Silverton write up

Sarah vonTersch
Alix garrett
10/12/17
Water quality tests Of silverton Creeks and predicted Animas

Problem Statement: Students took a trip to silverton on Thursday October 12th to test the
quality of the water in the rivers. Though I did not attend this field trip, Alix Lily and Grace were a
group and Alix, my partner shared the class data with me. The data was collected for Mineral
Creek, Cement Creek and the Upper Animas. In Alixs specific data, he tested for pH,
temperature(c), dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, and streamflow(cfs) for the upper
Animas between 10:00-11:00am. The data collected between 10:00-2:30 from all the
classmates tested the same variables for the 3 streams. Using the data we got from the 3
streams, the goal for Alix and I currently was to make predictions for these values in the Animas
river where all three streams empty into.

Introduction:

At the beginning of our work we had to make an understanding of what was needed to complete
the goal and make predictions. Steve drew a picture on the board that was very helpful to show
us how to think about what is happening.

All three streams were

tested where the green dots are and our predictions are for where the black dot at the bottom is.
By just looking at this we could hypothesis that Mineral creek made up about 50% of the Animas
and Cement Creek as well as the Upper Animas were about 25%. We next had to understand
the variables we tested and were attempting to predict. Streamflow for example is the
measurement of volume of water that moves through a specific point in a stream during a given
period of time. Streamflow is measured in cubic feet per second (cfs). Another measurement
that was found is temperature, the intensity or lack of heat in the water, which was measured in
Celsius(). Turbidity, also found, is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large
numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in
air. The units of turbidity from a calibrated nephelometer are called Nephelometric Turbidity
Units (NTU). Conductivity another measurement made was finding the degree of the water's
ability to conduct electricity which provides a measure of what is dissolved in the water. The
units used to measure conductivity is in microSiemens per centimeter (uS/cm). The last test
made was for pH. When one is measuring pH they are essentially measuring the acidity or
alkalinity of water soluble substances. pH is measured using the pH scale, from 1 to 14 or acidic
to basic where 7 is neutral. If a substance is more than 7 it is basic and less than 7 it is acidic.
Substances that are 7 are not acidic or basic, they are neutral. In order to manipulate this data,
mathematical terms like standard deviation are needed to be understood. My partner and I
manipulated the data in 4 main ways; we found Measures of Central Tendency (mean and
median), Measures of Variability (maximum/minimum, range and Standard Deviation), and
weighted average. Central Tendency of the data or the average and median were found through
the spreadsheet equations. The average expresses the central or exact middle of the data by
adding all the values and dividing however many there are. Median is similar in representing a
central value but it is found through lining the data up in order and finding the value in the
middle. Variability was measured through range and standard deviation. The range is calculated
through finding the difference between the maximum and minimum number in the data set. The
maximum is the highest value and the minimum is the lowest.
Standard deviation is the calculation of how widespread a data set is. It is useful because it
gives a standard so the normal for the data can be compared to certain data points. Finally
weighted average is is a mean calculated by giving values in a data set more influence
according to some attribute of the data. We used weighted average to find the predictions for
the Animas river because each Creek affected the river by a certain percent seen in Steve's
picture on the whiteboard.

Visual Representations:
Pivot Table 1: Measures of Central Tendency/ Variability for Temperature
AVERAGE of MEDIAN of MIN of MAX of STDEV of
Temperature (C) Temperature (C) Temperature (C) Temperature (C) Temperature (C)
Cement
Creek 9.483333333 9.5 9.1 9.8 0.2316606714
Mineral
Creek 6.88 6.9 6.7 7 0.1303840481
Upper
Animas 4.72 4.7 4.5 4.9 0.1788854382

Pivot Table 2: Measures of Central Tendency/ Variability for pH

AVERAGE of pH MEDIAN of pH MIN of pH MAX of pH STDEV of pH

Cement
Creek 3.818 3.7 3.45 4.6 0.4490211576
Mineral
Creek 7.046666667 7.04 7 7.1 0.05033222957
Upper
Animas 6.3475 6.3 5.27 7.52 1.128461342

Pivot Table 3: Measures of Central Tendency/ Variability for Turbidity

AVERAGE of MEDIAN of MIN of Turbidity MAX of Turbidity STDEV of

Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity (NTU) (NTU) (NTU) Turbidity (NTU)
Cement
Creek -0.2333333333 -2.7 -17 16.3 13.90836679
Mineral
Creek 13.7 10 0 31.1 15.87671251
Upper
Animas 13.052 0.78 -5 34.4 19.58502796

Pivot Table 4: Measures of Central Tendency/ Variability for Conductivity

AVERAGE of MEDIAN of MIN of MAX of STDEV of

Conductivity Conductivity Conductivity Conductivity Conductivity
(uS/cm) (uS/cm) (uS/cm) (uS/cm) (uS/cm)
Cement
Creek 989 983.5 972 1017 21.24460716
Mineral
Creek 427 427 427 427 #DIV/0!
Upper
Animas 310 313 302 315 7

Pivot Table 5: Measures of Central Tendency/ Variability for Streamflow

AVERAGE of
Streamflow MEDIAN of MIN of MAX of STDEV of
(cfs) Streamflow (cfs) Streamflow (cfs) Streamflow (cfs) Streamflow (cfs)
Cement
Creek 25.955 25.955 25.8 26.11 0.2192031022
Mineral
Creek 46.985 46.985 26.65 67.32 28.75803279
Upper
Animas 24.445 24.445 24.4 24.49 0.06363961031

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f6kPDTeqwBbhonxS7_04zwyT9h8lQiONT6CWrotMv
h4/edit#gid=0

The Pivot tables we made from the class data (link above) centralized and found variability in
the class data for attributes of the river for a more precise way of looking at the data. For
example knowing the average streamflow of Cement creek, we can see which data points are
high or low compared to the average. We also had more tangible numbers to work with when
making predictions instead of a variety of tests from a different groups and fluctuating times.

Methods/Process:
The methods that we predicted on are work were correct in some aspects in silverton this last
week we needed to find many thing involving with temperature,pH levels,conductivity and
streamflow. In order to find streamflow we had to calculate the time and distance and divide
those to numbers to get the answer. The equipment we used to find the levels of pH we used
the pH pro as well as the flow rate sensor with these tools we were able to find multiple things
we wouldn't be able to find if we didn't have these tools.
To begin making predictions we began by checking our data and throwing out numbers that we
didn't see fit. For example Conductivity for the upper Animas was consistent with being around
300 uS/cm except for 1 group that was around 900 uS/cm. Seeing this big difference we took
the 900 out. We also took note that Turbidity had a wide range of values, so the average may
not be as helpful to the data set. Once our data was fixed how we liked it we looked at average
streamflows for each river. We chose average because it was a number that made sense to us
to represent the data set. Because streamflow is about the water flowing we came up with an
idea that all other aspects of the river will be present based on streamflow and determined that
adding them together and finding a percent for each would give us the percent of the Animas
each river contributed. In other words we found the percent of the streamflow for weighted
average of all the streams, relative to the average streamflow, temperature, pH, conductivity
and turbidity. From our knowledge of weighted average we completed the algebra for every
attribute of the rivers to find our predictions for the Animas river.

Describe what you did in attempting to solve these calculations using your notes as a reminder.
Include things that didnt work out and provide a brief explanation as to why things didnt work
out. If you got assistance of any kind on the problem, you should indicate what the assistance
was and how it helped you. Write paragraphs on the work you did to complete your findings and
calculations. In these paragraphs, youll need to include the equipment used and chemicals
used including the amounts of concentration.

Solutions/Predictions:

The predictions we came up with were:

Average temperature of the Animas predicted- 7.042
Average turbidity - 9.839 NTU
Average pH- 6.4
Average conductivity- 549.49 uS/cm
Average streamflow- 35.6689 cfs

The notes below show first how we found percent of streamflow, and weighted average for the
rest averages of temperature, turbidity, pH and conductivity.

Step by step Weighted average:

Average Streamflow:
Cement Creek- 25.955 cfs 27% The percentage is how much impact each creek
Mineral Creek -46.985 cfs 48% will make. Once identified to find weighted
Upper Animas- 24.445cfs 25% average you multiply each value by its percent and
then add them together.

Formula= CC(0.27) +MC(0.48) + UA(0.25)=weighted average

(25.955(0.27))+(46.985(0.48))+(24.445(0.25)) = Animas streamflow prediction Solve
(7.00785)+22.5528+6.11125= 35.6689

Animas Streamflow predictions= 35.6689

Based on even our hypothesis just from seeing Steve's pictures our predictions seem correct.
Mineral Creek was weighed 48% and had the most impact compared to the Upper Animas at
25% and Cement Creek at 27%. Also because each creek is emptying into the Animas it makes
sense to use weighted average on 3 streams variables like temperature, to find the temperature
of the whole river they lead to. Thinking of it like grades, each stream is a factor to the total
grade or the whole river.

Evaluation:

We as in a group did consider this an educational learning experience for the reason that it was
more of a hands on learning experience and we got to use the tools that measure (cfs) as well
as the pH levels in the different streams and we could interact with many of are peers in
silverton. From my perspective and are groups perspective we would not change any of the
learning experience but there were some like the pulling the weeds out of the ground we could
of change that maybe by even doing something else that is more near science not just trying to
help a tiny 30ft trail that circled around a track. We really enjoyed learning how to use the tools
that were meant to be used to measure water and pH levels of different substances and we
thought that was very cool. I thought of it not to easy but not to hard for the fact that starting to
use the tools that we had to do in the water was a bit tricky but for the most part I thought it was
challenging. We really had fun with this experience we hope to see more in the future.

The Importance:
The value and importance of the rivers in the lapta county well know as the san juan county has
the animas river in its location the value of this river is very valuable to use this reiver constantly
in our everyday life. we use the river for many things one of those things are used in
households itimes like tap water and shower water so how do we use this. Well before we start
having flowing water through every part of your house we need to fine what the pH level and
conductivity and temperature of the river before we can put water in any human's hands. The
importance of field work in finding the streamflow, conductivity, turbidity, pH levels along the
Animas River is very valuable we use this to find out many things if we were to not use these
equipment to find out these things we would be in some trouble. What these calculations tell us
about the animas river that the animas is at a pH level of 7 the conductivity is about 4 with
knowing this how could we protect our rivers in the san juan county? We start by not letting any
pollution or old waste such as rust get in the river so that wildlife outside the river and in side
can drink healthy and not have any bad fluid in there body step 2 balance the pH levels out
were it would be safe for human life and animal life to use the water safely in any way. Step 3
sampling upon household water from water wells that are in close proximity to the Animas River
that may be influenced by river water to see if it's good to use for any type of life.

Self-Assessment:

I believe as a group we did not communicate enough which lead to misunderstandings and we
deserve a B as a group for organized thoughts between us.