The document summarizes a student project called Water Cops PR CL that aims to study local watersheds. The project involves students using tools like Vernier LabQuest sensors to measure water quality parameters like turbidity, conductivity, alkalinity, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen at sites along the Rio Piedras river. Students will analyze their findings, produce written articles and maps using software, and investigate how human activities impact watershed hydrology and land usage affects plant and animal communities near the river. They will assess water quality through physical, chemical and biological measurements and evaluations.

1. PR Water Cops CL
C L C W A T E R Q U A L I T Y . B L O G S P O T . C O M
V O L U M E # 2 A P R I L 1 3 , 2 0 1 1
Introduction p. 1
Abstract p. 1
Introduction
Purpose p. 2 Where does the water (CWA, for its acronym in stances to a body of wa-
Materials p. 2
you use come from? Do English) establishes that ter can damage its qual-
you always have enough water quality should be ity, which stops it from
Procedure p. 3 water or is it limited at evaluated and maintained being suitable for what it
the place where you live? in accordance with estab- was designated.
Results p. 4-5
What factors affect the lished (USEPA, 2002).
The concept of water
Result Analysis p. amount and quality of the
pollution depends on the
5-6 water where you live? purpose to which the wa-
Conclusion p. 6 The over enrichment ter is designated.
with nutrients and the
contamination with patho-
gens of the bodies of wa-
Excessive amount of
ter negatively affect
nutrients to bodies of
their use for public con-
sumption, for industry water reduce their water
quality, which can lead to
and agriculture, and as
being habitat for wild life an eutrophic state.
(USEPA 2005). We understand that
the addition of sub-
The Clean Water Act
Abstract
The multidisciplinary of land use can affect and Think-quest.org or
project Water Cops PR plant and animal communi- Blogger.
CL, will make students to ties that live along it.
This project also has the
explore their own water-
This project also in- purpose of making stu-
shed and understand what tends to develop technol- dents create conscious-
happens to the flow of
ogy skills on students in ness about the environ-
water over them. The
applications such as Log- ment they live in.
students will also visual-
ger Pro and Vernier Soft-
ize the way in which hu- ware LabQuest, MS Pub-
man activities impact the lisher 2007, ArcGIS Ex-
river’s hydrology and the plorer , Adobe Premier
way in which the change

2. P AGE 2
Purpose
Students will investigate their own water- (Spanish), and Technology - Video Docu-
shed to understand the flow of water in mentary - Adobe Premier. Geography
them, how human activities can affect its and Technology - GeoMapping - ArcEx-
hydrology, and how the usage of land by plorer, in English (Spanish), and Technol-
humans can also affect the hydrology wa- ogy - Blog Thinkquest.org Google Blog-
tershed. ger.
Students from elementary through high
school level will be involved in this project.
During the development of the students are
in-they involve sub-tasks and tasks to com-
plete the following products :
"In Science, Mathematics and Technology -
Scientific Article (Journal)-In English
Materials
Water Cops CL project is a multi-application where students have the oppor-
tunity to perform research on water quality from several points of Rio Pie-
dras. The students will be using technologies such as: Vernier Technology to
take water quality measurements. It will be chosen an urban water body close
to the school and two sampling locations will be selected in this body of water.
There will be three trials for each sample using the different sensors of
Vernier LabQuest. Some of the measurements which will be performed are:
-Turbidity
-Conductivity This measurements were took using :
-Alkalinity
Vernier Labquest Sensors
-pH
-Temperature
-Dissolved Oxygen
- Stream Flow
Vernier
Labquest Water Quality
kit
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3. CLCW A TERQUA LIT Y.BLOG SP OT .COM P AGE 3
Procedure
Part I. Physical Assessment of Wa- Part II. Chemical Evaluation of Wa- Part III. Biological Assessment
ter Quality ter Quality
Description: As a component of Description: As a component of Description: As a component of
water quality research, the students water quality research, the students water quality research, the students
observe, measure and map the use handhelds LabQuest Vernier collect, identify and analyze data.
physical characteristics of a stream scientific and current sensors for This information is analyzed to
of water. Quantitatively, using measuring pH, dissolved oxygen, draw conclusions given the local
handheld computers scientific Lab temperature and turbidity. Students creek water.
Quest Vernier sensors and current develop a hypothesis, record data
Objectives: At the end of the pro-
flow, the students measure different obtained including measurements
gram, students will be able to:
parameters (mentioned in the ma- and observations. So students may
do a scientific conclusion. 1. Define the terms watershed, ero-
terials section). Qualitatively, stu-
sion, contamination and local water-
dents use the skills of observation Objectives: Upon completion of the
sheds.
to notice specific characteristics of project, students will be able to:
2. Make graphs with the collected
the river. 1.Define the terms of watersheds,
data.
Objectives: Upon completion of the source of pollution including indi-
project, students will be able to: rect sources, pH, dissolved oxygen
1. Define the terms of the water- and turbidity.
shed, erosion, and deposition. 2. Identify different sources of con-
2. Identify local watersheds by tamination.
name. 3. Explain how pollutants travel
3. Use scientific tools to determine through the river basin and explain
physical water quality by collecting how different chemical proportions
data. of a stream affect water quality.
4. Build a watershed model-map 4.Develop products with the ob-
using the titles, legends and their tained results.
role. 5. Use math while collecting data.
5. Develop ways to maintain a 6. Apply the scientific method.
healthy water body based on physi-
cal, chemical and biological evalua-
tion.

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Water Quality Sampling in the Rio Piedras
On Saturday, January 22, “normal” range for a quantity of DO for optimal
2011, at 10:21 A.M. we, stream or a river can cause for optimal conditions for
The Green Team, went to harm to the aquatic organ- the organisms. The average
the Rio Piedras to collect isms that live there like DO of this river is 4.7 mg/L.
water samples. The water stonefly larvae or mosqui- The pH is a measure of
state was normal and the toes. The average tempera- acidity or alkalinity of a solu-
sky was clear with isolated ture of this river is 23.7 ° tion. The pH indicates the
clouds. The latitude was C. concentration of hydronium
18.38837 and the longitude The dissolved oxygen of ion (H30 +) present in cer-
was 66.05904. a body is the quantity of tain substances, in this case
The temperature of a oxygen that the water has. water. According to our re-
body of water influences The measurements took in search, the Rio Piedras has
its overall quality. Water the two points of the Rio an average pH of 7.68. This
temperatures outside the Piedras have the minimum pH is optimal for the survival
of all marine organisms. Water quality at this point of the Rio Piedras is generally acceptable for
domestic use and water.
Turbidity is a measure of water’s lack of clarity. Water with high turbidity is cloudy, while
water with low turbidity is clear. The cloudiness is produced by light reflecting off of particles in
water; therefore, the more particles in the water, the higher the turbidity.
Stream flow or discharge is the volume of water that moves through a specific point in a
stream during a given period of time. Stream flow is an important factor in the stream ecosys-
tem and is responsible for many of the physical characteristics of a stream. Stream flow has two
components. The first is flow velocity, and the second is the volume of water in the stream.
The average of the stream flow was 0.18 cfs.
The conductivity of a substance defines as the ability or power of conducting heat, electricity.
Pure water is a good conductor of electricity. According to our results, the sample has medium
levels of conductivity. The normal conductivity level in a river or lake is of 5.5 μS/cm, however
our readings were of 381 μS/cm. The average of the conductivity was 381 μS/cm.
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5. CLCW A TERQUA LIT Y.BLOG SP OT .COM P AGE 5
Water Quality Sampling in the Guaralcanal Stream
On Saturday, January 29, 2011 or river can cause harm to the two points of the Rio Piedras
at 9:30 A.M. we, The Green aquatic organisms that live there have the minimum quantity of
Team, went to the Guaralcanal like stonefly larvae or mosqui- DO for optimal living condi-
stream to collect water samples. toes. Our results can compare to tions for the organisms. The
The water state was normal and the temperatures of the rivers DO is around the 4.7mg/L
there were no clouds. The lati- in the US during the summer which is the average in this
tude was 18.37715 and the longi- time. The average water tem- zone. The average of the DO
tude was 66.04630. perature was 24.1°C. was 4.3 mg/L.
The temperature of a body of
water influences its overall qual- The DO of a body is the quantity
ity. Water temperatures outside of oxygen that has the water.
the “normal” range for a stream
The measurements took in the
Turbidity is measure in
Nephelometric turbidity
Units, NTU. According to
the USGS, the turbidity of
surface water is usually be-
tween 1 NTU and 50 NTU.
Water is visibly turbid at
levels above 5 NTU. The
average turbidity in this
site of the Guaralcanal
stream is 25..3NTU.
Stream flow or discharge is the The conductivity is a substance
volume of water that moves define as the ability or power
to conducting heat and electric-
through a specific point in a
ity.. Pure water is a good con-
stream during a given period of ductor of electricity. According
time. Stream flow is an impor- to our results, the samples has
tant factor in the stream eco- medium levels of conductivity.
system and is responsible for The normal conductivity in a
many of the physical character- river or lake is of 5.5µs/cm,
istics of a stream. Stream flow however our readings were of
has two components. The first 521µs/cm.
is flow velocity, and the second
is the volume of water in the
stream. The average of the
stream flow 0.20 cfs.

6. P AGE 6
Analysis of a Watershed in Puerto Rico
a) climatic data including seasonal and station densi-
ties of both: extremes and averages.
b) road map
Possible dynamic models :
a) Buffer zones map vs actual construction or aerial photos.
c) hydrographic maps
b) Population density vs. amount of available water re-
d) hydrological data (inventory of water, surface
sources
runoff, river network);
c) Analysis of potential areas for reforestation preventing
e) lists of species for the fauna and flora, land and
water, its distribution, life histories, economically contamination of the canal.
important species, rare species and unique or that d) Map of places that could be designated as protected re-
are in danger of extinction; serves or for the benefit of all.
e) Map of the hot spots and dividing by their effect
f) population density
(minimum, medium, severe) .
g) flood map
h) ecosystem
i) Soil maps (distribution, nutrients, toxic minerals);
j) Anthropological studies;
k) Sources of pollution past, present and future can
do so by searching or a tour of the area using
GPS.
l) location and description of existing environmental
problems, location of critical areas.
Discussion of the Results
According to the dynamic model created with the ArcGIS
Explorer can be seen clearly that the population density surround-
ing the sampling area is extremely high. Research tells us that most
of the parameters are expected and normal levels, but we have to
watch some of these which are the maximum allowed or are al-
ready at higher levels than expected.
With this model, students can create spatial analysis of data ac-
quired, organized and manipulated by them.
Students sampled two areas of Rio Piedras river: Jardín Botánico and Guaralcanal
stream. In the first site of the stream the samples showed normal levels of measurement,
except turbidity and conductivity that are in the maximum level of the accepted range. In
the second site the samples showed a level of nitrate and ammonium above the maximum
level of range accepted. This second point is the most affected by pollution which the
NH4 and NO3 levels are strongly affected, reflecting a level far above the expected level.
The possible causes are the agricultural runoff, some kind of human pollution entering the
water, animal feedlots, runoff from fertilized fields, or treated municipal wastewater being
returned to streams.
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7. CLCW A TERQUA LIT Y.BLOG SP OT .COM P AGE 7
Contact us
clcwaterquality.blogspot.com
Colegio Mater Salvatoris
COMPUTER LEARNING
17 años apoyando la educación en
Puerto Rico
Edificio BBVA
Calle Amarilla
#206 San Juan
Puerto Rico
Phone: 787-764-2222
Fax: 787-764-9999
watercops@clcpr.com