P1 Week 1: Dwindling Water

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P1.3.6 Seven Days, Seven Ways

Testing water

- A water test kit can measure various properties of water to check its quality and detect pollutants.

This super kit measures...

pH 🌡️ How acidic or alkaline the water is (scale 0–14). Neutral water has a pH of 7.  Lemon 🍋 has a pH of 2, it is acidic. If water has lower or higher pH than 7, then it has something not good in it.
Turbidity 🌫️ Checks how clear or cloudy the water is, often caused by dirt, algae, or pollutants.
Chlorine Levels 🧪 Found in treated water, too much can cause a strong taste or irritation.
Nitrates and Nitrites 🌱
 Often from fertilizers, these can harm health, especially for babies. Good water source doesn't have any of them.
Phosphates 🧴
 From detergents or fertilizers, they cause algae overgrowth in water.
Hardness 🪨
 Measures minerals like calcium and magnesium that can make water "hard."
Metals 🛢️
 Tests for lead, mercury, arsenic, or iron, which can be harmful to health. Very harmful...
Pesticides 🚜
 Detects chemicals from farming that can pollute water.
Oil or Grease 🛢️
 Industrial pollution or spills.
Bacteria 🦠
 Detects harmful bacteria like E. coli that can cause diseases.

 

Take some water from different sources and play your detective game. If you don't have a super test kit, never mind, you can still obesrve these things:

  1. Does the water look clear or cloudy? 🌫️
    • Describe what you see. Cloudy water might mean dirt, algae, or pollutants.
  2. Does the water have a smell? 👃
    • Does it smell fresh, like chlorine, or if it has a bad odor (e.g., rotten eggs for sulfur)?
  3. What is the water’s temperature? 🌡️
    • Use your hands to compare the water to the air. Is it too hot, too cold, or just right?
  4. Does the water leave stains or spots? 🪨
    • Look at dried watermarks on glasses. White marks may mean "hard" water with lots of minerals.
  5. What happens when you squeeze a lemon into water? 🍋
    • Check pH without measuring: lemon juice makes water more acidic (you can taste or smell the change).
  6. Does soap lather easily in the water? 🫧
    • Hard water makes it harder for soap to foam, while soft water foams easily.
  7. Are there visible particles or debris in the water? 🗑️
    • Look for dirt, algae, or trash floating in or settled at the bottom of water.
  8. Are there oil or rainbow-like patches on puddles? 🛢️
    • How this could indicate pollution from vehicles or factories?
  9. What’s around the water source? 🌍
    • Are there farms, factories, or garbage nearby? How these can affect water quality?
  10.  What happens if you leave water in a jar for a few days? ⏳
    • Observe if anything grows (e.g., algae) or settles at the bottom of your water sample. This can lead to the presence of bacteria and dirt in stagnant water.
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