The Effect of Temperature on Water Quality Conor Maddigan 9th Grade Central Catholic High School

Water Quality 20% of people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water. The United States has the cleanest water out of any country in the world. Bacteria is a main cause of the low quality of our water. However, most public water suppliers test their water for bacteria and toxic levels of certain type of elements. Does a change in temperature alter the quality of water?

Water Quality Parameters pH Ammonia Phosphate Chlorine Indicates acidity or basicity Nutrient required by all living things Commonly found in rocks and minerals Very strong odor and is exceedingly poisonous Scale of 0-14, 7 being neutral High levels are referred to as >.1 mL Key element to the growth of organisms in aquatic systems In nature, it is only found combined with other elements (NaCl)

Water Quality Parameters (continued) Nitrates Nitrites Coliform Inorganic compound that is composed of 1 atom of nitrogen and 3 atoms of oxygen Univalent radical NO2 or any compound that contains it Bacteria that is found in all warm-blooded animals and humans One of the most common groundwater pollutants Can be oxidized by adding ozone, turning the nitrite into nitrate The digestion of this bacteria causes pathogens to enter your body

Purpose/Hypotheses Purpose Hypotheses The purpose is to see if temperature affects water quality. Null hypothesis: Temperature will not have a significant effect on water quality. Alternative hypothesis: Temperature will have a significant effect on water quality.

Materials pH test strips Ammonia test kit Phosphate test kit Test kits Equipment pH test strips Ammonia test kit Phosphate test kit Chlorine test kit Nitrate test kit Nitrite test kit Bottles filled with Coliscan (coliform) Water samples at different temperatures (5, 15, 25, 35 C) 100-1000 μl pipet Sterile tips Incubator 8 Coliscan ready-mix plates Fridge Thermometer Gloves for protection

Procedures Ammonia Both tubes were filled to the 5 mL mark with desired sample. 3 drops of Nessler reagent was added to one of the tubes. The tube was swirled until a yellow color developed. After 1 minute was waited, the tubes were inserted into the comparator box. The approximate amount of ammonia in mg/L was recorded. This was repeated 3 times for each temperature.

Procedures (continued) Phosphate Chlorine The test cube was filled to the mark with the desired water sample. The contents of reagent pillow was opened and added to the test cube. Cap and shake to mix. 1 minute was allowed for color development. The color of the sample was matched to the test cube. The cube was cleaned. This was repeated 3 times for each temperature. The test cube was filled to the mark with the desired water sample. The contents of reagent pillow was opened and added to the test cube. Cap and shake to mix. 3 minutes was allowed for color development. The color of the sample was matched to the test cube. The cube was cleaned. This was repeated three times for each temperature.

Procedures (continued) Nitrates Nitrites The test cube was filled to the mark with the desired water sample. The contents of reagent pillow was opened and added to the test cube. Cap and shake to mix. 1 minute was allowed for color development. The color of the sample was matched to the test cube. The cube was cleaned. This was repeated 3 times for each temperature. The test cube was filled to the mark with the desired water sample. The contents of reagent pillow was opened and added to the test cube. Then, it was capped and shaken vigorously for one minute. 10 minutes was allowed for color development. The color of the sample was matched to the test cube. The cube was cleaned. This was repeated three times for each temperature.

Procedures (continued) Coliform pH 3 mL of the sample was added to the bottle of Coliscan. Shake for a minute. The contents of the bottle was poured onto a Coliform ready-mix dish. The dishes were then inserted into the incubator. 48 hours was waited to count colonies and record results. This was repeated 2 times for each temperature. The pH test strip was dipped into the sample for 10 seconds. The color of the pH strip was matched to the color chart. The results were recorded. This was repeated 3 times for each temperature

pH in Relation to Water Temperature

Average Amount of Ammonia in Relation to Water Temperature P-value= 0.005641

Average Amount of Chlorine in Relation to Water Temperature P-value=0.007629

Average Amount of Phosphate in Relation to Water Temperature P-value=0.000083

Average Amount of Nitrate in Relation to Water Temperature P-value=0.046295

Average Amount of Nitrite in Relation to Water Temperature P-value=0.022939

Average Fecal Coliform in Relation to Water Temperature P-value=0.489281

Average Non-fecal Coliform in Relation to Water Temperature P-value=0.202775

Conclusion The null hypothesis was rejected. Temperature did have an effect on water quality. The p-value for the ammonia, chlorine, phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite tests was less than .05, rejecting the null hypothesis. The p-value for the fecal coliform and non-fecal coliform was greater than .05, failing to reject the null hypothesis. In five out of seven tests that could be statistically tested, the temperature did have an effect on water.

Analysis Possible extensions of study Possible errors/limitations More test kits could have been used to test the full toxicity of the water. More temperatures could have been tested to have a wider array of data. The water could have been collected at each season, showing a change in water quality year round. The scientist could not read all of the test cubes at the same time, making some water sit longer than others. The different temperatures may not have been exposed to the correct temperature for the same amount of time.

References http://www.livestrong.com/article/27152-list-common-bacteria-guardia-found/ http://www.water-research.net/index.php/ph-in-the-environment http://www.water-research.net/index.php/ammonia-in-groundwater-runoff-and-streams http://www.water-research.net/index.php/phosphate-in-water http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cl http://www.lenntech.com/processes/nitrates/nitrates/nitrate.htm http://www.lenntech.com/hazardous-substances/nitrite.htm http://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/331-181.pdf

Ammonia ANOVA One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance 3 0.25 0.083333 0.000833 C2 0.3 0.1 C3 0.4 0.133333 0.003333 C4 0.8 0.266667 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 0.062292 0.020764 11.0741 0.003208 4.06618 Within 0.015 8 0.001875 Total 0.077292 11 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Reject Ho

Chlorine ANOVA One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance 3 2 0.666667 0.083333 C2 1 C3 3.5 1.16667 C4 5 1.66667 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 1.5625 0.520833 8.33333 0.007629 4.06618 Within 0.5 8 0.0625 Total 2.0625 11 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Reject Ho

Phosphate ANOVA One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance 3 1 C2 C3 4 1.33333 0.083333 C4 6 2 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 0.666667 32 8.30E-05 4.06618 Within 0.166667 8 0.020833 Total 2.16667 11 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Reject Ho

Nitrate ANOVA One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance 3 15 5 C2 17.5 5.83333 2.08333 C3 40 13.3333 33.3333 C4 37.5 12.5 18.75 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 170.833 56.9444 4.20513 0.046295 4.06618 Within 108.333 8 13.5417 Total 279.167 11 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Reject Ho

Nitrite ANOVA One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance 3 C2 0.3 0.1 0.01 C3 0.4 0.133333 0.013333 C4 0.9 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 0.14 0.046667 5.6 0.022939 4.06618 Within 0.066667 8 0.008333 Total 0.206667 11 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Reject Ho

Fecal Coliform ANOVA One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance C1 2 1 C2 9 4.5 12.5 C3 8 4 C4 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 16.375 3 5.45833 0.97037 0.489281 6.59138 Within 22.5 5.625 Total 38.875 7 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Fail to reject Ho

Non-fecal Coliform One-Way ANOVA SUMMARY Group Count Sum Average Variance C1 2 38 19 392 C2 943 471.5 148512 C3 145 72.5 8844.5 C4 23 11.5 264.5 ANOVA Source SS df MS Ftest P-value F-Critical Between 291098 3 97032.8 2.45632 0.202775 6.59138 Within 158014 4 39503.4 Total 449112 7 Conclusions Ho: μ1=μ2=μ3=... Ha At least 2 μ's differ F-Test Alpha 0.05 P-Value Decision: Fail to reject Ho