Period2F

Our definition of clean water: It has to have no pollution, have living things in it, should be clear, and should have no chemicals in it. Observations: Point 1: Polluted with water bottle, has no living things. Orange sides, so there are probably chemicals. Point 2: Relatively clean, but close to polluted areas. Point 3: Slime going into water from point source. Prediction- We think that the water is not clean. Since it has pollution, no living animals, and has chemicals, it is dirty.

Point 1- **//Shallow Riffle Zone//** __pH__- 9 __Temperature__- 70.1 F, Second day- 72 F __Depth__- 1.25 inches __Conductivity__- 905 __Flow rate__- less than .00 m/s. //*We think this is less than .00 because its water was to shallow for it to measure, but it did have a flow rate though.*// __Phosphate__-.2

Point 2- **//Riffle Zone//** __pH__- 10 __Temperature__- 70.1 F, Second day- 71.5 F __Depth__- 1.75 inches __Conductivity__- 906 __Flow rate__- .17 m/s this point contains dissolved oxygen. __Phosphate__-.2

Point 3- **//Point Source//** __pH__- 9 __Temperature-__ 69.9 F, 71.7F __Depth__- 1.5 inches __Conductivity__- 907 __Flow rate__- .27 m/s __Phosphate__- .2

In all 3 points, the __pH__ was similar, ranging between 9 and 10, and the average pH was approximately 9.3. This means the water in the creek is more alkaline than acidic. It is not very strongly alkaline, however, because it is closer to the neutral pH of 7. Therefore, the water in the creek is weak alkaline, which means it is fairly safe and clean, yet not fully clean because the pH is not neutral. Although if it was neutral, does not necessarily mean it is chemical-free. There are many other chemicals which are neutral on the pH scale simply because they are neither alkaline nor acid.

The __temperature__ of the water is all about 70 degrees F. we do not think this means much because temperature is relative to the climate of the area studied, the altitude of the body of water, the weather conditions, and the time of day. Therefore, the temperature is not indicative of either clean or polluted water, because it changes from day to day.

The __depth__ of this water depends mostly on precipitation because the creek is used for the town's drainage. Since the observed points do not have a depth of over two inches, it most likely does not have much life in it. The water being so shallow, the most I could support are probably small insects.  __Flow Rate__ is important because if the water has no flow rate it would mean that there could possibly bugs hangiing around. Also, it is good to have a flow rate because the water flows out the garbage in the water, and it transfers it to somewhere else that gathers up the garbage. So, if the water has a flow rate, it will possibly be clean.  __Dissolved Oxygen__, also known as DO, is the amount of oxygen that is, well, dissolved in the water. DO is used in the water by aquatic communities. almost all living organisms need oxygen to survive; even if they live in water. High levels of DO means that it is easy for life to be sustained. low levels of DO means that it will be difficult and unlikely for organisms.  __Phosphate__ is very important for the growth of the plants. If the level is low, it limits the production of freshwater systems. Phosphate, though, occurs naturally on the ground. Our level was o.k. because it wasn't high. Phosphate is only harmful when it is found in high levels. So, if the phosphate stimulates the growth of planktons and plants, there can be more animals to feed on those twi things. One website had said the phosphate level from fresh water was .1. Ours is .2, so it is very close onto being relatively fresh water.

In conclusion, we think that the water is clean. Our pH was neutral, the average was 9.3, and in one data that was pure water, we saw on the internet, the pH was 8. If that is the pH of pure, clean water, then our water is very close onto being very clean. So our water, according to the pH level, is clean. Also, the temperature of our water is 22C. And in the same data of the clean water,the temperature was 25 C. Our data from flow rate, dissolved oxygem, and phosphate also showed that the water was clean. From our prediction that the water was dirty because it had no living animals, it could still be because the water was too shallow. ~Arushi and Jod