Background

• The Peckman River forms one border of our school. It’s a small river, about 8 miles long that flows into the Passaic River, which also runs through our community.

• Some of us swim and fish in the Peckman….gross!!!

Materials

1. Kick net2. D frame net3. CHEMets Nitrate chemical test4. CHEMets Dissolved oxygen test5. GPS6. Clarity tube7. Oakton Conductivity tester8. CHEMets Phosphate test9. E. coli test10. Dipper

1122

33

44

88

1010

55

66

77

99

Methods

• PH Test – Color indicator strips.• Oxygen Saturation – Water was tested for

Saturated Oxygen.• Conductivity – Was tested with an Oakton

conductivity tester.• CHEMets Phosphate Chemical Test –

Colorimetric analyses for Phosphate.• E. coli – Water tested for E. coli with Coliscan

Easygel.

Methods• Kick netting – We kick netted a 1 square meter around the

chosen riffled area, stirring up the substrate.• D – Frame net – The D- frame net was at the end of a pole

and used to swipe at the substrate in the river bed.• CHEMets Nitrate Chemical Test – Colorimetric analyses for

Nitrate.• CHEMets Dissolved Oxygen Test- Colorimetric analyses for

DO.• Water Temperature – Water was tested with a

thermometer.

Table of Tests LOCATION

TEST

STOP 1Eagle Rock Reservation

LAT: 40.80868LONG: -74.24568

STOP 2Verona, downstream of sewage treatment plant

STOP 3100 meters upstream of the mouth at Passaic River

STOP 4Passaic Valley High School (separate day)

Air TempCelsius

22.3 C 20 C 21.8 C 17 C

Water Temp.Celsius

12.7 C 15 C 14.9 C 14.0 C

DissolvedOxygen ppm

8 6 12 10

Nitrate ppm

0 0.50 2.0 .35

Phosphate ppm

0.333 1.333 0.5 0.333

Clarity cm >120 45 >120 >120

pH 5 6 6.5 6.6

E.ColiColonies/100ml

0 300 150 350

MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

• Macroinvertebrates provide a broad range of Macroinvertebrates provide a broad range of information that could benefit the study of water information that could benefit the study of water quality. quality.

• A major link in the aquatic food chain. A major link in the aquatic food chain. • They provide a good source of energy for fish and They provide a good source of energy for fish and

animals in the surrounding environment. animals in the surrounding environment. • Another important role they play consists of Another important role they play consists of

sensitivity to water quality and pollution.sensitivity to water quality and pollution.

MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates• At the source in Eagle Rock Reservation, we caught At the source in Eagle Rock Reservation, we caught

the largest variety of Macroinvertebrates. This the largest variety of Macroinvertebrates. This discovery made it clear that the water quality was a discovery made it clear that the water quality was a lot better than any other location. lot better than any other location.

• Unfortunately, we can not determine just how poor Unfortunately, we can not determine just how poor the water quality was at the mouth of the river and the water quality was at the mouth of the river and the sewage plant because we found very few the sewage plant because we found very few Macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates.

• Our findings at PVHS gave us a little bit of insight Our findings at PVHS gave us a little bit of insight about the quality of water; the Macroinvertebrates about the quality of water; the Macroinvertebrates we collected had a moderate-high tolerance for we collected had a moderate-high tolerance for pollution. pollution.