Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SESSION 2008/2009
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS
TSE 2013
Environmental Science
ACTIVITY REPORT:
DEMONSTRATOR’S
PROF. DR SUPLI EFFENDI RAHIM
NAME
1A: Water and Wastewater Analysis (Physical and
EXPERIMENT NO. / Chemical Parameters
TITLE 1B: Water and Wastewater Analysis (Biological
Parameters)
TITLE:
EXPERIMENT 1A:
Water and Wastewater Analysis (Physical and Chemical Parameters)
INTRODUCTION:
Water has many properties. One of its properties is its ability to dissolve many
substances. Because of this property, water is known as the universal solvent and is
seldom found pure in nature. In fact, natural waters may contain hundreds or even
thousands of chemicals, and in some cases, an equal number of biological life forms
(such as microorganisms). All forms of life depend on water. Water helps to dissolve
chemicals in foods, and then it transports these chemicals to cells in our bodies.
However, sometimes harmful substances can dissolve in water. Substances that harm
the quality of water are known as pollutants or contaminants. Most contaminants in
water do not cause problems because they are not toxic and are at such low amounts.
However, some substances which dissolve in water, even at very low levels, can be
harmful.
There are two primary causes of water pollution: nature and people. Actually,
although pollutants and contaminants are generally used to mean the same thing,
pollutants are usually thought of as contaminants or impurities in water due to the
activities of people. Contaminants are usually thought of as impurities in water
caused by natural processes. Naturally occurring events such as volcanic eruptions,
landslides, floods and wild animal wastes, can produce polluting materials. These
pollutants can wash into lakes, rivers and other streams and damage water quality.
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into water supplies. Septic systems that are not functioning properly also can
contaminate groundwater. All of these things can contribute to water pollution.
OBJECTIVES:
After conducting this experiment we should be able to:
1. Compare several differences between polluted and unpolluted stream.
2. Learn the technique for evaluating water quality in term of physical and
chemical parameters.
METHODOLOGY:
I. Physical Parameters
A. Temperature
1. Thermometer is used to take a temperature reading of a stream.
2. The reading had been taken on site in a free-flowing portion of the
stream. In some situation, the thermometer needs to be attached to a
pole or wade into the stream.
3. Result is recorded.
Thermometer
B. pH
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1. In this experiment, the pH of water is measured using a portable pH
meter. The measurement is taken in a free flowing portion of the
stream. pH measurement is accomplished by using pH meter.
2. The meter is on.
3. Probe is put in first calibrating buffer.
4. CAL is pressed to calibrate for two pH solution: pH 7.00. Then, button
ENTER is pressed.
5. Probe is rinsed by using distilled water.
6. Next stored is buffered with pH 4.01 and ENTER button is pressed.
7. Probe is rinsed by using distilled water again and being place in
sample. Reading is taken.
pH meter
C. Turbidity
1. The meter is calibrated by using 4 calibration solutions as provided
with the meter.
2. The water sample is mixed thoroughly.
3. Clean sample vial is prepared.
4. The vial is rinsed with the sample solution.
5. The rinsed vial is filled (approximately 10ml).
6. The vial is wiped with soft cloth.
7. A thin film of silicon oil is applied.
8. The vial is placed into the meter for measurement.
9. The vial’s mark is aligned with the meter’s mark.
10. The vial is covered with the light shield cap.
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11. The meter is tuned on.
12. Reading is taken.
Turbidity meter
Preparation of filter
1. A filter disk is placed in filtration assembly with rough (wrinkled side up)
2. A vacuum is applied and filter disk is rinsed with three separate 20mL
portions of distilled water. Vacuum is discontinued when all the traces of
water have been removed.
3. Rinse filtrate is discarded from filter flask.
4. Filter is dried assembly in an oven at 103-105ºC for 1 hour.
5. Filter is cooled in desiccator to room temperature.
6. Filter and support is weighed.
7. Steps 4-6 are repeated until a constant weight is achieved.
8. Prepared filter and support is stored immediately before use and its weight
is recorded.
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2. Sample is mixed well and is poured into graduated cylinder of 100mL
volume.
3. Suction is applied to filter flask and filter is sealed with small amount of
distilled water.
4. Selected volume of sample is poured into filtration apparatus.
5. Sample is drawn through filter into filter flask.
6. Graduated cylinder is rinsed into filtration with three successive 10mL
portion of distilled water, allowing completed drainage between each
rinsing.
7. Suction is continued for three minutes after filtration of final rinse is
completed.
8. Filter is dried in an oven at 103-105ºC for at least 1 hour.
9. Filter is cooled in desiccator to room temperature.
10. When cool, filter and support is weighed.
11. Steps 8-10 are repeated until the weight loss is less than 0.5mg or 4% of
the previous weight.
12. Total suspended solid (mg/L) =
Weight of the filter, support and dried sample – Weight of the filter and
support before sample is filtered × 1000 mg
Size of sample filtered (in mL) × 1L /1000 mL
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II. Chemical Parameters
A. Dissolved Oxygen
1. DO is calibrated using the following instructions given by the
manufacturer.
2. Water sample is collected to 500 mL.
3. Bottle is allowed to overflow at least 2 minutes. Bubbles are not
allowed.
4. DO is placed in the sample, the meter is allowed to equilibrate and DO
is read directly.
5. Last three readings are taken.
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RESULT:
I. Physical Parameters
A. Temperatures
Solution Temperature
X (waste water) 22.3 ºC
Y (stream water) 22.9 ºC
B. pH
Solution pH value
X (waste water) 8.44
Y (stream water) 8.28
Distilled water 8.22
C. Turbidity
Sample Water Reading (NTU)
X (waste water) 8.88 NTU
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II. Chemical Parameters
A. Dissolved Oxygen
X (Waste Water) Y (Stream Water)
6.46 5.84
6.55 5.89
6.53 5.98
Average = 6.51 Average = 5.90
CALCULATION:
Sample Y:
TSS = (0.6603-0.6487) × 1000 mg
50 mL × 1L /1000 mL
= 232 mg/L
DISCUSSION:
I. Physical Parameters
A. Temperature
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Greater than 20ºC (warm water) Much plant life, many fish diseases.
Most bass, crappie, bluegill, crap, catfish,
caddis fly.
Middle range (12-20 ºC) Some plant life, some fish diseases.
Salmon, trout, stone fly, mayfly, caddis
fly, water beetles.
Low range (cold-less than 12 ºC) Trout, caddis fly, stone fly, mayfly.
B. pH
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Due to the result obtained, we may see that both solution X and Y has
greater pH than distilled water. In this experiment we obtained that pH for
distilled water is 8.22 while in real, it should be 7.
From this, we may predict that there is a slight change in pH water due to the
existence of CO2 gas in the surrounding which allows the alkalinity of the
distilled water increased.
C. Turbidity
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Based on the result, the value of turbidity of water X is 8.88 NTU
while for the water Y is 8.41 NTU. The difference in value of turbidity will
determine the type of water. There is a correlation between turbidity and total
suspended solids (TSS) because it is due to the fact that the greater the amount
of total suspended solids (TSS) in the water, the murkier it appears and the
higher the measured turbidity. The major source of turbidity in the open water
zone of most lakes is typically phytoplankton, but closer to shore, particulates
may also be clays and silts. Thus, based on the result of the turbidity, it can
say that water X is waste water while water Y is stream water.
The value of TSS will affect physical parameter such as turbidity and
chemical parameter likes dissolved oxygen (DO). High concentration of
suspended solids can lower water quality by absorbing light. Water then
become warmer and lessen the ability of the water to hold oxygen necessary
for aquatic life. Besides that, high TSS can prevent light from reaching
submerged plants. As there is decreased amount of light passing through the
water, photosynthesis process also decreased (less oxygen is produced). The
combination or warmer water, less light and less oxygen makes it impossible
for some forms of aquatic life to exist.
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In this experiment, sample X which is from waste water has high value
of TSS than sample Y (stream water). High TSS in waste water means by
higher concentration of bacteria, nutrients, pesticides and metals. These
pollutants may attach to sediment particles on the land and be carried into
water bodies with storm water. In the water, the pollutants may be released
from the sediment or travel farther downstream. Suspended solids can result
from erosion from urban runoff and agricultural land, industrial wastes, bank
erosion, bottom feeders (such as carp), algae growth or wastewater discharges.
A. Dissolved Oxygen
The amount of oxygen in water is a good indicator of water quality and of the
kinds of life it will support. Water with an oxygen content above 6 parts per
million (ppm) will support game fish and other desire\able forms of aquatic
life. Water with less than 2 ppm oxygen will support mainly worms, bacteria,
fungi and other detritus feeders and decomposers. Oxygen is added to water
by diffusion from the air, especially when turbulence and mixing rates are
high, and by photosynthesis of green plants, algae and cyanobacteria. Oxygen
is removed from water by respiration and chemical processes that consume
oxygen.
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water. Aeration occurs readily in a turbulent, rapidly, rapidly flowing river,
which is, therefore often able to recover quickly from oxygen-depleting
processes.
QUESTION:
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Biological Oxygen The lower the B.O.D. In a stream Less than 2
Demand (B.O.D.) the less organic matter ppm is good High
in a stream Less than 2 B.O.D. indicates large
ppm is good amounts of organic
matter Greater than 5
ppm means poor water
quality
2. What sources do you think contribute to the high strength of pollutant for
three parameters you have mentioned in question 1?
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CONCLUSION:
REFERENCES:
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Anonymous (2009). Turbidity. Access from
http://waterontheweb.org/under/waterquality/turbidity.html on January 23,
2009
TITLE:
EXPERIMENT 1B:
Water and Wastewater Analysis (Biological Parameters)
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INTRODUCTION:
Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic
influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial
properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential
contaminants and concentrations. A stream is a body of water with a current, confined
within a bed and stream banks. A stream bed is the channel bottom of a stream or
river or creek; the physical confine of the normal water flow. The lateral confines
(channel margins) during all but flood stage are known as the stream banks or river
banks.
OBJECTIVES:
After conducting this experiment student should be able to:
METHODOLOGY:
1. A sterile water is used to collect a sample of water from selected wastewater.
Sampling in stream must be away from the bank and avoid collecting sediment
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from the bottom. The sample has been processed before six hours have
elapsed.
2. The lid of petri dish is lift in turn just high enough to allow you to pour about
1 ml of water sample into the eosin blue methylated agar medium. The content
is gently swirled to mix water with the agar.
3. Petri dish is turned upside down.
4. Petri dish is incubated for 24 hours at 37 ºC.
5. Number of bacterial colonies (yellow colonies) that grow on the plate is
counted after 24 hours.
6. Environment is ensuring to be sterile during the test.
RESULT:
PETRI DISH NUMBER OF COLONIES
X (waste water) 1
Y (stream water) 0
Unknown 0
DISCUSSION:
Those chemical and physical parameters are used to give a broad picture that defines
the aquatic environment compared to the biological parameter which will examine the
living components of the system. Biological parameter may determine the extent it
has been affected by human activity. Biologically, there are many ways to determine
the quality of the water such as by using Biochemical Oxygen Demands (B.O.D)
method or by using the chlorophyll a and fecal coliform. In this class, we have chose
one biological test which is by using the fecal coliform.
Fecal coliform bacteria are found in the feces of humans and other warm-
blooded animals. Fecal coliform bacteria naturally occur in the human digestive tract,
and aid in the digestion of food. These bacteria can enter rivers directly or from
agricultural and storm runoff carrying wastes from birds and mammals and from
human sewage discharged into the water. Fecal coliform bacteria can be harmful to
humans in excessive amounts but are more frequently used as an indicator of other
microbial pathogens.
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Fecal coliform by them are not dangerous at all. It is a part of the pathogenic
species if exist in a large number. Pathogenc organisms include bacteria, viruses and
parasites that cause diseases and illnesses. If the coliform is found very high, for
examples it exceed 200 colonies in 100 mL of water sample, then there is a greater
chance that the phatogenic organisms present. Thus, a person swimming inside the
water may be caused by diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroentitis,
dysentery and ear infection that attacked by the pathogens. Pathogens may easily
enter our body part through skin, nose, mouth or ears.
CONCLUSION:
Biological parameters may used to complete up the examination of water quality. It is
very expensive of using the chemical and the physical parameters because expensive
tools are needed. Therefore, biological parameter is one of the way to reduce the cost
of determining the water quality.
REFERENCES:
Anonymous (2009). Adopt-a-stream. Access from http://www.adopt-a-
stream.org/parameters.php on January 30, 2009
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Anonymous (2009). Biological parameters – fecal coliform bacteria. Access from
http://www.projectsearch.org/downloads/chapter9.pdf on January 30, 2009
Anonymous (2009). Coliform bacteria. Access from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coliform on January 30, 2009
Anonymous (2009). Fecal coliform test. Access from
http://www.indiana.edu/~bradwood/eagles/fecal.htm on January 30, 2009
Anonymous (2009). Physical, chemical and biological water parameters. Access from
http://www.uncwil.edu/cmsr/aquaticecology/lcfrp/WQ%20Reports/96-
97/parameters.htm on January 30, 2009
Anonymous (2009). Stream. Access from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream on
January 30, 2009
Anonymous (2009). Stream banks. Access from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_bank on January 30, 2009
Anonymous (2009). Waste water. Access from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wastewater on January 30, 2009
Joe Hill (2004). Susquehanna river water quality monitoring. Access from
http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/biofld/PUBS/ANNUAL/2004/Monitoring
%20the%20fecal%20coliform%20bacteria.pdf on January 30, 2009
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