LAB NO: 01 TITLE: pH/Alkalinity AIM: To determine the pH/alkalinity of the water samples of the various river sites.

MATERIALS HACH AquaCheck water quality test strips for pH and Total Alkalinity Colour Charts Water Sample Styrofoam Cups PROCEDURE 1. A pH test pad was dipped into the water sample and removed immediately. The strip was held levelled for 15 seconds leaving the excess water on the strip. The pH test pad was compared to the colour chart. The results were estimated. 2. An alkalinity test pad was dipped into the sample of water collected for 1 second and removed. The strip was held levelled with the pad side up for 30 seconds. The total alkalinity test pad was compared to the colour chart. The result was estimated RESULTS TABLE 2.1 SHOWS THE pH AND TOTAL ALKALINITY FOR THE VARIOUS RIVER SITES.
LOCATION/SITE CARLI BAY RIVER (Site1) RIVERSIDE RD. BALMAIN GARDENS RIVER(Site2) GRAN COUVA STRETCH, GRAN COUVA RIVER (Site3) GRAN COUVA RIVER (Behind police station)(Site4) pH 8 8
9 9

ALAKLINITY 240 240

240 240

DISCUSSION The pH of river water is the measure of how acidic or basic the water is on a scale of 0-14. The ideal/normal pH of river water falls between 6.5 and 8.5 with 7.0 being neutral. The optimum pH for river water is 7.4. The total alkalinity of river water is the measure of the capacity of the water to neutralise or buffer any acids. The ideal/ normal alkalinity of river water is between 100 and 250 ppm. There are many factors that may affect the pH of the river, one such factor being disturbances in the watershed. As water percolates though the soil, it absorbs minerals. Eventually this water can drain into rivers and other surface water bodies. Increased amounts of water during heavy rain can lead to greater mineral absorption, which may affect the pH in a river. Another factor that may affect pH in the river is carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide mixes with water it lowers pH (increases acidity) and can harm immature fishes and insects. Other factors that may affect the pH is human activities such as accidental spills, agricultural runoff (pesticides, fertilizers, soil leachates), sewer overflow and discharge of chemicals by communities and industries can have significant effects on pH levels. Factors that affect the alkalinity of a river are the changes in pH, sewage outflow which comes from the wastewater of our houses which contains carbonate and bicarbonate from the cleaning agents and food residue that we put down our drains. Very high pH (greater than 9.5) and very low pH (less than 4.5) can be very harmful to organisms in the river. Young fish and immature stages of aquatic insects are extremely insensitive to pH levels before 5 and may die at these low pH values. High pH levels (9-14) can harm fishes and other aquatic organisms by denaturing their cell membranes. Changes in pH can also affect aquatic life indirectly by altering other aspects of water chemistry. Low pH levels accelerate the release of metals from rocks or sediments in the stream. These metals can affect a fishs metabolism and the fishs ability to take water in through the gills, and can kill fish. At high pH (>9) most ammonium in water is converted to toxic ammonia (NH3), which can kill organisms in the river. However if alkalinity is too high the

water can be cloudy, which inhibits the growth of underwater plants. Also it raises the pH level, which in turn harms or kills fish and other aquatic organisms. If the alkalinity is too low it may cause the pH of water to be very acidic and can negatively affect hatching and development of aquatic animals and adult fish. From the results obtained it can see that the pH an alkalinity values of the Carli Bay and Balmain Gardens (8 and 240 ppm respectively) have not crossed the ideal/normal pH values which are 6.5 and 8.5 and the normal alkalinity value which is 100-250 pm. This is good because the optimum pH level for aquatic organisms is 7.o, therefore the organisms would be able to survive. At the Gran Couva Stretch, Gran Couva River and the Gran Couva River (Behind Police Station) however, the pH value obtained (9) exceeded the normal pH level. The increase in pH level at the Gran Couva Stretch, Gran Couva River is probably due to agricultural runoff since the farmers use fertilisers to provide nutrients for their crops and the increase in pH level at the Gran Couva River ( Behind police station) is probably due to the current watershed destruction that is occurring at this river. The alkalinity levels at both rivers (which are 240 ppm) were below the normal alkalinity level.

CONCLUSION The pH levels at the various rivers were determined. The pH values obtained for the Site 1 and Site 2 Rivers which was 8, was within international standards (6.5 and 8.5) while the pH values for the Site3 and Site 4 Rivers which was 9, exceeded the international standards. The total alkalinity for all the rivers was found to be 240 ppm which was within the international standards (100-250 ppm)