Human Activity Affects Water Quality

n   Nonpoint source pollution

n  Agricultural activities

n  Construction activities

n   Point source pollution

n  Municipalities & Industry – wastewater

n  NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System)

n   Groundwater contamination

n  Illegal oil disposal (and other chemicals)

Parameters 

n  pH (hydrogen power)

n  pH scale 0 – 14

n  7 is neutral

n  Water that is 6-9 is acceptable

n  Temperature

n  Conductivity 

n  the degree to which water can conduct an electric current. 

n  Pure water has very low conductivity and does not conduct electrical current very well. 

n  As salt is dissolved into the water, the conductivity increases.

n    Fecal Coliform Testing:

n  Relatively harmless microorganisms that live in large numbers in the intestines of man and warm- and cold-blooded animals. 

n  The most common member being Escherichia coli. Are associated only with the fecal material of warm-blooded animals. 

n  Environmental Impact: The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicates that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals. 

n  At the time fecal contamination occurred, the source water may have been contaminated by pathogens or disease producing bacteria or viruses which can also exist in fecal material. 

n  Some waterborne pathogenic diseases include typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis and hepatitis A. 

n  Fecal coliform bacteria may occur in water as a result of the overflow of domestic sewage or nonpoint sources of human and animal waste.

 

Everyone Lives in a Watershed

n  watershed, or drainage basin, is the area of land that drains into a particular lake, river, stream or wetland

http://www.scdhec.net/water/     

n  Organizational Meeting

n  2 Training Events

n  Customer Service Event after TechFest (4/7/01)

n  Divide into groups with Team Leaders.

n  Groups should be based on student schedules, join with people whose schedule aligns with yours for SAMPLING and ANALYSIS

n  Team leaders will report to Mr. McGill

n  Teams (2 to 4 persons)

n  6 sample collection and analysis teams 

n  Mission: Collect samples in York, Chester, Lancaster Counties from requests made at TechFest.

n  Analyze samples during practice and TechFest.

n  Work out sample route for TechFest samples.

n  Correct collection time, technique, record keeping.

n  Support team – 

n  Have materials ready: sample bottles (total coliform and chemistry)

n  Conduct research to be typed (disclaimer and “what do results mean?”-total coliform, pH, conductivity, etc.—see Dr. Lewis).

n  Record keeping (sample # with date, bottle number, etc.)

n  3 Events

n  Practice 1:     March 5th – 9th 

n  Correctly collect and analyze samples.

n  Practice 2     March 19th – 23rd

n  TechFest Requests  April 17th – 23rd 

n  Post results on website

n  http://academic.yorktech.com/department/science/environment/index.html

n  Extra Credit – Individual Instructor

n  GOAL: Work out collection and analysis times during the listed weeks.

Monday 12:50-3:00PM, 

Tuesday 7:00-9:00PM, 

Thursday 9:20-11:30AM

n  Obtain sample bottles prior to collecting.

n  Record keeping.

n  Sample integrity, i.e. analyze in 2 hours or refrigerate for maximum 24.

n  Correct collection procedure:

n  Outside faucet

n  Total coliform-flush system, use aseptic techniques

n  Chemical-rinse out with sample water

 CONTACT PERSON

Mr. McGill

jmcgill@yorktech.com

981-7329

Box in A104/Office A200