Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Water Quality Monitoring for Environmental Assessment and Science Education

Thumbnail
View / Download
2.6 Mb
Date
2019-04-26
Authors
Rowland, Kelsey
Powers, Ian
Vazquez Da Silva, Lorena
Advisor
Heffernan, James
Repository Usage Stats
220
views
137
downloads
Abstract
Nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, are a chronic source of water pollution that threaten aquatic ecosystems and water supply across North Carolina. The Research Triangle, located in the North Carolina’s Piedmont region, is particularly susceptible to nutrient pollution caused by rapid urbanization. Urban landscapes, dominated by impervious surfaces and stormwater drains, quickly transport nutrients into waterways during storm events. There, they overstimulate plant growth and deplete oxygen from the reservoirs, potentially leading to fish kills and the associated revenue losses from fishing and tourism industries, diminished property values, human health impacts, and increased mitigation and water treatment costs. Using the water system at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina as a case study, we explored the impacts of the urban environment on nitrogen concentrations and overall water quality at the museum. The goals for this study were to further the collective understanding of urban nutrient pollution and to educate museum guests about a water quality problem that impacts their own environment. To achieve these goals, we conducted a water quality monitoring program, a geospatial analysis, and a survey of museum guests. We sampled water at five locations on the museum’s property, including the main pond, an intermittent pond, two intermittent streams, and the Ellerbe Creek, during four storm events, including Hurricane Florence, from September to November 2018. Comparing these results to three baseline (dry) sampling events, we evaluated the impacts of storm events on nitrogen concentrations and other water quality indicators. Results of the water quality monitoring confirmed our hypothesis that nitrogen levels would be augmented by storm events and the pond would have lower concentrations of nitrates and ammonium due to a higher retention time. A geospatial analysis confirmed that the Ellerbe Creek watershed is highly urbanized (29.6%), indicating that the urban environment influences nutrient loading in this region. The survey of museum guests, designed to gauge knowledge of the water cycle and water quality and interest in a water-related exhibit, showed a high interest in an exhibit and a general awareness of water pollution, though a lack of formal education about water quality. We hope this research can guide future water quality monitoring initiatives and water quality educational activities at the museum.
Type
Master's project
Department
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Subject
water quality monitoring
stormwater nitrogen
nutrient pollution
urban watersheds
science education
nitrates
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/18423
Citation
Rowland, Kelsey; Powers, Ian; & Vazquez Da Silva, Lorena (2019). Water Quality Monitoring for Environmental Assessment and Science Education. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/18423.
Collections
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
More Info
Show full item record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Rights for Collection: Nicholas School of the Environment


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University