Water Quality Monitoring for Environmental Assessment and Science Education
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 projectSubject
water quality monitoringstormwater nitrogen
nutrient pollution
urban watersheds
science education
nitrates
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/18423Citation
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
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