An Analysis of Local Water Quality in Relation to Health and Environmental Standards

Abstract

Testing water of all forms is essential in improving the human health standard and the local as well as global environmental standard. This experiment will answer the questions, "what source of water is the healthiest for human consumption, and whether bottled water is really worth all of the environmental damage and spending of money?" Using a First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit, this experiment will calculate chlorine, lead, pesticide, bacteria, and pH levels in both local water sources and specific, well-known water bottle brands. This experiment requires a few essential supplies. First a water testing kit must be purchased that has the capability of testing at least 4 main characteristics of water. The next crucial item or items in this case are several different brands of water such as smart water and zephyrhills. An important step in the research process is to find out what a safe level of pH, pesticide, chlorine, etc. would be. Our drinking water PH level varies between 6.5 and 9.5, however the safest pH value for drinking water would be an even 7. Chlorine has been used to purify drinking water now for over 100 years. Safety becomes a concern, however, when too much chlorine is used in the purifying process. "In the 1970s scientists discovered that when chlorine is added to water, it forms Trihalomethanes (THMs), one of which is chloroform. THMs increase the production of free radicals in the body and are highly carcinogenic (cancer causing)." (Chlorine) By combing information that has already been confirmed about the safe and dangerous levels of these toxins with data that I'll collect over the course of this experiment, an answer will be found as to what regional water source is the cleanest. It is hypothesized that the tap water will have a slightly greater , yet negligible concentration of bacteria, chlorine and pesticide. Each of the brands of bottled water are expected to have very similar qualities as they often do. They should all be very similar, even the tap water.

Introduction

Testing water of all forms is essential in improving the human health standard and the local as well as global environmental standard. This experiment will answer the question, "What source of water is the healthiest for human consumption in regards to bacteria, lead, pesticide, pH, hardness and chlorine?" The test will specifically assess Water Bottle brands along with the tap water that is provided by Bonita Springs Utilities using a First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit. An important step in the research process is to find out what a safe level of pH, pesticide, chlorine, etc. would be. It is hypothesized that the tap water will have a slightly greater , yet negligible concentration of bacteria, chlorine and pesticide. Each of the brands of bottled water are expected to have very similar qualities as they often do. They