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is overloaded by pollutants and
the micro-organism can’t dis-
compose it, this pollutants stay
in the water polluting it and all
the living beings in and around
it.
The non-natural way of water
pollution is cause by domestic
discharge, industrial discharge ,
agricultural wastes, sedimenta-
tion, erosion, oil and other
dangerous substances.
This projects greatest desire is
to solve this problem. But we
can’t do anything if we don't
know anything about the water
and its characteristics. In our
first field trip we measure the
water’s temperature, ph and
turbidity.
Like most people the first
thing you think about when
you here the word water
pollution is water you can’t
drink and is probably con-
taminated, and your probably
right . Water pollution is any
chemical change, physical or
biological quality of water
that has a harmful effect on
any living being who con-
sumes that water. When hu-
mans drink polluted water
often have health problems.
Water pollution can also
make it unsuitable for a de-
sired use. Pollution in water
often can occur by natural
ways or non-natural ways.
Every body of water like riv-
ers, seas, lakes and estuaries
have a natural ability to clean
itself. They all have a limited
capacity of micro-organisms,
which are the ones in charge
of discomposing and changing
the pollutants into substances
that can be used by living
beings. But when this capacity
The multidisciplinary project
Planet Guardians of Colegio
Nuestra Sra. Del Carmen, train-
ing students to study watersheds
and understand what happens to
the flow of water over them.
Also, learn how human activities
impact the hydrology and
how the change in land use
can affect plant and animal
communities that live along it.
This project will develop
technology skills in applica-
tions such as Logger Pro and
Vernier Software LabQuest,
MS Publisher 2007, ArcGIS
Explorer, Adobe Premier
yThinkquest.org or Blogger
Planet Guardians project is a
multi-application where stu-
dents have the opportunity to
Water pollution in ‘Sabana Llana’
stream
I n s i d e t h i s
i s s u e :
Introduction 1
Abstract 1-2
Purpose 2
Methodology 3
Procedure 3
Data Results 4
Data Analysis 7
Conclusion 10
Abstract
D e l C a r m e n V e r d e
Planet
Guardians News V o l u m e 2
N o t e s :
Vernier Logger Pro
LabQuest and good
products to sample
water quality.
ArcGIS Explorer
excellent tool for
creating dynamic
model where you
analyze, manipulate
and develop data.
Blogger Web2.0
fascinating tool to
document the proce-
dure of the project.
A p r i l 1 2 , 2 0 1 1
P a g e 2
Purpose
research on water quality
from several points of Sa-
bana Lllana stream in
Trujillo Alto. To perform
these investigations will be
used hand held technologies
called: Vernier Technology
for take water quality
measurements. Some of the
measurements which will
be performed are:
-Turbidity
-Conductivity
-latitude & longitude
-pH
Students using Vernier
Labquest for sampling.
As a component of water
quality research, the stu-
dents used handhelds Lab-
Quest Vernier scientific and
current sensors for meas-
uring pH, dissolved oxygen,
temperature, turbidity,
nitrate ion, Ammonium
ion, calcium ion, chloride
ion, conductivity and
stream flow.
Industrial Discharges an Un-
natural contamination cause.
watershed to understand
the flow of water in them,
how human activities within
watersheds have been
shaped by its hydrology,
and how land use by hu-
mans is affecting the hydrol-
ogy watershed.
The project Planet
Guardians, enable students
to explore their own wa-
tershed and understand
what happens to the flow
of water over them, the
way in which human activi-
ties depend on the river
and impact the hydrology,
and the way in which the
change of land use can af-
fect plant and animal com-
munities that live along it.
This project also seeks to
develop technology skills in
applications such as Vernier
LabQuest, Logger Pro Soft-
ware, ArcGIS Explorer,
Adobe Premier, MS Office
Publisher 2007 and
Thinkquest.org or Blogger.
These will allow students
to investigate their own
P l a n e t G u a r d i a n s N e w s
Mr. José explaining the sampling process
Some students making
water quality measure-
ments.
-Temperature
-Dissolved Oxygen
-Stream Flow
-Ammonium ISE
-Nitrate ISE
-Chloride ISE
Freedom to inquire and
technology excellence
Trash near the stream basins
Sabana Llana Stream
Mr. Hernández ex-
plaining the data
collection procedure
Planet Guardians getting to
the stream
Planet Guardians using
Vernier Labquest
Methodology
P a g e 3 V o l u m e 2
coastal, download speed, quali-
tative and quantitative local
watersheds. Identify by name
and number of used tools re-
search scientist and physical
mathematics to gather water
quality data build a model of
watershed maps drawn using
titles, legends, its role and for-
mulate ways they can help
maintain healthy water. Recog-
nize the general state of health
and water quality a stream is
based on physical and chemical.
Part II. Chemical Evalua-
tion of Water Quality
Description: As a component
of water quality research, stu-
dents use handhelds LabQuest
Vernier scientific and current
sensors to measure pH, dis-
solved oxygen, temperature
and turbidity. electronic books
in the field, running the inter-
active software water quality,
Part I. Physical Assessment
of Water Quality
Description: As a component of
water quality research, students
observe, calculate and map the
physical characteristics of a
stream bank (riparian) habitat.
Quantitatively, using handheld
scientific LabQuest Vernier sen-
sors and current flow, measuring
flow velocity stream of students
and calculate the discharge cur-
rent average. Qualitatively, stu-
dents use observation skills to
note specific characteristics and
physical flow. For example, titles,
legends and symbols, students
collect and analyze quantitative
and qualitative information on a
current map, draw conclusions
about the water.
Objectives: Upon completion of
the program, students will be able
to: Define the terms of the wa-
tershed, erosion, deposition,
Planet Guardians used Vernier technology to
take water quality measurements. It will
choose an urban water body near the school
and then take two sampling sites. There will
be three shots for each sample with the
Vernier LabQuest sensors.
The students took measurements of tem-
perature, pH, DO, conductivity, stream flow,
turbidity, ammonium, calcium, nitrate and
Chloride with Vernier sensors. If desired, to
demonstrate the principles of water chemis-
Procedure
try, levels of nitrates and phos-
phates can be measured with a pho-
tometer Chemistries multiple analy-
sis.
Upon completion of the program,
students will be able to: Define the
terms of watersheds, point source
pollution, pollution from nonpoint
sources, pH, dissolved oxygen and
turbidity.
As a component of water quality re-
search, students observe, calculate and
map the physical characteristics of a
stream bank (riparian) habitat. Quanti-
tatively, using handheld scientific Lab-
Quest Vernier sensors and current
the field, running the interactive
software water quality, students
assist in the creation of hy-
potheses, data entry, records of
observation and scientific find-
ings on the local tap water.
Objectives: Upon completion of
the program, students will be
able to: Define the terms of
watersheds, point source pollu-
tion, pollution from nonpoint
sources, pH, dissolved oxy-
gen and turbidity. Identify
local watersheds by name
and the name of number of
different sources of pollu-
tion. Explain how pollutants
travel through the basin and
river. Explain how different
chemical properties of a stream
affect water quality. De-
velop tools to use a scien-
tific model watershed and
mathematics to gather
chemical data of water
quality.
Vernier Labquest
Conductivity Sensors
Dissolve Oxygen Probe
Ion Selective Electrodes
P a g e 4
P l a n e t G u a r d i a n s N e w s
The pH level is acceptable for
most drinking water standard .
Conductivity: Solids are found
in streams in two forms, sus-
pended and dissolved. Total
dissolved solids or TDS, can
pH: Water contains both hydrogen
ions, and hydroxide ions. The relative
concentrations of these two ions
determine the pH value. If a solution
is acidic, the concentration of OH–
ions exceeds that of the H+ions. On a
pH scale of 0 to 14, a value of 0 is the
most acidic, and 14 the most basic.
The average pH of the Sabana Llana
stream is 8.2. The water is optimal
for most organisms.
determined using a Vernier Conductivity
Probe to determine the ability of the dis-
solved salts and their resulting ions in an
unfiltered sample to conduct an electrical
current.TDS values in lakes and streams
are typically found to be in the range of
50 to 250 mg/L. The average conductivity
of the Sabana Llana stream is 403µS/cm.
On a field trip to the Sabana Llana
stream and identifies a point where
we start the investigation, once the
sensors are calibrated makes the
study begins by using the Vernier
LabQuest. In our investigation site 1
to the Sabana Llana stream we tested
the water temperature, pH, conduc-
tivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity,
stream flow, Calcium Ion Selective
Electrode, Chloride Ion Selective Elec-
trode, Ammonium Ion Selective Elec-
trode and Nitrate Ion Selective Elec-
trode.
Temperature: The temperature of a
body of water influences its overall
quality. A change in water tempera-
ture can affect the general health of
the aquatic organisms, thus changing
the quality of the stream. The tem-
perature measured on Sabana Llana
stream is suitable for small mouth
bass and the rest of similar water
organism. The average temperature
in this site was 25.7 °C.
Sabana Llana Water Quality Results
Objectives: Upon completion of the pro-
gram, students will be able to:
Define the terms watershed, benthic
macro invertebrates, indicator species
and local watersheds Identify by name
and number of simple dichotomous
keys and use flow charts to correctly
identify macro different invertebrates.
Recognize the overall health and qual-
ity of water from a stream is based in
physical, chemical and biological .
Build a basin. Build the model and in-
terpret a graph of distribution function.
Describe how macro invertebrates as
an indicator to study the role of species
and develop ways they can help maintain
healthy water.
Mr. José explaining the Data Hydrology Sheet
Mr. José explaining the
use of Labquest
P a g e 5 V o l u m e 2
Dissolved Oxygen: Trout and
small bass can’t live with this
amount of dissolved oxygen found
in this site of the Sabana Llana
stream. Oxygen gas dissolved in
water is vital to the existence of
most aquatic organisms. The aver-
age DO of this site of the Sabana
Llana stream is 4.3mg/L. Some
organisms Carp, Catfish, May fly
larvae can live in this amount of
DO.
Turbidity is a measure of water’s
lack of clarity. Water with high
turbidity is cloudy while water
with low turbidity is clear turbidity
is measured in Nephelometric
turbidity Units, NTU. According
to the USGS, the turbidity of sur-
face water us usually between
1NTU and 50 NTU. Water is
visibly turbid at levels above 5
NTU. The average turbidity in this
site of the Sabana Llana is 55.4
NTU. The water is visibly turbid.
Stream Flow: Is the volume of
water that moves through a spe-
cific point in a stream during a
given period of time. Discharge is
usually measured in units of cubic
feet per second. Flow velocity is
influenced by the slope off the
surrounding terrain, the depth of
the stream, the width of the
stream, and the roughness of the
substrate of stream bottom. The
stream flow of this site of the Sa-
bana Llana stream is low. 0.064 cfs,
because there is not much depth,
the stream channel is not wide,
there are many rocks, and there is
no slope or inclination.
.
cation. The concentration of cal-
cium in fresh water is found in a
range of 4 to 100 mg/L. The aver-
age concentration of Calcium ion
of this site of the Sabana Llana
stream is 6.3 mg/L. This amount
of calcium is in the expected lev-
els for organisms and for drinking
water.
Calcium Ion: Most calcium is
surface water comes from
stream flowing over limestone ,
gypsum, and other calcium-
containing rocks and minerals.
The concentration of calcium
ions in freshwater is found in a
range of 0 to 100 mg/L, and
usually has the highest concen-
tration of any fresh water
Students used the Logger Pro software for graphing the collected data of the Sabana Llana water quality
Investigation.
pH Sensor
Calcium Sensor
P a g e 6
Vernier Water Qual-
ity Package in action.
Chloride Ion: These salt,
and their resulting chloride
ions, originated from natu-
ral minerals, saltwater in-
trusion into estuaries and
industrial pollution. There
are many possible sources
of manmade salts that may
contribute to elevated chlo-
ride readings. Freshwater
streams and lakes have a
significant chloride level
that can range from 1 to
250mg/L. In Sabana Llana
stream the average concen-
tration of Chloride ion is
5.5mg/L. The obtain
amount is within the nor-
mal levels.
high amount of nitrate
which can’t permits life
for many organism.
Nitrate Ion Selective Elec-
trode: The nitrate level in
freshwater is usually found
in the range of 0.1 to 4 mg/
L . Unpolluted waters gen-
erally have nitrate levels
below 1 mg/L. The average
concentration of nitrate ion
in this site of the Sabana
Llana stream is of 4.6 mg/L.
This body of water has a
in this water isn’t accepted
for drinking water. Am-
monium-nitrogen levels
are usually quite low in
moving surface waters.
This is because there is
little decaying organic mat-
ter collecting on the bot-
tom. If there is a high level
of ammonium nitrogen in
a moving stream, it may
be an indication of pollu-
tion of some kind enter-
ing the water.
Ammonium Ion Selec-
tive Electrode: While levels
of ammonium nitrogen in
drinking water should not
exceed 0.5 mg/L, streams
or ponds near heavily fertil-
ized fields may have higher
concentrations of this ion.
The average of the concen-
tration of ammonium ion
are 6.29mg/L. These
amounts of ammonium are
above the expected values.
The amount of ammonium
P l a n e t G u a r d i a n s N e w s
Vernier Labquest
Contaminated pool near
Sabana Llana stream
Contamination near Sabana
Llana stream
Sabana Llana Water Quality Analysis
In this investigation of water quality that the club made Planet Guardians took several samples of parameters that
will dictate whether that body of water is contaminated or is already polluted. As you know Vernier technology
used to measure the following parameters: temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, current velocity, and
concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, chloride and calcium.
Research tells us that most of the parameters are expected and normal levels, but we have to watch some of
these which are the maximum allowed or are already at higher levels than expected.
The parameters are:
Turbidity
Sabana Llana - Site 1
According to the USGS, the turbidity of surface water is usually between 1 NTU and 50 NTU. Water is visibly turbid at
levels above 5 NTU. The standard for drinking water is 0.5 NTU to 1.0 NTU. The average turbidity in this site of the Sa-
bana Llana Stream is 45.8 NTU. The water is visibly turbid and in the standard range. It can’t be used for drinking water.
Sabana Llana - Site 2
The average turbidity in this site of the Sabana Llana Stream is 55.4 NTU. The water is visibly turbid and in the standard
range.
Possible causes of high Turbidity
Many factors can contribute to the turbidity of water. An increase in stream flow due to heavy rains or a decrease in
stream-bank vegetation can speed up the process of soil erosion. This will add suspended particles, such as clay and silt, to
the water.
Conductivity
Sabana Llana - Site 1
TDS values in lakes and streams are typically found to be in the range of 50 to 250 mg/L. Drinking water will tend to be 25
to 500 mg/L TDS. The average conductivity of the Sabana Llana Stream is 403 μS/cm. There is little amount of metals be-
cause the standard levels of conductivity are low. Sabana Llana - Site 2
Llana Stream is 432 μS/cm. This measurement is of our concern because is in the maximum limit of this parameter. We
have to watch very carefully the conductivity of the Sabana Llana Stream.
Possible Causes of high Conductivity - Site 2
Solids are found in streams in two forms, suspended and dissolved. Suspended solids include silt, stirred-up bottom sedi-
ment, decaying plant matter, or sewage-treatment effluent. Total dissolved solids, or TDS, can be determined usinig a
Vernier Conductivity Probe
Ammonium Ion Selective Electrode
Sabana Llana - Site 2
While levels of ammonium nitrogen in drinking water should not exceed 0.5 mg/L, streams or ponds near heavily fertilized
fields may have higher concentrations of this ion. The average of the concentration of ammonium ion are 6.29mg/L. These
amounts of ammonium are above the expected values. The amount of ammonium in this water isn’t accepted for drinking
water.
Possible causes of high Ammonium concentrations –Site 2
Ammonium-nitrogen levels are usually quite low in moving surface waters. This is because there is little decaying organic
matter collecting on the bottom. If there is a high level of ammonium nitrogen in a moving stream, it may be an indication
of pollution of some kind entering the water.
Nitrate Ion Selective Electrode
Sabana Llana - Site 2
The nitrate level in freshwater is usually found in the range of 0.1 to 4 mg/L . Unpolluted waters generally have nitrate lev-
els below 1 mg/L. The average concentration of nitrate ion in this site of the Sabana Llana stream is of 4.6 mg/L. This body
of water has a high amount of nitrate which can’t permits life for many organism.
Possible causes of high Ammonium concentrations –Site 2
Nitrates are an important source of nitrogen necessary for plants and animals to synthesize amino acids and proteins. Al-
though nitrate levels in freshwater are usually less than 1 mg/L, manmade sources of nitrate may elevate levels above 3 mg/
L. These sources include animal feedlots, runoff from fertilized fields, or treated municipal wastewater being returned to
streams. Levels above 10 mg/L in drinking water can cause a potentially fatal disease in infants called methemoglobinemia,
or Blue-Baby Syndrome.
P a g e 9
P l a n e t G u a r d i a n s N e w s
Sabana Llana Site 1 Water Quality Investigation
Sabana Llana Site 1I Water Quality Investigation
According to the dynamic model created with the ArcGIS Explorer
can be seen clearly that the population density surrounding the
sampling area is extremely high. Research tells us that most of the
parameters are expected and normal levels, but we have to watch
some of these which are the maximum allowed or are already at
higher levels than expected.
With this model, students can create spatial analysis of data ac-
quired, organized and manipulated by them.
Discussion of the results
Students sampled two areas of Sabana Llana Stream. In the first site of the stream the
samples showed normal levels of measurement, except turbidity and conductivity that are
in the maximum level of the accepted range. In the second site the samples showed a level
of nitrate and ammonium above the of the maximum level of range accepted. This second
point is the most affected by pollution which the NH4 and NO3 levels are strongly af-
fected, reflecting a level far above the expected level. The possible causes are the agricul-
tural runoff, some kind of human pollution entering the water, animal feedlots, runoff from
fertilized fields, or treated municipal wastewater being returned to streams.
Analysis of a Watershed in Puerto Rico
A) climatic data including seasonal and station densities
of both: extremes and averages.
b) road map
c) hydrographic maps
d) hydrological data (inventory of water, surface runoff,
river network);
e) lists of species for the fauna and flora, land and wa-
ter, its distribution, life histories, economically impor-
tant species, rare species and unique or that are in dan-
ger of extinction;
f) population density
g) flood map
h) ecosystem
i) Soil maps (distribution, nutrients, toxic minerals);
j) Anthropological studies;
k) Sources of pollution past, present and future can do
so by searching or a tour of the area using GPS.
l) location and description of existing environmental
problems, location of critical areas
Possible dynamic models :
a) Buffer zones map vs actual construction or aerial
photos.
b) Population density vs. amount of available water re-
sources
c) Analysis of potential areas for reforestation prevent-
ing contamination of the canal.
d) Map of places that could be designated as protected
reserves or for the benefit of all.
e) Map of the hot spots and dividing by their effect
(minimum, medium, severe)
Vernier Labquest
Planet Guardians
Planet Guardians
Contact us
delcarmen.blogspot.com
clcwaterquality.blogspot.com
Edificio BBVA
Calle Amarillo
#206 San Juan
Puerto Rico
Phone: 787-764-2222
Fax: 787-764-9999
clcwaterquality.blogspot.com
www.clcpr.com
COMPUTER LEARNING
17 años apoyando la educación en
Puerto Rico