How are the pollution levels at the sites different and how are they the same?

We thought the levels of pollution at the site would dramatically change with the season.

In the beginning we would go get water samples during class and it was fun because it was warm weather. Then winter came and there was a lot of snow and it was very cold and it became a chore. Sometimes we didn't really want to go do it.


METHODS:
Our first site was at the Chief Joseph Dam which is in Bridgeport, Washington. The second site was at a bridge that crosses the Okanogan River. The third site was by the mouth of the Okanogan River, where it flows into the Columbia River. We had two field sites in Brewster. One was behind a tire company and another was behind the sewage treatment plant. We took water samples from the sites and put it in jars. We would test the samples with a testing kit. Some sites were difficult to get to in the winter time. At one site, we had to break through the ice and put ice chips in the jar and let them melt.

TEST RESULTS:

At the site behind the tire company, the ammonium nitrogen levels were high because cattle trucks used to dump there so there was a lot of urine in the water. After we took averages for all tests during the seasons, we found that Turbity for fall winter and spring changed because the water was flowing faster in the spring because of the large runoff from the snowmelt. The Dissolved Oxygen level stayed pretty much the same during all seasons. The pH level was average during all seasons, more basic than acidic. The level of Ammonium Nitrogen was higher toward spring at the sewage treatment plant. We think it was higher toward spring because there was more circulation in the water and waste residue in the soil was mixed in with the water. The levels were high at the site behind the tire company, we think pretty much for the same reason. Overall, water is pretty good quality in both rivers although the Okanogan is a little inferior to the Columbia.

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