Herbert Run Experiment

Based on my observations I hypothesized that both Herbert Run and the Commons stream would have a high level of nitrate, conductivity, and turbidity. I hypothesized this because of traffic, liter, and the waste and pollution in both streams. For the Commons Stream, the Conductivity was 1086µS/cm. The turbidity was 0 FAU. Last, the Nitrate level for Commons was 0.08 ppm. For Herbert Run the conductivity level was 687µS/cm. The Turbidity level was 0 FAU and the Nitrate level was 0.02ppm. I accept my hypothesis and reject parts of my hypothesis. I reject that both streams have a high turbidity level. Both streams’ turbidity level is zero. I accept that both streams have a high nitrate and conductivity level. Herbert run and commons stream have high levels of nitrate and conductivity but commons stream has a higher conductivity and nitrate level.

Herbert Run is prone to pollution as a possible result of the residential area and open to sewer lines. This results in litter being in the water, which has an adverse affect on the water. Commons stream is also cluttered with litter and students moving around the immediate areas that surround the stream. The conductivity graph shows a higher level of conductivity in the Commons Stream than Herbert Run. The conductivity level is twice as high in Commons Stream in comparison with Herbert Run, which means that the concentration of dissolved solids that are ionized in this stream is higher. The same is true for the nitrate levels. The location of Commons Stream could be the reason the nitrate level is higher. Commons Stream is near the UMBC parking lot. This in turn has both a heavy student and traffic population. Due to this the nitrates may be contaminated by the excess litter and trash found in the