Period2D


 * Here are some pictures of each section of the Passaic River Stream that we are testing: **


 * Riffle Zone:**


 * Pool Zone:**


 * Point Source: **


 * Is the Passaic River Stream Clean? **

Hypothesis: We think that the river is mostly clean execept for the pool zones. We also think that the pool zone won't be able to support much life.

What we did: 1) **Measured the depth** of each spot by taking a meter stick and going to each of our three spots. We then placed the meter stick into the water and recorded the depth of each spot. 2) **Took the temperature** of each spot by taking a moveable thermometer and placing it in each spot. Then we recorded our data. 3) ​**Took the pH level** of each spot by taking a pH stick and leaving it in each spot for a view seconds. Then we simply took out that pH stick and compared the change of color to the chart of pH levels Mr. Finley had for us to refer to. We then used the machinary (scanner) to make sure our data was correct and there were similar results. 4) **Measured the flow rate** of each spot by taking the device and placing it in each spot so it was facing straight up at a 90' angle. Then we recorded our data in our notebooks. 5) **Measured the tribitity** by calibrating the machine with stilled water before we started testing. Then we took each sample from our three different spots, one at a time, and read the number on the handheld machine. 6) **Alkalinity test** by putting our samples into a glass vile, and then putting a small dye tablet into it, then added a chemical to the galss vile. It soon turned purple. Then we recorded the amount of chemical that turned the water purple.

Materials Used: + Meter stick + Thermometer + pH sticks (3 of them) + Turbidity tester + Flow rate machine + Alkalinity test box


 * Test || Point Source || Pool Zone || Riffle Zone || Meaning of Results ||
 * Temperature || 69.4'F || 69.6'F || 69.8'F || Cooler temperatures generally don't support as much life. There could be little organisms in the stream because it is in the shade, so the temperature is cooler. ||
 * pH || 8.25 || 8.38 || 8.43 || 7 is neutral, so the stream is not really acidic it is more base (akaline). Average rainfall is about 5.6. ||
 * Depth || 1.5 in || 1.5 in looks deeper || 1.5 in ||  ||
 * Flow Rate || 0.1 m/s || 0.013 m/s || .19 m/s ||  ||
 * Turbidity || 1.6 || 5.6 || 4.2 || More light is able to get through so there might be less junk in the water. Water that is closer to 100 can't get as much light through. ||
 * Alkalinity || 80 ppm || 75 ppm || 80 ppm || Akalinity buffers against rapid pH changes ||

Conclusion: We think the stream is not super dirty but it is not safe to drink. There are a lot of point sources and they can dump pollution into the stream. Although there isn't a lot at our spots, when you walk further down the stream there is a lot more garbage. Some tadpoles are able to survive at some places, but there aren't tadpoles in most of the stream. It may not be radioactive, but the stream is still not very clean.

+ Bacteria test + Cali form test + Diversity of Life + Dissolved Oxygen + Water filtration + Signs of disease of an organism
 * Future Experiments:**