PROJECT 02 - BOTTLED WATER
ABSTRACT
In this project, I obtained bottled water from nine bottled water brands: Absopure, Aquafina, Core Hydration, Dasani, Enon Springs, Kroger, Life Water, Nestle Pure Life, and Smart Water. After obtaining the bottled water, I tested the water contained in the bottles. This was done to determine whether or not bottled water brands are just simply packaging tap water. This also determined if they are significantly altering the water and selling us a product that is distinct from regular tap water. Plastic water bottles also account for a significant portion of pollution and are commonly found throughout the environment. If I can conclude that bottled water brands are just simply packaging tap water, or if they are offering lower quality water compared to the water provided by the city, then there would be no reason for people not to begin carrying around their own water bottles containing and utilizing tap water provided by the city.
PROCEDURES AND METHODS
The procedures for this experiment are the instructions that are provided within the Investigation Kit. The instructions provided are as follow:
Alkalinity:
1. Filled the test tube to the 100mL line.
2. Added Alk TesTabs, one at a time, until the color of the solution changes from green to pink and matches the Alkalinity color chart. Made sure to mix until each tablet was totally disintegrated before adding the next tablet.
3. Multiplied the number of tablets used by 40.
4. Record the result as ppm Total Alkalinity.
Chloride:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10mL line.
2. Added one Chloride TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Placed the tube over the left-hand column of black squares on the Freshwater Chloride color chart.
5. Compared the appearance of the squares through the tube to the squares in the right-hand column.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Chloride.
Chromium:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10 mL line.
2. Added one Chromium TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Waited for 3 minutes.
5. Compared the color of the sample to the Chromium color chart.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Chromium.
Dissolved Oxygen/ Biochemical Oxygen Demand:
1.Filled a small test tube to overflowing with sample water.
2. Added two Dissolved Oxygen TesTabs to the test tube.
3. Capped the tube. Made sure no air bubbles are in the sample.
4. Mixed by inverting until the tablets have disintegrated.
5. Waited for 5 minutes.
6. Compared the color of the sample to the Dissolved Oxygen color chart.
7. Recorded the result as ppm Dissolved Oxygen.
Iron:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Total Iron TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Waited for 5 minutes.
5. Compared the color of the sample to the Iron color chart.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Iron.
pH:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10 mL line.
2. Added one pH Wide Rang TesTab.
3. Capped the tube & mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Compared the color of the sample to the pH color chart.
5. Recorded the result as pH.
Ammonia:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Ammonia #1 TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Added one Ammonia #2 TesTab.
5. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
6. Waited for 5 minutes.
7. Compared the color of the sample to the Ammonia color chart.
8. Recorded the result as ppm Ammonia.
Chlorine:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one DPD TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Compared the color of the sample to the Chlorine color chart.
5. Recorded the result as ppm Total chlorine.
Copper:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10 mL line.
2. Added one Copper HR TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Compared the color of the sample to the Copper color chart.
5. Recorded the result as ppm Copper.
Hardness:
1. Filled the test tube to the 50 mL line.
2. Added Hardness T TesTabs, one at a time, until the color of the solution changed from red to blue and matched the Freshwater Hardness color chart.
3. Made sure to mix until each tablet was totally disintegrated before adding the next tablet.
4. Multiplied the number of tablets used by 40.
5. Recorded the result as ppm Total Hardness.
Nitrate:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Nitrate #1 TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Added one Nitrate #2 TesTab. Immediately slide the test tube into the Protective Sleeve.
5. Capped the tube and mixed it for two minutes to disintegrate the tablet.
6. Waited for 5 minutes.
7. Removed the tube from the Protective Sleeve.
8. Compared the color of the sample to the Nitrate color chart.
9. Recorded the result as ppm Nitrate.
Phosphate:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Phosphorus TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Waited for 5 minutes.
5. Compared the color of the sample to the Phosphate color chart.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Phosphate.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Lisa Journell - Thank you for providing the LaMotte Investigation Kit which was used in this project! I would not have been able to do this project without your cooperation or contributions.
Hadley Harris - Thank you for being such an amazing lab partner!