Introduction

Monitoring levels of potential pollutants in groundwater, lakes, streams and soils
is necessary to protect the health of living things, as well as maintain ecosystem
balance. When an abundance of nutrients are present in an aquatic system, for
example, eutrophication occurs, rendering an unbalanced environment where
algae and weed nuisances thrive and other aquatic organisms perish. In soils,
nutrient levels have a direct effect on microbial activity. Increased levels of
phosphorous from the Everglades Agricultural Area have had a dramatic effect
on the entire Everglades ecosystem. Historically an oligotrophic(nutrient poor)
system, the Everglades is vulnerable to very slight increases in nutrient levels.
Water quality issues due to nutrient levels in the Everglades have received
national environmental and political attention in recent years.

One method of measuring certain potential polluters in a water sample is by
performing colorimetric analysis. Using the colorimeter, any substance can be
measured which is itself colored or can be reacted to produce color. In a
colorimetric test the intensity of color from the reaction is proportional to the
concentration. In this experiment, the chemical tests have been precalibrated
and the color or band of wavelengths of light are selected by using the test
menu.

Chemical analysis of the following substances will be performed during the
experiment:

Ammonia Nitrogen(NH3)
Ammonia nitrogen is present in various concentrations in many surface and
groundwater supplies. A product of microbial activity, ammonia nitrogen is
sometimes accepted as chemical evidence of pollution when encountered in
natural waters. Thus, any sudden change in the concentration in a water supply
is cause for suspicion. In excessive amounts, ammonia nitrogen is a source of
nitrogen as a nutrient which may cause undesirable plant and algae growth that
can overload the natural water system.

Nitrate-Nitrogen( NO3-)

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but the presence of excessive amounts in .
water supplies presents a major pollution problem. Nitrogen compounds may
enter water as nitrates or be converted to nitrates from agricultural fertilizers,
sewage, industrial wastes and drainage from livestock feeding areas and farm
manure. Nitrates in conjunction with phosphates, stimulate the growth of algae.

Phosphate( PO43- )
Phosphorus is an important nutrient for aquatic plants. The amount found in
water is generally not more than 0.1 ppm unless the water has become polluted
from waste water sources or drainage from agricultural areas. When an excess
of phosphorus is present, the process of eutrophication begins to take takes
place. Fish kills often result when oxygen is depleted by the decomposition of
abundant plant materials such as algae and aquatic weeds.

Experimental Procedure
Several water samples will be tested for concentrations of
ammonia, nitrates, and/or phosphates. Water  will be provided by
laboratory instructors. Please wait for specific instructions from your lab instructor regarding water  samples.

Record all data in tabular form for all water and soil samples as the main
component of this laboratory experiment is the interpretation of results by
comparing and contrasting concentrations found in the different samples.
Results are then to be explained in detail in the Discussion/Conclusion section
of the lab report.