Transcript Powerpoint template for scientific posters (Swarthmore

Analyzing the Water Quality Conditions and Potential Pollution
Sources of several creeks at San Salvador Community
Victor Sanchez and Litzamed Santa
GEOExplorers
School of Science and Technology, Universidad del Turabo
Introduction
Research over the last
decades has identified
agricultural
land-use practices which are
of highest risk for nutrient
losses at the field and farm
scales, and the forms in
which
the key nutrients (nitrogen, N
and phosphorus, P) are
exported, mainly bodies of
water. However, the impacts
of agricultural nutrient
sources on stream waterquality and ecology are less
well characterized at the
catchments scale. This is
because nutrient inputs from
the field and farm are
modified by hydrological
dilution and mobilization,
catchments and in-stream
processing, and contributions
from a diverse range of other
rural nutrient sources, like:
farmyard, garbage, illegal
wreckage, grey waters and
septic tanks runoff and village
sewage treatment works.
Possible Pollution
Sources
References
Water Sampling
Location
Chris P, Parr W. 2002. Phosphorus in rivers _
ecology and management. The Science
of the Total Environment 282-283: 25-47.
In absence of any known geological
source of nitrate in the area and nonuniform pattern of distribution of
nitrate along the direction of
groundwater movement, nitrate
pollution is likely to be caused by
sewage and agricultural wastes.
While some nitrate in water may
orginate from fertilizers, major nitrate
pollution is likely to be from sewage.
Confinment of large number of cattle
near wells particularly in hot seasons
and uncontrolled discharge of animal
wastes is a common practice in the
area under study.
Hua W, Lob W, Chuaa H, Sina S, Yub P.
(2001). Nutrient release and sediment
oxygen demand in a eutrophic landlocked embayment in Hong Kong.
Environment International 26: 369-375.
Helen P, Lycettb E, Neala C, Loveb A. (2002).
Patterns in nutrient concentrations and
biological quality indices across the
upper Thames river basin, UK.The
Science of the Total Environment 282283: 263-294.
Helen P, Neal C, Withers P. 2006. Sewageeffluent phosphorus: A greater risk to
river eutrophication than agricultural
phosphorus? Science of the Total
Environment 360: 246-253.
Concentration of cattle in small areas,
coupled with the fact that ruminant
animals produce considerable
amounts of nitrogeneous organic
waste in the area, is damaging
manifestation of nitrogen pollution
from farm animals.
Similarity in the geo-chemical
characteristics of nitrate and
phosphate ions and strong positive
correlations between these ions
indicate the possibility of nitrate and
phosphate from grey waters and
sewage, which are also evidenced by
other factors.
Jarvie H, Withers P, Hodgkinson R, Bates A,
Neal M, Heather D, Wickham A, Harman
S, Armstrong L. (2008). Influence of rural
land use on streamwater nutrients and
their ecological significance. Journal of
Hydrology 350: 166– 186.
Jordan C, Smith R. 2005. Methods to predict
the agricultural contribution to catchment
nitrate loads: designation of nitrate
vulnerable zones in Northern Ireland.
Journal of Hydrology 304: 316-329.
Robson A, Neal C. (1997). Regional water
quality of the river Tweed. The Science of
the Total Environment 194/195 173-192.
Shrestha S, Kasama F. 2007. Assessment of
surface water quality using multivariate
statistical techniques: A case study of the
Fuji river basin, Japan. Environmental
Modelling & Software. 22 (4): 464-475.
Materials and
methods
Eight water sampling sites were
selected: four in two different
creeks in San Salvador community,
two in Turabo River, and two in El
Yunque Creek, these two were
used as control.
Study Site
The San Salvador Community
is located at the southern west
corner of Caguas. In San
Salvador we find a close to
3,300 population. The highest
peak has an elevation of a
little over 2,000 feet. It has
three main creeks that are
tributary of Turabo River. The
first community museum in
Puerto Rico was established at
this community about five
years ago.
To do the field sampling, we used
a LaMotte Kit, an excellent tool for
examining water quality in
suspected or known polluted
aquatic environments. A rugged
field carrying case contains
individual test modules for eleven
key water quality test factors, data
sheets, and valuable handbooks.
Each individual test module
includes complete instructions and
all the necessary apparatus and
reagents to perform 50 tests. We
only tested for five different
parameters: temperature,
dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphate
and nitrate.
Conclusion
Creek Elevation
Morena 1,383 ft
Morena 1,187 ft
Coord.
Temp(ºC) DO
pH
18º 07.8N
23
8ppm 7.5
65º 02.1W
18º 08.2N
24
7ppm 7.5
65º 02.2W
Phosp. Nitrate
.2ppm .5ppm
2ppm
.5ppm
Creek Elevation Coord.
Maracal 1,208 ft 18º 08.5N
66º 01.8W
Maracal 1,062 ft 18º 08.3N
65º 02.4W
Temp(ºC) DO
pH
24
7ppm 7
River
Elevation Coord.
Turabo 146 ft
18º 14.5N
66º 0.68W
Turabo 170 ft
18º 14.4N
65º 0.68W
Temp(ºC) DO
pH Phosp. Nitrate
29
8ppm 7.5 .5ppm 1ppm
Creek Elevation Coord.
El
684 ft 18º 19.9N
Yunque
65º 45.6W
El
684 ft 18º 19.9N
Yunque
65º 45.6W
Temp(ºC) DO
pH
24
7ppm 7
25
29
24
7ppm
6ppm
7ppm
Phosp. Nitrate
.2ppm .5ppm
7.5 2ppm
7
7
.5ppm
.1ppm
.5ppm
Phosp. Nitrate
0 ppm 0 ppm
0 ppm
0 ppm
After performing the water sampling
in all four locations we concluded
that some amounts of nutrients like
nitrate and phosphate are reaching
the waters sampled, with the
exception of the creek in El Yunque,
which was used as control. The
major visually identified sources of
water pollution were farming and
domestic waste. Special attention
should be given to Rio Turabo which
is tributary of Carraizo Lake, a main
reservoir.
Although the amounts reported of
these nutrients are friendly to the
environment, that does not mean
that we should stop monitoring our
bodies of waters, in order to avoid
eutrophication and/or poisoning of
the aquatic life.
For further
information
Victor Sanchez
Litzamed Santa
Please contact via e-mail
[email protected] and
[email protected]