Sonia Lee

APES pd. 5

Lab Analysis Questions

Chemical analysis of water quality

1. Why does cold water hold more oxygen than warm?

When the water gets warm less gas dissolve faster. Therefore, the warm water

holds fewer amounts of oxygen then cold water.

2. At what time of day would you expect to have more DO? Explain.

During the day is when photosynthesis occur the most because of the sunlight

they get. The more sunlight the plants get the more photosynthesis the plants

make. Photosynthesis is what makes the oxygen. So the more photosynthesis, the

more oxygen will be produced.

3. What problems are associated with eutrophication?

Eutrophication is caused when run-offs, such as nitrate and phosphate, gets added

into the water. The water then gets a sudden algae bloom causing less sunlight to

enter the water. This decreases photosynthesis and so many organisms to die

because of the decrease in oxygen.

4. In which season would you expect the surface water turbidity levels to be

higher, summer or winter? Why?

Summer would have a higher level of turbidity.

5. What effect does turbidity have on plant and animal life in aquatic

ecosystems?
A high Turbidity is when the water gets cloudy and covered. This makes the waters

become warmer and so it reduces the oxygen in the water. Some organisms and

animals under water can’t survive in warmer water. The high turbidity also affects the

plants, since much sunlight can not get through it decreases the photosynthesis. The

decrease of photosynthesis lowers the oxygen more.

6. What is the WQI for Lake Braddock and what rating does this correspond

with?

The WQI was 60.5 and that falls under the WQI value 51-70 which is an average

water quality rating.

7. What are specific possible pollution sources for the lake? What are possible

control methods for these sources?

Non-point runoff is one way the lakes get polluted and a control method for that is

to reduce the use of pesticides and use an exact amount of fertilizers. Fertilizers

and pesticides applied near a body of water should be reduced as well. Another

possible pollution source is the sewage that consists of many chemicals and toxics

that leak into groundwater. One control method is to work with nature to treat

sewage by the use of artificial wetlands to treat sewage as a low-tech and low cost

alternative to expensive waste treatment plants. When the four R’s (refuse,

reduce, recycle, reuse) are not used it causes pollution. A possible control method

is by using the four R’s by reducing the amount of fertilizers and pesticides,

recycling papers and metals, and reusing the recycled materials. Also, Thermo

pollution in waters could be reduced in all power plants.

8-9
 8. Humans impact on the
levels
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) When the humans use
more fertilizers then they
need to, they impact the
DO level because of the
excess fertilizers that
become run-offs.
pH Humans burning coal,
which the smoke has
sulfur, get up into the
atmosphere. When it
starts to rain the sulfuric
acid falls into the water
which drops the pH levels.
Temperature Change The humans can impact
the temperature with
power plants causing
thermo pollution.
Fecal Coliform
BOD
Nitrate The human excess use of
fertilizers and pesticides
that goes in the water
creates eutrophication.
Phosphate The human excess use of
fertilizers and pesticides
that goes in the water
creates eutrophication.
Total suspended solids
(turbidity)
9. Adverse affect of
unhealthy levels
Run-offs like fertilizers
that get into the water
cause the DO to decrease.
When it rains the rain
may be acidic and thus
makes the water acidic.
Acid rain could result in
loss of specific species.
Run offs causes nitrate to
be added into the water
causing an algae bloom.
Run offs causes phosphate
to be added into the water
causing an algae bloom.
Erosions cause the water
to become cloudy which
means it has a high
turbidity.