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Impact of Construction Run-off on Water Quality in Tyler Run Creek

This study investigates the effects of construction run-off from the Business Administration Building site on the water quality of Tyler Run Creek. Conducted by Jess Bases, Zach Bensley, Nikki DeLuca, and DJ Hall, the project analyzes groundwater contamination via key analytes, including calcium and carbonate ions. Through rigorous sampling and titration methods, the research assesses the levels of hardness and alkalinity in the water, revealing only slightly elevated but non-dangerous concentrations downstream from the construction site compared to an upstream control.

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Impact of Construction Run-off on Water Quality in Tyler Run Creek

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Real World: YCP Construction Run-off By: Jess Bases, Zach Bensley, Nikki DeLuca, and DJ Hall

  2. Topography Construction site uphill from Tyler Run Creek Drainage systems

  3. Construction on Campus Began summer 2012 Expanding Business Admin Building Digging to create new foundation

  4. Hypothesis • Groundwater run-off from construction site has contaminated Tyler Run Creek • Specific analytes present based on soil composition (Ca2+, CO32-) • Metals from materials used (hardness)

  5. Water Quality Calcium • Determines deposit formation and corrosive nature of water Hardness • hard water consumes more soap and scales formation in cooling water circuits and boilers • soft water induces corrosion in iron pipelines Carbonate • Contributes to alkalinity , which determines buffering capacity

  6. United States Geological Survey Classification of Waters

  7. Sampling Sites 3 2 1

  8. Methods • Broke up into 3 procedures • Determination of Calcium • Determination of Hardness • Determination of Carbonate Ions

  9. Method – Determination of Calcium Measured out an aliquot of the sample Methyl red was used as an indicator Ammonium oxalate was added to precipitate out the calcium oxalate in the solution Vacuum filtered, dried, recorded mass Was repeated for 27 samples

  10. Method – Determination of Hardness Standardized 0.01 M EDTA solution pH of the 27 samples was adjusted to 10 1 g of KCN and calmagite was added to each sample Samples were titrated with the EDTA solution

  11. Method – Determination of Carbonate Ions Standardized HCl and NaOH 50 mL unknown, 100 mL standard NaOH, and 20 mL 10 wt % BaCl2 was added to an Erlenmeyer Solution was swirled to precipitate out BaCO3 After titrating with standard HCl, using phenolphthalein, the amount of CO32- could be determined

  12. Temperature and pH of Sites

  13. Determination of Calcium – Averages and Standard and Relative Deviation

  14. Comparison Using Days Comparison Using site

  15. Determination of Hardness – Averages and Standard and Relative Deviation

  16. Comparison Using Days Comparison Using site

  17. Determination of Carbonate Ions – Averages and Standard and Relative Deviation

  18. Comparison Using site Comparison Using Days

  19. Practical Error • Inexact measurement of mass and volume • Over-titration • Different concentrations of oxalate • Loss of product

  20. Theoretical Error • Assumptions of areas with calcium and hardness • Other ions could interfere with calcium concentration • A lot of rocks in areas, unsure of results from rocks or water • More contaminants than assumed

  21. Encountered Error Inconsistent heating and stirring of solutions in determination of calcium Ran out of BaCl2 Snowfall run-off on only one day Tim Abell Nikki went to Qatar

  22. In summation… • The levels of the analytes tested were not at any dangerous levels, although they were slightly elevated where we had predicted and after snowfall • Construction site may play a role in the higher concentrations of analyte downstream than the control site upstream • The standard and relative deviation for each part of the method showed that the results were not too extreme as to offset any trend lines

  23. References • “Water Chemistry” by K.S. Venkateswarlu • USGS Water Quality Tables • PA land composition map – • https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog160/node/1977

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