Summary and conclusion - Essay Example

Investigations need to be carried out in order to create a pollution free shed. Urban stream parameters of shed need to be investigated as well. Major reasons that these investigations should be carried out are to identify the presence of heavy metals in the shed and to make sure that they stay in required limits or steps taken if their quantity increases. Investigations should also be carried out on shed’s river basin to ascertain its water quality and to render it fit for use or otherwise.

Industrial wastes, use of land for ecological contamination and mixing of shed’s water with wastes are the reasons behind these investigations too. Three groups were established for the purpose of investigation. Each group was assigned to analyze the water shed for three different types of contaminants namely heavy metals, Nutrients and the third group would conduct a site survey. The presence and quantity of heavy metals such as Alkalinity and chromium etc. and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates etc was to be ascertained by the groups.

Site survey group was supposed to analyze water for turbidity, ammonia and chlorine etc. Samples were taken and sent to lab tests specific for each of the analyte performed. The results were recorded in PPM i.e. parts per million. The sample turning Pink, Dark pink and Dark blue indicated the presence of Alkalinity, Chromium and Copper. For nutrients, A dark blue color indicated phosphates, Dark pink color indicated excessive amounts of nitrates and an orange color of the sample indicated the presence of dissolved oxygen the presence of which is considered very crucial for aquatic life and its sustainability.

The tests that were conducted by the Site Survey group indicated the presence of contaminants as follows: A dark pink color indicated excessive chlorine in water although chlorine is usually not present in fresh water. Light green to dark blue color indicated the presence of Ammonia in quantities from less to excessive and turbity was identified by the level of clouding present in the sample tubes. When compared, the results of the two samples taken from South Platte and Cherry Creek came out relatively different.

Both the samples had good quantities of dissolved Oxygen although their values differ due to the location of the samples taken from. Another important factor that stood in the results was the dangerous levels of nitrates found in certain areas of the river basin and shed making the water unsafe for use in those areas. Alkalinity was consistent in shed as well as the areas of river basin. Hardness also varied in different areas but it is of not much concern as hard water has been acclaimed fit for use due to the presence of minerals and nutrients in it which are rather healthy.

Turbidity in those areas was also found to be varying. All these contaminants varying in their actual quantities giving varying results is supposed to be different nature of water and soil in the areas from where these samples were taken. As the composition of the soil underneath changes with area, there is a very strong chance that the constituents, alkalinity and hardness of water might also change in that area. Also, different contaminants entered the stream at different levels such as industrial waste and ecological contamination.

It may also affect the constituency of water and make it more or less harmful. Good levels of dissolved oxygen found in the water made it fit for the aquatic life to survive but at the same time increased quantities of