Shelby Thomas U.R. - Suspended Solids Lab

In lab this week we learned a lot about testing different water samples for suspended solids. Each one of us went out and collected water samples from places of our choosing. I extracted my water sample from the Spruce Creek, which is located off of Williamson. My sample was taken from the west side of the first bridge right at the bank of the water. The water I sampled appeared to be brackish water. Once we brought the samples to the lab we tested for salinity, which my sample was zero. Also we filtered the water through a fine filter that would catch the suspended solids, recording how much water filtered through. We took the filter afterwards and baked it until all water was removed. Through weighing the filter first and filter after it has been baked is how we determined the weight of the suspended solids in the water sample. We also tested the turbidity of the water. Everyones data varied from the different samples, everyone was successful with testing for suspended solids.