Water Quality and Contamination
SCI 207: Dependence of Man of the Environment
Instructor: Joseph Iafrate
March 20, 2014
Abstract
Ground water is the largest source of drinking water accessible to the human population around the world. It is quickly being contaminated because of industrialization being done around the world. A set of simple tests were done to find out how these contaminants affect our ground water. There were samples of tap water and bottled water that was analyzed for safety as well. Chemicals such as vinegar, oil and soap cause turbidity, odor and color change in water samples. A filtration system using rocks, charcoal, and sand was used to show how water is filtered. The most shocking result of these tests was that tap water showed to be much safer to drink than bottled water. The evidence shows tap water has less contamination than bottled water.
Introduction
Just as we need air, we also need clean water to survive. The importance of this glaring fact is apparent when one considers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Of this amount, the overwhelming majority is comprised of salt water found in the oceans, leaving only around three percent of the total as freshwater (Dale 2011). The average American household uses 69.3 gallons of water per individual each day, a rate that points out just how integral clean water is to the daily lives of human beings (Dale 2011). We do not just drink water, but we use it for other purposes as well. We use it to take baths, wash dishes, wash clothes, bathe our pets, and feed our pets, and wash or automobiles. Not only do we need water to survive but wildlife needs it as well. Farmers need water to maintain crops, and most productive ecosystems deeply rely on a consistent supply of freshwater. Sometimes access to clean drinkable water is not a guaranteed situation. In developing countries, millions of people don’t have clean water on a regular basis. In fact,...