- Conducting the test: A pH kit is used to analyze a sample of water. A solution is added to the water, and the combined solution changes color. This color is matched with the color bar in the pH kit to determine the pH of the water.
- Testing: The pH level of the water. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. Anything under 7 is considered acidic, while anything over 7 is considered basic (see image below).
- Importance: All plants and animals have a range of tolerance for pH levels. Very few plants and animals can tolerate a pH level of lower than 5. A slight variance from the pH level that species in an area have grown accustomed to can be extremely harmful.
- Natural Occurrence: Although most of the major changes in acidity are human caused, some rain can be naturally acidic, having a pH of around 5. This acid rain can enter water and affect its pH levels.
- Human Impact: When humans burn fossil fuels to produce electricity or emit exhaust from their cars, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere. These pollutants increase the acidity of rain when it falls down on the earth. While non-acidic materials found in soils and bedrock typically neutralize acid rain, this increase in acidity from human sources is sometimes too much to have all of it neutralized. Some of the acid rain thus makes its way into the water, and the water becomes more acidic. Another human impact on pH comes from acid mine drainage. Water that accumulates in coal mines becomes extremely acidic, sometimes with a pH close to 0. When this water drains and enters another body of water, it will greatly lower the pH level of this water as well.
- Data: Our tests revealed an average pH level of 7.2, which translates into a Q-Value of 92/100. This means that the water quality is very good in terms of its pH level. A pH level this high can support many types of plants and animals.
- Explanation of Results: Limestone bedrock is in abundance in the watershed where we conducted our study. This bedrock, as mentioned above, is able to absorb any acid in acid rain that falls in the area, and neutralize it. This is the most prominent reason for the high pH in the river in this area.