This study represents a collaborative effort of four team members: Nancy Vawter and Annie G. Wells of Alabama State University, and Helen Ballard and Gloria Stallworth, Fairfield City Schools, Fairfield, Alabama. We represent team 25.
Annie Wells, Helen Ballard, Nancy Vawter and Gloria Stallworth
Information on Nancy Vawter
Alabama State University
Alabama Science In Motion
Campus Box 64
Montgomery, Alabama 36101
e-mail nvawter@asu.alasu.edu
The project data is taken from the East Windsor area near Princeton, New Jersey and a community called Hightstown.
The aim of the research (a summer project of Woodrow Wilson Environmental Teacher Institute), is to collect data to answer the question: Which water is more contaminated due to fertilizing....streams of suburbia, agriculture, or those of recreation with a focus on golf courses. This project will be continued when we return to our home state of Alabama. We will train our teachers on the testing of the streams, collection and recording of data who in turn will train their students to collect this data in local streams. The information collected will be posted on the web as an ongoing part of the original project. National Science Standards which applied to the New Jersey study will apply for the outreach efforts. (See home page)
BACKGROUND Information:
Background of Test Sites: We tested our streams in the East Windsor
area beginning with a drained wetland in East Windsor. On the Hightstown
map there is indication of the origin of two streams. Since we wanted
to start at the beginning of the streams we researched to find that there
are two naturally occurring aquifers which help to feed the wetlands.
We determined that the wetlands had been drained. We began an investigation
to find the origin of the streams and were only able to find duckweed (cattails)
growing along the side of the drained wetlands. After investigation
of these water loving and dependent plants, we determined that they were
dry above ground but evidently had a root source of water. We investigated
further to try to find where the water for this source was coming from
and after following a water source leading away from a bridge on highway
130 we found pvc pipe leading back in the direction of the wetlands and
aquifers. Situated on the banks of a man made 'holding pond' was
a pump and gasoline to power the pump. We theorized that we had found
the place where the water was pumped from the wetlands. We later
found (after a telephone interview with the developer) that the aquifers
were being drained via a different set of pvc pipes.
After testing these areas and considering that our safety could not
be guaranteed, we turned our testing sights to another area east of highway
130. This was still in the East Windsor area and all of the sites
fed into the Millstone River Watershed. They represented approximately
3/4 mile from the golf course, drained wetlands and the Pettie Lake testing
site.
Our three sites in this area originated at Lake Etra which flows out into Rocky Brook into the town of Hightstown proper.
The drained wetlands were discovered at the location just beyond the point where the two natural aquifers( bottom left quadrant of the map) meet and drain at the intersection of Highway 33.
Lake Etra
Lake Etra (East Windsor) was dammed up at the east end at or around
1850. It was surrounded totally by agricultural crops of various
sorts to include corn, soybean and various row crops. In the last
10 years a park on the south east side had been developed and a small community
of houses had sprung up along each side. Due to the the continued
fertilization of crops the east end of Lake Etra has given way to eutrophication
and a semi-wetlands has resulted. This was our second test site,
the drained wetlands and the wells being the first attempt at testing.
View of Lake Etra and Eutrophication
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
We researched the rainfall in the area and determined that there had been negibigle rainfall in the area consisting of a few scattered showers with little or no accumulation of rain for the water table.
Visually we noted that the corn in the area was beginning to curl due
to heat and loss of rain. The earth appeared very dry and in some
places parched and cracked. The streams waters were low in the Rocky Brook,
Banks Street Location. General visual checking seemed to assure us
of the same conditions of other streams not tested.
OTHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SITES.
We were able to interview a road worker who was cutting the road side for the local telephone company. We asked him if he ever used herbicides or pesticides for the road side and he informed us that the state as well as the town of Hightstown were really strict about not allowing this practice and that the roads were commonly mowed or where possible, a ' weed eater' was used for this purpose.
We also interviewed a bridge builder in the area who re-enforced this conclusion. Other people interviewed substantiated these findings. The source at the water treatment site indicated that additives of chlorine, lime and fluoride were added at 3ppm.
***NOTE: It should be noted that the local volunteer testing groups
for Watershed Association knew of no previous testing in the area and the
standards we used to compare our data represents the Lake Carneige,
Princeton Area data collection. This area is also found in the Millstone
River Watershed.
BACKGROUND ON TESTS PERFORMED AT TEST SITES
Nitrates:
Nitrate tests are performed to determine (in part) nutrient feed into
a water source due to over fertilizing. This can be caused from agricultural
crops, fertilizing of home lawns and of golf courses, as well as some nitrates
occurring from animal droppings into the stream.
The type of nitrate testing equipment which was used was the HACH aqua culture kits which read in the area of 540 nm wavelength on the portable spec.
The Nitrate FS Testing kit which bypasses the use of Cadmium (used by HACH) method, uses zinc sulfanilamide, and N-1-naphthyl-ethylenediamine dichloride. The developing reagent contains 2% tartaric acid.
This particular test is much quicker and easier to use in the field as accuracy of Nitrate testing should be done before 10:30am....temperature dependent... and within 10 minutes of taking the sample (optimum). The test is intended for detection of nitrate ( and nitrite) in water (drinking water, groundwater, surface water, well water). Certain metal ions may cause interference's in the Nitrate FS kit, especially copper and mercury at concentrations as low as 0.25 ppm (mg/L). The presence of the following substances up to 500 ppm were found to have no significant effect on Nitrate FS results: manganese and zinc. In addition, magnesium up to 250 ppm, iron and nickel up to 100 ppm, calcium and peroxide up to 50 ppm, sulfite up to 10 ppm and silicates and sulfate up to 1000 ppm showed no interference in the assay.
Studies have shown that the working pH range is pH 4 to 11. Samples below pH 4 develop prematurely but will accurately determine nitrate if the final volume is adjusted ot 1ml.
In using the HACH testing for nitrates there are two crucial areas to watch for. If you get a rusty type precipitate it could mean that you have chlorine present which then necessitates the testing for chlorine in the water before an accurate test can be done for nitrates. CAUTION: Cadmium is toxic and disposal should be in a collection vial...not on the ground.
Acid-Base Testing of the Water (pH)
A pH of 7 is considered neutral. The pH of the water was taken and important in our research because nitrification occurs most readily at a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
The HACH portable pH meter was used with a stream sensitive probe to determine the pH of the water and the temperature.
Dissolved Oxygen
When nitrates are added to the water, these nutrients feed the plant
growth in the water. In particular, algae. The algae blooms
using up the oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. When algae
blooms it covers the surface, blocking all sun from the area, uses the
available oxygen and makes habitation for fish and other aquatic life undesirable.
A test for dissolved oxygen helps to determine suitable habitation
for animal life.
The HACH DO kit was used for these tests. Samples of the water are treated with manganous sulfate and alkaline iodide-azide reagent to form an orange-brown precipitate. Upon acidification of the sample, this floc reacts with iodide to produce free iodine as triiodide in proportion to the oxygen concentration. The iodine is titrated with sodium thiosulfate to a colorless end point.
Temperature/Dissolved Oxygen
Temperature affects the accuracy of a DO measurement. For readings to be accurate they should be taken in the morning before the temperature begins to rise. As the temperature of the water rises, photosynthesis increases using up oxygen. There is more oxygen in cool water than in warm water so the greater chance for accuracy. Other components in the water also use oxygen such as the oxygen-dependent bacteria.
Turbidity
Turbidity is a measure of the clearness of water. Sand, clay, bacteria etc., in solution are causes for the turbidity of the water. The measurement of turbidity is based on the scattering of light by the suspended particles in the solution. The amount of light scattered at 90 percent to the incident light is directly proportional to the turbidity.
Turbidity is measured in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU's). These units of measurement are based on the amount of light scattered by particles of a polymer reference standard called formazin. Formazin, a mixture of hydrazine sulfate and hexamehtylenetetramine, produces particles which scatter light in a reproducible manner. This was a measurement used by HACH.
OBJECTIVE/QUESTION:
The aim of this research is to collect and analyze data acquired
from contrasting streams, (sources of water contaminated with nitrates
as a result of NH4 runoff from fertilizer
used on lawns in suburbia vs. runoff from fields vs. runoff from recreation/
golf courses).
INTRODUCTION:
The topic chosen for this study was of interest because of the types
of problems which exist both in New Jersey and in our home state of Alabama.
We wanted to be able to make determinations for the area that we could
apply and continue when we returned home. Nitrate Loading of Streams
is a common problem for most states that grow agricultural crops, have
growing suburban developments and that have a population of people who
are interested in golf and other recreational pursuits.
MATERIALS USED/METHODS
topographical map of East Windsor-Hightstown area
vehicle for transporting to and from sites
HACH Aqua Culture Testing Kits
*pH meter-stream specific probe
portable spec
*D O test kits and chemicals
*turbidity kits
FE Nitrate Testing Kit
*=all of these kits are part of the HACH Aqua Culture Testing Kit
WHAT IS THE HYPOTHESIS
My original hypothesis was that the over-feeding of the golf courses
to keep them green and meet the standards for play would result in excessive
run-off of nutrients which would be greater than the nutrients provided
in the agricultural and suburban areas.
PROCEDURE
We took topographic maps and found water sources involving two natural
aquifers and a wetlands which also ran through a mixture of agricultural,
recreational and suburban areas. With all of these sites we could
begin at the origin of the water source and work in the direction of the
flow of water.
Sample sites were chosen at each location.
It should be noted that at each test site it was difficult to find a site which was totally agricultural, suburban or recreational. All sites were indicative of all but we tried to find sites that were closer to the topics we wanted to test:
Agricultural-Test site at Lake Etra
Recreation-Test site at Rocky Brook/Pettie Lake
Suburbia-Test site at Rocky Brook/Bend Road location.
See Map for Review
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
It should be noted here that the procedures listed by the company for
each test was followed and explanations of each type of test are referenced
above under " background on test performed".
They were conducted for Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrates, Temperature/pH
and Turbidity.
There was no noticeable rainfall for approximately two months prior to testing which we speculate would be the cause for slow agricultural growth in the area. Corn is normally fertilized approximately seven times in a growing season, soy beans at least once. Golf courses are fertilized more frequently but due to the lack of rain and the drain off of the aquifers and wetlands near the golf course...no apparent fertilizing of any source had taken place due to lack of rain.
The first tests were performed on July 9, 1997 from around 9:30 am until
afternoon. All tests were performed in locations of dense canopy.
We returned the next day (July 10, 1997) after a 2 1/2 inch rain to the
same sites to repeat the same test.
After securing water from the 'holding pond' for chemical testing,
we were in the process of leaving
the area when we were blocked in by a man in a pick up truck.
The response by the research team
and their driver was to create a new road at a very high rate of speed
and quick departure from the
area. We drove to a local home situated close to the drained
wetlands and tested the water from the 'holding pond'. As expected,
upon visual investigation, everything appeared stagnant. We tested
the water for dissolved oxygen and got the expected milky mixture indicating
that no oxygen was
present. We did nitrate testing on the water and found that it
was 10+ or as high as the test would
go. A telephone call to (Environmental Protection Agency) EPA
resulted in the information that 10+ in nitrates is considered toxic.
RESULTS FROM THE SITES WHICH DRAIN FROM ETRA LAKE INTO ROCKY BROOK.
NITRATES TEMPERATURE
SITES
D.O
(p.p.m.)
degrees C
pH
TURBIDITY
| Bend Rd/Rocky Su 1 | n/a | 2.5 | 27.5 | 7.64 | low-<1 |
| Bend Rd/Rocky Su2 | .15 | 2.5 | 25.0 | 7.2 | low-<1 |
| agr-Lake Etra1 | n/a | .5 | 25.6 | 7.13 | low-<1 |
| agr-Lake Etra-2 | 0.1 | .5 | 20.4 | 6.5 | low-<1 |
| Rec- Golf C 1 | n/a | 2.5 | 27.7 | 8.9 | low-<1 |
| Rec-Golf C-2 | .25 | 2.5 | 25.0 | 7.2 | low-<1 |
A type of River Model is supplied which can be used with this data.
Due to the fact that the model is on a Mac formatted disk, it cannot be
placed here as a working model. I submit the visual pictures of how
the model will work and offer the information for ordering. Contact me
at my e-mail nvawter@asu.asuala.edu and I will provide the
information for ordering the model.
You will need to scroll up and down and left and right in order to
see the different components to this model. It uses the components
of human impact, the atmosphere (weather), mayflies, midge flies, an open
drainpipe into the stream as a means for study. You are allowed to
select meter tools, factor tools and relationship tools in order to determine
the impact on the component that you choose; you may also choose a time
equation and run the model. It also provides graphing capabilities.
This program was supplied by GREEN as a working river model which is student
friendly.
