Question

Activity 2

Record your data from Activity 1 in the boxes below. Place the data (turbidity value, appearance) for the samples in the appropriate columns (clean standard,           maximum load, standard, sample 1, sample 2, sample 3)

The following information will be needed to make your conclusion --

In the region of the United States you are investigating, the allowable standards of turbidity are:

Drinking water is 0.3 NTU

Water for irrigation and industrial use 5 NTU

Water released into lakes is 10.0 NTU

Water released into rivers 15.0 NTU

Sample	Clean Standard	Maximum Load Standard	Sample 1	Sample 2	Sample 3
Turbidity Value	0.03 NTU	50.3 NTU	9.2 NTU	0.29 NTU	15.4 NTU
Appearance (pictures from computer readout)	Low Turbidity	High Turbidity	Low Turbidity	Low Turbidity	High Turbidity

PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS THANK YOU!

1. Is the turbidity spectrometer accurate based on the data from the Clean Water and Maximum Load Water Standards?

Explain why or why not?

2. Is the relationship between the appearance of the sample and the NTU value of each sample consistent for all samples?

Explain why or why not.?

3. For each sample, make a recommendation for the best way to release or use the waste water based on the Turbidity Stands Chart.

.

Answer 1

Part 1:

Accuracy of turbidity spectrophotometer

The maximum load standard value 50.3 compared to the values of allowable standard seems to be correct. However, the clean standard recorded from the spectrophotometer is 0.03 which is very low compared to drinking water standard. it seems that the spectrophotometer low limit measurements are incorrect.

Part 2:

The NTU values of turbidity are directly proportional to the appearance. For sample 1 the value is very close to the allowable limits in the lakes. As the turbidity in lakes can not be considered low, it should have turbidity between low and high.

Part 3:

Sample 1:

this sample can't be used for drinking, irrigation or industrial purposes. however, it can be directly discharged in the lakes and river without any treatment.

Sample 2:

this sample can be used for drinking as well as irrigation and industrial purposes. Also, it can be directly discharged into in the lakes and river without any treatment.

Sample 3:

this sample has very high turbidity and hence can't be used for drinking, irrigation or industrial purposes. It needs to be properly treated to the given standard to discharge it in the specific source.

Since turbidity is majorly because of the suspended solids, the coagulation process needs to be applied before the disposal of this sample