Chemicals in Water TestsChemicals in Water Tests

Manitou Spring Water Manitou Spring Water

AndAnd

Fountain CreekFountain Creek

Ammonia NitrogenAmmonia Nitrogen

Used in fertilizers. All plants need Used in fertilizers. All plants need ammonia as a source of nitrogen. ammonia as a source of nitrogen.

Humans add it to crops and Humans add it to crops and gardens. In excess, it can cause gardens. In excess, it can cause

blood anemia.blood anemia.

pH - Measurement of pH - Measurement of AcidityAcidity• pH ScalepH Scale

• ____________________________________________________________________

• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 121 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

• 1-6 Acids1-6 Acids

• 7 Neutral7 Neutral

• 8-12 Bases8-12 Bases

pH affect on Water pH affect on Water OrganismsOrganisms

• Acidic water can kill fish eggs. pH Acidic water can kill fish eggs. pH 5.05.0

• Most fish can tolerate a pH of 5.0 to Most fish can tolerate a pH of 5.0 to 9.0 in lakes and river water. 9.0 in lakes and river water.

• Acidity can leach heavy metals into Acidity can leach heavy metals into the water or out of pipes.the water or out of pipes.

Rainwater is slightly acidic. pH 6Rainwater is slightly acidic. pH 6

pH – Exponential ScalepH – Exponential Scale

• The pH scale is exponential. Each The pH scale is exponential. Each number away from neutral 7 increases number away from neutral 7 increases the acidity or alkalinity by 10 times.the acidity or alkalinity by 10 times.

• For example: a pH of 3 (like vinegar) is For example: a pH of 3 (like vinegar) is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 4, 10 times more acidic than a pH of 4,

100 times more acidic than a pH of 5,100 times more acidic than a pH of 5,1000 times more acidic than a pH of 6 1000 times more acidic than a pH of 6

andand10,000 times more acidic than a pH of 7.10,000 times more acidic than a pH of 7.

pH alkalinitypH alkalinity

• Many western soils are alkaline with Many western soils are alkaline with a pH of around 8 – 9. When rivers or a pH of around 8 – 9. When rivers or springs run through alkaline soil, springs run through alkaline soil, they also become alkaline. Bases they also become alkaline. Bases feel slippery and taste bitter, while feel slippery and taste bitter, while acids taste sour.acids taste sour.

Chlorine (element # 17)Chlorine (element # 17)

• Chlorine is a halogen. (That means it Chlorine is a halogen. (That means it has seven valence electrons and will has seven valence electrons and will combine very quickly with other combine very quickly with other chemicals.) People add chlorine to city chemicals.) People add chlorine to city water supplies to kill bacteria. Chlorine water supplies to kill bacteria. Chlorine has saved thousands of lives by has saved thousands of lives by destroying bacteria that cause diseases destroying bacteria that cause diseases like cholera. It evaporates out of the like cholera. It evaporates out of the water supply after a short time.water supply after a short time.

Chromium (element # 24)Chromium (element # 24)

• Chromium is a metal and is usually Chromium is a metal and is usually found in mineral form. Chromium is found in mineral form. Chromium is needed by the human body in trace needed by the human body in trace amounts to help metabolize fats, lipids, amounts to help metabolize fats, lipids, and carbohydrates. Some people take and carbohydrates. Some people take chromium supplements. There have chromium supplements. There have not been any health affects found for not been any health affects found for too much chromium in the human body. too much chromium in the human body. The EPA has not established upper The EPA has not established upper guidelines.guidelines.

Copper (Element #29)Copper (Element #29)

• Copper as a mineral is essential to Copper as a mineral is essential to human health. Copper helps the body human health. Copper helps the body metabolize iron, which is part of blood. metabolize iron, which is part of blood. People get the small doses of copper People get the small doses of copper needed from a good diet. Excess needed from a good diet. Excess copper can result in liver, kidney and copper can result in liver, kidney and neurological disorders. Too little neurological disorders. Too little copper can result in abnormal copper can result in abnormal heartbeat, bone and immune system heartbeat, bone and immune system disorders.disorders.

Cyanide – A dangerous organic Cyanide – A dangerous organic molecule (Organic = carbon molecule (Organic = carbon compounds)compounds)• Cyanide is formed when a triple bond Cyanide is formed when a triple bond

forms between carbon and nitrogen.forms between carbon and nitrogen.• C C == N N • Cyanide is used to process gold and Cyanide is used to process gold and

recover gold from the ore.recover gold from the ore.• Cyanide poisoning harms the brain and Cyanide poisoning harms the brain and

heart and may cause coma or death. If heart and may cause coma or death. If any cyanide was found in water supplies, any cyanide was found in water supplies, the water cannot be used by humans.the water cannot be used by humans.

Iron (Element # 26)Iron (Element # 26)

• Iron is the center of the hemoglobin Iron is the center of the hemoglobin molecule and in making muscles. It is molecule and in making muscles. It is essential to animals. Iron is found in meats, essential to animals. Iron is found in meats, fish and poultry. fish and poultry.

• Iron deficiency results in fatigue, weakness, Iron deficiency results in fatigue, weakness, headaches and anemia in severe cases. headaches and anemia in severe cases.

• Iron is only toxic to people who have a Iron is only toxic to people who have a genetic deficiency. Your body will just genetic deficiency. Your body will just excrete extra Fe.excrete extra Fe.

Nitrate NitrogenNitrate Nitrogen

• Nitrogen (element #7) is one of the Nitrogen (element #7) is one of the most abundant elements. 78% of most abundant elements. 78% of the atmosphere is N.the atmosphere is N.

• Nitrogen cannot be used by plants in Nitrogen cannot be used by plants in the atmospheric form Nthe atmospheric form N2.2.

• It can only be used by plants as It can only be used by plants as ammonia or nitrate. ammonia or nitrate.

Nitrate NitrogenNitrate Nitrogen

• Humans fertilize plants – lawns, Humans fertilize plants – lawns, trees, crops – with nitrate nitrogen. trees, crops – with nitrate nitrogen. Excess run off from fertilizer causes Excess run off from fertilizer causes excesses in water.excesses in water.

• Excess nitrate nitrogen can also be Excess nitrate nitrogen can also be put into water by faulty waste water put into water by faulty waste water treatment plants.treatment plants.

Nitrate NitrogenNitrate Nitrogen

• Too much nitrate nitrogen in the water can Too much nitrate nitrogen in the water can have serious health hazards for aquatic have serious health hazards for aquatic organisms and for humans. organisms and for humans.

• Fish can develop brown blood disease.Fish can develop brown blood disease.• Algae can over reproduce. When they die, Algae can over reproduce. When they die,

they cause oxygen depletion. Algae they cause oxygen depletion. Algae blooms cause many fish kills.blooms cause many fish kills.

• Nitrates cause anemia in humans. The red Nitrates cause anemia in humans. The red blood cells cannot carry oxygen.blood cells cannot carry oxygen.

Phosphorous (Element # Phosphorous (Element # 15)15)• Phosphorous is needed by plants and Phosphorous is needed by plants and

animals for energy production. animals for energy production. • It is part of the ATP molecule that is It is part of the ATP molecule that is

used by mitochondria to get the used by mitochondria to get the energy from food.energy from food.

• Phosphates are a part of fertilizer Phosphates are a part of fertilizer that humans put on plants, such as that humans put on plants, such as lawns, trees, and crops.lawns, trees, and crops.

Phosphorous cont.Phosphorous cont.

• Too much phosphorous can cause Too much phosphorous can cause algae blooms, excess growth and algae blooms, excess growth and reproduction by algae. When the algae reproduction by algae. When the algae dies, it uses oxygen to decompose. dies, it uses oxygen to decompose. Too little oxygen causes fish kills.Too little oxygen causes fish kills.

• Detergents have quit using Detergents have quit using phosphorous.phosphorous.

• Waste water treatment plants try very Waste water treatment plants try very hard to remove phosphorous.hard to remove phosphorous.

Silica (Element # 14)Silica (Element # 14)

• Silica is a natural part of sand. Silicon Silica is a natural part of sand. Silicon dioxide is melted to form glass. dioxide is melted to form glass.

• Silica is not needed by animals or most Silica is not needed by animals or most plants. It does not harm nor help living plants. It does not harm nor help living organisms. organisms.

• Interesting fact: Native Americans used Interesting fact: Native Americans used horsetail reeds as scrub brushes, because horsetail reeds as scrub brushes, because this plant contains much silica. this plant contains much silica.

• Diatoms (used in toothpaste) use silica in Diatoms (used in toothpaste) use silica in forming their “shells.”forming their “shells.”

Sulfide – usually found in water Sulfide – usually found in water as Hydrogen Sulfideas Hydrogen Sulfide

• Hydrogen Sulfide in water does not really Hydrogen Sulfide in water does not really pose a health threat but does give water a pose a health threat but does give water a strange “rotten egg” smell and taste.strange “rotten egg” smell and taste.

• Naturally occurring sulfur bacteria use the Naturally occurring sulfur bacteria use the sulfur in plants as a food source when the sulfur in plants as a food source when the plant dies. During this process, hydrogen plant dies. During this process, hydrogen sulfide is produced. sulfide is produced.

Chlorine quickly reacts with HChlorine quickly reacts with H22S. A yellow S. A yellow precipitant of sulfur will fall out of the precipitant of sulfur will fall out of the solution.solution.

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

• Dissolved Oxygen is critical in a Dissolved Oxygen is critical in a water supply for the fish and water supply for the fish and macroinvertebrates to be able to macroinvertebrates to be able to breath. breath.

• The colder the water, the more The colder the water, the more dissolved oxygen can stay in dissolved oxygen can stay in solution. (Remember the gas solution. (Remember the gas solubility chart.)solubility chart.)

Dissolved Oxygen Cont.Dissolved Oxygen Cont.

• Dissolved Oxygen gets into water as a waste Dissolved Oxygen gets into water as a waste product of photosynthesis, rapid motion of product of photosynthesis, rapid motion of the water, or from being in contact with the the water, or from being in contact with the air.air.

• If DO levels drop below 5 ppm, it starts to If DO levels drop below 5 ppm, it starts to stress aquatic life. At 1-2 ppm, major fish stress aquatic life. At 1-2 ppm, major fish kills occur. kills occur.

• If DO levels reach too high, fish can develop If DO levels reach too high, fish can develop gas bubble disease, where oxygen gas bubble disease, where oxygen accumulates in bubbles beneath the skin.accumulates in bubbles beneath the skin.

Biological Oxygen DemandBiological Oxygen Demand

• BOD determines how fast little BOD determines how fast little organisms in the water use up organisms in the water use up Dissolved Oxygen.Dissolved Oxygen.

• Sample is wrapped in foil and left for Sample is wrapped in foil and left for 5 days. Another DO test will 5 days. Another DO test will determine if oxygen has been used determine if oxygen has been used by water organisms.by water organisms.

Nitrate in parts per million Nitrate in parts per million ppmppm

• This is a duplicate test to determine This is a duplicate test to determine if there are any nitrates in the water if there are any nitrates in the water sample. sample.

• Nitrates are used in fertilizers to help Nitrates are used in fertilizers to help plants grow. plants grow.

• Too much nitrate will cause anemia Too much nitrate will cause anemia in humans.in humans.

Phosphates can cause Phosphates can cause Eutrophication – Algae BloomEutrophication – Algae Bloom

PhosphatesPhosphates

• Phosphates are added to fertilizers to Phosphates are added to fertilizers to help plants grow. Too much phosphate help plants grow. Too much phosphate in water supplies can result in an algae in water supplies can result in an algae bloom. When algae die, the bloom. When algae die, the decomposition depletes oxygen decomposition depletes oxygen supplies. supplies.

• Phosphate is used in energy production, Phosphate is used in energy production, ATP, in the mitochondria of cells.ATP, in the mitochondria of cells.

Phosphates continuedPhosphates continued

• Too much phosphate can cause Too much phosphate can cause human digestive problems in very human digestive problems in very large doses. large doses.

• Phosphates occur naturally in many Phosphates occur naturally in many western soils. Phosphate is mined in western soils. Phosphate is mined in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Total Dissolved SolidsTotal Dissolved Solids

• Includes dissolved salts such as Includes dissolved salts such as calcium, chloride, iron, phosphates, calcium, chloride, iron, phosphates, nitrates, bicarbonates, and chlorine. nitrates, bicarbonates, and chlorine. Can come from farm, municipal Can come from farm, municipal (city), and industrial run off. (city), and industrial run off.

Total SolidsTotal Solids

• Includes all solid particles such as silt Includes all solid particles such as silt and plankton, as well as dissolved and plankton, as well as dissolved solids. TS is especially a problem in solids. TS is especially a problem in farming communities where soil is farming communities where soil is eroded from farm lands and ends up eroded from farm lands and ends up in rivers. Industrial wastes may also in rivers. Industrial wastes may also contribute to particulate matter. contribute to particulate matter.

Total Solids in RiverTotal Solids in River

Fecal Coliforms – Bacteria Fecal Coliforms – Bacteria

• BacteriaBacteria

• From From

• Feces from Feces from

• Animals & Humans.Animals & Humans.

Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform

• Bacteria in our lower digestive systems Bacteria in our lower digestive systems help us digest food. help us digest food.

• Many diseases are passed through fecal Many diseases are passed through fecal bacteria including typhoid fever, bacteria including typhoid fever, dysentery, and Hepatitis A.dysentery, and Hepatitis A.

•Cities treat water with Cities treat water with Chlorine to kill these bacteria.Chlorine to kill these bacteria.

Safe Water to Drink?Safe Water to Drink?

• Is the Manitou Spring Water safe for Is the Manitou Spring Water safe for people to drink as it comes out of the people to drink as it comes out of the spring untreated?spring untreated?

• Is the water from Fountain Creek Is the water from Fountain Creek safe to drink untreated?safe to drink untreated?

•You Decide!!You Decide!!