water

forensics

Let’s talk about “Water”

Charmlee

Yosemite

Yosemite

CharmleeFranklin Canyon

Ocean (Beach)

Our water sources are exposed to chemical and animal wastes – are we exposed to that, too?

Los Angeles’ water is super clean – the LADWP is doing their work!

Contamination is less than 15 parts per billion by regulation

Water can still be contaminated between the plant and the sink

Old plumbing can deposit lead in your waterBottled Water:

Tap Water:

Tastes Better?Is Cleaner?Is More Exotic?Comes in a Bottle

Is Cheaper

Human Consumption or Related Use – 17.1 % Faucet use – 15.7 % Dishwasher – 1.4 % Human Contact Only – 18.5 % Shower – 16.8 % Bath – 1.7 % Non-Human Ingestion or Contact Uses – 64.3% Toilet – 26.7 % Clothes Washer – 21.7 % Leaks – 13.7 % Other – 2.2 %

-----------------------------------------------------------------(The National Academic press, 2008)

Demo

TDS (TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLID)

CONDUCTIVITY

AMMONIACOPPERALKALINITYCHLORIDECHLORINENITRATEIRONHARDNESS

NAME:  

PERIOD:   

SAMPLE:  

 

A  

B  

C  

D  

E  

F  

Period:  

 Location/ Source 

Name: A B C D E F

TDS(ppt):            

Conductivity (ms):            

Alkalinity:            

Ammonia:            

Chloride:            

Chlorine:            

Copper:            

Hardness:            

Iron:            

Nitrate:            

 

1. Guess what A, B, C, D, E, and F are (Bottled water, Charmlee water, Franklin Canyon water, Tap water, and Yosemite water)

2. Evaluate why

A

B

C  D

E

F

•Triple wash your tubes with the water (use very small amount) you are testing before you conduct your experiment.

•Triple wash your tubes with distilled water after each experiment

•No cross contamination: Do not use same tube for different waters. Always use clean tubes.

•Do not eat the tablets!!!