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Water Quality Research Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007 August 17, 2007

Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

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Page 1: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Water Quality ResearchWater Quality Research

Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha CurryRickea White, and DaNesha Curry

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007August 17, 2007

Page 2: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

ProblemProblem

The causes and impacts of water The causes and impacts of water pollution in and around Elizabeth City. pollution in and around Elizabeth City.

Page 3: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

OutlineOutline

I. IntroductionI. Introduction A. ProblemA. Problem

B. What is water quality?B. What is water quality? II. HydrosphereII. Hydrosphere

A. Surface RunoffA. Surface Runoff B. Diseases found in poor water qualityB. Diseases found in poor water quality C. Impact of water levelC. Impact of water level

III. LithosphereIII. Lithosphere A. Impacts of elevationA. Impacts of elevation B. Speed of Runoff B. Speed of Runoff

C. SoilC. Soil IV. AtmosphereIV. Atmosphere

A. Acid Rain A. Acid Rain B. Thermal PollutionB. Thermal Pollution

C. Atmospheric ChangesC. Atmospheric Changes

V. BiosphereV. Biosphere A. Death of animals and plantsA. Death of animals and plants B. Oil spillsB. Oil spills C. Things that are hazardous to water qualityC. Things that are hazardous to water qualityVI. ConclusionVI. Conclusion

A. SuggestionsA. SuggestionsB. ReflectionsB. ReflectionsC. AcknowledgmentsC. AcknowledgmentsD. ReferencesD. References

Page 4: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

What is water quality?What is water quality?

Water quality is determined by the Water quality is determined by the physical, chemical, and biological physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water.characteristics of water.

Page 5: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Surface Runoff and its effect Surface Runoff and its effect on water qualityon water quality

Surface runoff is the Surface runoff is the flow of water, rain and flow of water, rain and snow (hydrosphere). It snow (hydrosphere). It is also a main is also a main component of the component of the water cycle.water cycle.

What is surface runoff?What is surface runoff?

Page 6: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Causes and effects of Causes and effects of runoffrunoff

When the water runs along the When the water runs along the ground it picks up soil ground it picks up soil contaminations, (man-made contaminations, (man-made chemicals) petroleum, (crude chemicals) petroleum, (crude oil) pesticides (bug preventions, oil) pesticides (bug preventions, and fertilizers. These and fertilizers. These contaminants then go into our contaminants then go into our water causing its quality to water causing its quality to declinedecline

Page 7: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Does Elevation Influence the Does Elevation Influence the amount and Speed of Runoff?amount and Speed of Runoff?

In areas of high elevations such as In areas of high elevations such as mountains, runoff effects can be more mountains, runoff effects can be more apparent in the form of flash floods and apparent in the form of flash floods and mudslides.mudslides.

Areas around the Pasquotank are Areas around the Pasquotank are already at a low elevation.already at a low elevation.

Runoff carries sediment, raising the bed Runoff carries sediment, raising the bed level which causes increased flooding.level which causes increased flooding.

Page 8: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Does the Speed of Runoff have Does the Speed of Runoff have an Impact on Water Quality?an Impact on Water Quality?

The speed of runoff has a great impact on The speed of runoff has a great impact on water quality. This is because if the Runoff’s water quality. This is because if the Runoff’s speed picks up, it can pick up more sediment speed picks up, it can pick up more sediment and man-made chemicals such as fertilizer and and man-made chemicals such as fertilizer and pesticides.pesticides.

Forests and Swamps are much more capable Forests and Swamps are much more capable of slowing water than farmlands and of slowing water than farmlands and grasslands.grasslands.

Impervious surfaces such as parking lots and Impervious surfaces such as parking lots and roads increase the speed of Runoff because roads increase the speed of Runoff because there is nothing to slow it down.there is nothing to slow it down.

Page 9: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

ELEVATION AROUND ELEVATION AROUND PASQUOTANK RIVERPASQUOTANK RIVER

Page 10: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007
Page 11: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Does the type of soil have an Does the type of soil have an Impact on Water Quality?Impact on Water Quality?

The soil acts as a natural filter The soil acts as a natural filter when water percolates down into when water percolates down into the groundwater.the groundwater.

Soil type has a significant effect as Soil type has a significant effect as well as soil depth, and how clean well as soil depth, and how clean the soil is, and surrounding the soil is, and surrounding vegetation.vegetation.

Different types of soil have Different types of soil have different rates of percolation. For different rates of percolation. For example, water percolates through example, water percolates through sand much faster than clay (this is sand much faster than clay (this is because of the size of the soil because of the size of the soil particles; sand has much larger particles; sand has much larger particles than clay).particles than clay).

Page 12: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

What diseases are found in What diseases are found in water of poor quality?water of poor quality?

Cause: Source of agent in water supplyCause: Source of agent in water supply Effect: Disease Effect: Disease

Sewage, non treated drinking water, files Sewage, non treated drinking water, files in water supply in water supply

Amebiasis (hand to mouth)Amebiasis (hand to mouth)

Collects on water filters and membranes Collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected that cannot be disinfected

Cryptosporidiosis (oral)Cryptosporidiosis (oral)

Sewage, non-treated drinking water Sewage, non-treated drinking water Cyclosporiasis Cyclosporiasis

Untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe Untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe breaks leaks,breaks leaks,

Giardiasis (oral fecal) (hand to mouth) Giardiasis (oral fecal) (hand to mouth)

The genera of Encephalitozoon intestinalis The genera of Encephalitozoon intestinalis has been detected in groundwater, has been detected in groundwater,

swimming swimming

Microsporidia Microsporidia

Page 13: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

The impact of water level The impact of water level on water qualityon water quality

When the precipitation When the precipitation builds up it causes an builds up it causes an area to flood. area to flood. Flooding washes Flooding washes materials from land materials from land (lithosphere) into the (lithosphere) into the water, often causing a water, often causing a decline in water decline in water quality. quality.

High Water Levels

Page 14: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

About Acid RainAbout Acid Rain

Acid rain is a term used Acid rain is a term used to describe how acidic to describe how acidic materials build up in materials build up in the atmosphere and the atmosphere and return to earth in the return to earth in the form of precipitation.form of precipitation.

Cause: The burning of Cause: The burning of fossil fuels creates fossil fuels creates nitric acid and sulfuric nitric acid and sulfuric acid.acid.

Page 15: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Effects of acid rainEffects of acid rain

Acid rain has a negative effect on the Acid rain has a negative effect on the quality of water. Low pH levels in quality of water. Low pH levels in water kills plants, diminishes oxygen water kills plants, diminishes oxygen and increases bacteria growth, and increases bacteria growth, furthermore decreasing water quality. furthermore decreasing water quality.

Page 16: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Thermal PollutionThermal Pollution

A sudden change in water A sudden change in water temperaturetemperature

Cause: Rainfall flows on Cause: Rainfall flows on asphalt and becomes heated asphalt and becomes heated and is then deposited into and is then deposited into nearby water. nearby water.

Effects: Increased Effects: Increased temperature results in the temperature results in the reduction of dissolved oxygen reduction of dissolved oxygen causing rapid growth of algae causing rapid growth of algae and bacteria, which in turn and bacteria, which in turn decreases water quality.decreases water quality.

Page 17: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Atmospheric changes and Atmospheric changes and water qualitywater quality

Increased amounts of sulfur and nitric oxides result in acid rain or dry deposition of these acidic particles

Increased atmospheric temperatures can contribute to thermal pollution by raising water temperatures

Storms that occur in the atmosphere can provide the soil with more water than it can absorb or result in increased flooding and runoff

Negative Effects:

Page 18: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

How does the death of animals How does the death of animals effect the Pasquotank River?effect the Pasquotank River?

Animals such as herring, white Animals such as herring, white perch, and catfish live in the perch, and catfish live in the Pasquotank River.Pasquotank River.

If one animal from the food If one animal from the food chain dies, other animals will chain dies, other animals will die because each animal lives die because each animal lives off each other.off each other.

When the animal decompose in When the animal decompose in the water their body begins to the water their body begins to decay making the water decay making the water contaminated; making it contaminated; making it unsuitable for humans to use.unsuitable for humans to use.

Page 19: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

How does the death of plants How does the death of plants effect the Pasquotank River?effect the Pasquotank River?

Just like animals, plants Just like animals, plants have a big impact on the have a big impact on the Pasquotank River. Pasquotank River. Plants in the river Plants in the river provide oxygen to the provide oxygen to the animals as well as a animals as well as a home . So if the plant home . So if the plant begin to die off then that begin to die off then that will cause the animals to will cause the animals to die off also. Leaving the die off also. Leaving the water contaminated. water contaminated.

Page 20: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

What are the effects of oil What are the effects of oil spills on water quality?spills on water quality? Oil pollution is a growing problem, that Oil pollution is a growing problem, that

particularly devastates coastal wildlife.particularly devastates coastal wildlife. Most man-made oil pollution comes from Most man-made oil pollution comes from

land based activity such as factories, ships, land based activity such as factories, ships, and oil tankers.and oil tankers.

When oil starts to leak into the river it harms When oil starts to leak into the river it harms a numerous amount of things such as the a numerous amount of things such as the oceanic habitat and the animals living in the oceanic habitat and the animals living in the river, and it contaminates the water which river, and it contaminates the water which provides the us with less drinking water.provides the us with less drinking water.

Page 21: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

What is hazardous to the water What is hazardous to the water quality of the Pasquotank River?quality of the Pasquotank River? There are many things known to cause There are many things known to cause

the decline of water quality such as the decline of water quality such as runoff from farms which includes runoff from farms which includes fertilizers, animal waste, and chemicals.fertilizers, animal waste, and chemicals.

Dissolved oxygen occurs when organic Dissolved oxygen occurs when organic waste consumes oxygen; making it waste consumes oxygen; making it harder for animals to live.harder for animals to live.

Large amounts of hazardous Large amounts of hazardous substances like nitric acid can kill substances like nitric acid can kill vegetation and destroy an animal’s vegetation and destroy an animal’s habitat. habitat.

Page 22: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

ConclusionConclusion

Through the Earth System Through the Earth System Science (ESS), our team Science (ESS), our team was able to discover the was able to discover the ways that the four spheres ways that the four spheres interact and impact our interact and impact our water quality. water quality.

For example, the For example, the atmosphere releases atmosphere releases precipitation which forms precipitation which forms runoff (hydrosphere); runoff (hydrosphere); causing erosion causing erosion (lithosphere) and damages (lithosphere) and damages the biosphere.the biosphere.

Page 23: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

SuggestionsSuggestions

Properly dispose of hazardous materials Properly dispose of hazardous materials such as detergents and paints.such as detergents and paints.

Use organic fertilizersUse organic fertilizers Save Water!!! Don’t leave the water running Save Water!!! Don’t leave the water running

when you’re not using it!when you’re not using it! Recycle and dispose of trash properlyRecycle and dispose of trash properly The use of BMP (Best Management The use of BMP (Best Management

Practices) would greatly help the situation in Practices) would greatly help the situation in the Pasquotank Riverthe Pasquotank River

Page 24: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments

Mrs. Julie StamperMrs. Julie Stamper Dr. Leon PringleDr. Leon Pringle Dr. Thomas RossbachDr. Thomas Rossbach Dr. Jim BottiDr. Jim Botti Dr. Liz NobleDr. Liz Noble Dr. William PorterDr. William Porter

Page 25: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

ReferencesReferences

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/acidrain.htmlhttp://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/acidrain.html http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/pollute.htmhttp://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/pollute.htm http://www.pollutionissues.com/Te-Un/Thermal-http://www.pollutionissues.com/Te-Un/Thermal-

Pollution.htmlPollution.html http://www.answers.com/topic/acid-rain?cat=hehttp://www.answers.com/topic/acid-rain?cat=he

althalth http://www.eoearth.org/article/Acid_rainhttp://www.eoearth.org/article/Acid_rain http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/Atmospherhttp://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/Atmospher

e/water_watersheds.backup_CopyrightChangee/water_watersheds.backup_CopyrightChange http://ga2.er.usgs.gov/peachtree/http://ga2.er.usgs.gov/peachtree/

droughtsqa.cfmdroughtsqa.cfm

Page 26: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/air_pollutiohttp://www.chesapeakebay.net/air_pollution.htmn.htm

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/544http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/544 http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/chaptehttp://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/chapte

r_2.htmr_2.htm http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/

waterpollution.htmwaterpollution.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_pollutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_pollution http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Issues?http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Issues?

waterQuality.cfmwaterQuality.cfm

Page 27: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

http://www.ecsu.edu/ECSU/AcidDept/http://www.ecsu.edu/ECSU/AcidDept/Geology/pruqp.htm#_To452353485Geology/pruqp.htm#_To452353485

http://www.ncfisheries.net/habitat/http://www.ncfisheries.net/habitat/chppdoc4/E_SAV.pdfchppdoc4/E_SAV.pdf

http://wikipedia.org/http://wikipedia.org/ http://www.aacounty.org/SevernRiver/http://www.aacounty.org/SevernRiver/

pollution1.cfmpollution1.cfm http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/

fenlewis/Waterquality.htmlfenlewis/Waterquality.html http://www.fivecreeks.org/monitor/do.htmlhttp://www.fivecreeks.org/monitor/do.html

Page 28: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007

ReflectionsReflections

These two weeks have been wonderful! These two weeks have been wonderful! We’ve learned how to apply our knowledge We’ve learned how to apply our knowledge to the events that occur in real life. We’ve to the events that occur in real life. We’ve been to The Great Dismal Swamp, where we been to The Great Dismal Swamp, where we learned why it is important to protect our learned why it is important to protect our swamps. The trip to the Currituck Sound swamps. The trip to the Currituck Sound allowed us to gain hands-on experience on allowed us to gain hands-on experience on how scientists collect and analyze data. how scientists collect and analyze data. Through Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Through Problem Based Learning (PBL) and the Earth System Science (ESS) we have all the Earth System Science (ESS) we have all gained invaluable skills that will last a gained invaluable skills that will last a lifetime!lifetime!

Page 29: Water Quality Research Cymone Morris, Tyler Lannon, Rickea White, and DaNesha Curry Burroughs Wellcome Fund August 17, 2007