The overall water quality supplied to homes in Niagara Falls, New York from the Niagara Water Treatment Plant.Research was presented at local conference.

1. Are Chlorine Levels in Niagara County Household Water During the Winter /
Spring Season Within the United States Laws and Regulation Standards: Field
Research
Researched by: Jameieka Price
Mentored by Research Scientist of the Geography Department and Great Lakes Center: Dr. Charlotte Roehm
Free CL Vs. Total CL in Residential Sink Water
INTRODUCTION 1.2
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
Max Chlorine
Levels
Chlorination’s main purpose is to kill bacteria, 1 WHO – 0.3 mg /l The researched determined that the water
algae, microorganisms and other water borne SWDA -0.2 mg /l treatment plant in Niagara County is not in
CL Concentration (mg/l)
pathogens. It sanitizes and oxidizes to keep water 0.8 EPA – 0.3 mg/l compliance when treating water with chlorine.
free of bacteria. Chlorination is used in municipal Recommended
Level to kill
The results of both the questionnaire and
water treatment plants to disinfect water 0.6 Microbials physical measurements of this study, show that
particularly for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 0.3 mg/l – 1.2 mg/l some participants are at risk of exposure to
Cryptosporidium. The problem with chlorination is 0.4 Free Cl (cold
chlorination. The Agricultural area had low
that the chlorine by-products and the concentration
water)
risk factors for the usage of water and the
of residual chlorine can cause alternative adverse 0.2 Urban and Industrial area had intermediate
Total Cl (cold
health effects such as cancer and…. As a result water) health risk factors for using the water on a
federal regulations have been made to set standards 0 daily basis. The household that had the highest
to minimize these risks. Sink and shower water from
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
fraction of chlorination levels was in the
Number of Households
a range of households in Niagara County Household industrial area and the water appeared cloudy.
Figure 5 Regulation Standards For Cl
was tested to determine the levels of chlorine in the WH0 – World Health Organization ; SWDA – Safe Water Drinking Act ; EPA- Environmental
Temperature and pH determines the outcome
water were high enough to affect public health and Protection Agency of the chlorinated water in this case there was
if the municipal treatment plants are in compliance Table 1 Regulation Standards for Chlorine no correlation between temperature and pH.
with the laws and regulations. EPA WHO EPA WHO SDWA
Figure 1 Urban Area Figure 2 Industrial Area Figure 3 Agricultural Area Combined Cl Combined Cl Residual Cl Residual Cl Residual Cl
Fraction of Free and Total Cl
100
0.5 mg/l 3mg/l 4 mg/l 0.3 mg/l 0.2 mg/l
Fraction of Free and Total
90
80
70 Industrial Warm
60 Agricultural Warm
Cl mg/l
50
RESULTS 40
30
Urban Warm
Industrial Cold
20
Agricultural Cold
10
0 Urban Cold
0.5 mg/l is the maximum contaminant level 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9
for the free and total chlorine allowed in pH
households imposed by laws refer to table 1. Figure 8 Percent Contribution of Free & Total Cl
Concentrations of chlorine in the households
were in the range of 0.5 mg/l to 1.1 mg/l refer to Average Free Cl Vs. Total Cl
0.9
figure 5 . The industrial and urban households
Cl Concentration ( mg/l)
0.8
0.7
had higher concentrations of both free and total 0.6
0.5
Lasalle chlorine. The pH was found to be in the neutral 0.4
Industrial
Agricultural
0.3
range of 6.5. The temperature of the warm water 0.2 Urban
0.1
was approximately 89 F and the cold water was 0
Niagara River Water Treatment Plant
approximately 52 F. Free Cold Total Cold
Figure 4 Map of Niagara County The fraction of Free residual to Total chlorine Figure 9 Average Concentration levels
METHODOLOGY ranged ( which is a percentage of the total and RECOMMENDATIONS
depends on pH) between 0.2 mg/l and 0.5 mg/l
for the free chlorine and 0.4 mg/l – 0.8 mg /l and
The researched involved testing 15 participant To maintain clean water with lower
was negatively correlated to pH refer to figure 8.
households selected in the urban, industrial and chlorine levels in households, it is
agricultural areas; of Niagara County refer to figure recommended to use a shower and sink filter
1-4. The study involved both a physical and social or to boil water. This removes the chlorine
science aspect. Each primary member of the and other contaminants. There is also the
household was asked to fill out a questionnaire in option of putting chlorine in the tap water
order to determine potential exposure to chlorine in yourself with correct proportions. Contact
the water. A chlorine testing kit ( figure 7) was used your local health department and a
to test the free and total chlorine in the household professional can determine how much
Figure 7 Chlorine Testing Kit
water refer to figure 7a and 7b. Figure 6 shows how chlorine is in your water. The Environmental
a disinfection agent like chlorine breaks down waste Protection Agency has a wealth of
water so it can be purified once it reaches the chlorination information at www.epa.gov
household. A pH meter was used to determine how
7a Chlorinated Water 7b Chlorine free Water
acidic or alkaline the water was and a thermometer Figure 6 Steps for Purifying Waste Water
Figure 7a & 7b Samples of free
was used to measure the temperature of the water. and total Cl