chemistry crap

Water Treatment Project

gather, process and present information on the features of the local town water supply in terms of:

- catchment area
- possible sources of contamination in this catchment
- chemical tests available to determine levels and types of contaminants
- physical and chemical processes used to purify
- chemical additives in the water and the reasons for the presence of these additives


describe the design and composition of microscopic membrane filters and explain how they purify contaminated water.


gather, process and present information on the range and chemistry of the tests used to:
- identify heavy metal pollution of water
- monitor possible eutrophication of waterways


describe and assess the effectiveness of methods used to purify and sanitise mass water supplies.


useful stuff
http://www.sydneywater.com.au/WaterQuality/TypicalDrinkingWaterAnalysis/
http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/catchments/
http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/catchments/what_is_a_catchment.html
http://hsc.csu.edu.au/chemistry/core/monitoring/chem945/945net.html#net7

links to pictures

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/AlienC-watersystem.jpg

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/AlienC-reverse_osmosis_membrane_filter.jpg

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/AlienC-Stabilized_colloid_system.jpg

http://www.camdenaviation.com.au/Warragamba%20Dam.jpg

http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/data/general/files/watersupplydiagram.pdf

Catchment dotpoint

What is a Catchment?
-->A catchment is an area where water is collected by the natural landscape. In a catchment, all rain and run-off water eventually flows to a creek, river, lake or ocean, or into the groundwater system.
Healthy catchments provide:
· a source of clean drinking water
· unspoilt natural areas for recreation and scenic enjoyment
· habitat for plants and animals
· healthy vegetation and waterways
· reliable and clean water for stock and irrigation, and
· opportunities for sustainable agribusiness and industry

Possible Sources of Contaminants dot point

Water Quality Monitoring
For customer quality assurance and public health reporting, the SCA operates an extensive water quality and quantity monitoring network as part of our catchment and storage management programs.
In addition to routine monitoring, special programs now deal with protozoa and incidents, such as oil spills.
Monitoring for the protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia is carried out daily at Warragamba Dam and Broughton's Pass Weir, twice-weekly in Prospect Reservoir, weekly in Wingecarribee Dam and Werriberri Creek (the nearest inflow to Warragamba Dam), and monthly in the Wollondilly River. Automatic samplers test for protozoa during storm events at seven locations on inflows to Lake Burragorang.
The SCA has introduced 'hotspot' protozoa monitoring in carefully chosen places around the catchment, such as below sewage treatment plants, sale yards and piggeries.
Following recommendations of the 1998 Sydney Water Inquiry, additional protozoa testing to complement our own regime is carried out by an independent laboratory.
We monitor for pesticides and blue green algae and develop contingency and emergency response plans to deal with incidents such as suspected or actual pollution, major floods, or any water quality problems.

Chemical tests available to determine levels and types of contaminants dot point

- do a summray of the different water tests
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) - oxygen needed for living organisms, related for eutrophication
- Turbidity (clarity of the water) related to suspended particles in the sample
- Water Hardness (Ca2+, Mg2+)
- Concentration of Common Ions (AAS)
- Gravimetric analysis can be used to determine the quantities of both cations and anions, e.g. for chloride ions precipitated and weighed as silver chloride. Common anion concentrations measured include chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate and fluoride ions.

- Acidity (pH levels) related to the fact that fish need a stable pH to survive

- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

- Dissolved Oxygen (DO) related to sustaingin marine life