Hannah Vu-Bennett (UR) - IRP Proposal!

Proposal

For my independent research project, I hope to find evidence of harmful pollutants by testing nitrate, phosphate, salinity, and pH levels throughout Volusia County's aquifer. As you know, Florida's main source of drinking water comes from aquifers. We rely on the quality of groundwater for everyday use. This reliance of water makes the health of our aquifers a priority to care and look after. By taking well water samples throughout Volusia County, I hope to identify the quality of the source we consume our water from.

What is known?

Three major system of aquifers. 

Florida's system of aquifers is divided into three major systems, the surficial aquifer system, the intermediate aquifer system, and the Floridian aquifer system. The surficial aquifer system and the Floridian aquifer system is Volusia County’s main sources of groundwater. Florida aquifers consist of carbonate rock made up almost entirely of calcite or dolomite which has high porosity and is highly permeable.

An aquifer is a layer of sediment that transmits groundwater. This system of groundwater is also susceptible to harmful contaminates. Our aquifers are at a more vulnerable state due to the high porosity and permeability of Florida’s geology. Aquifers are typically assessed based on their vulnerability to contaminates before being open to public consumption. Water-resource decision makers conduct vulnerability assessments to assess a ground-water resources likelihood to contamination depending on intrinsic susceptibility as well as the locations and types of sources of naturally occurring and anthropogenic contamination, relative locations of wells, and the fate and transport of the contaminant(s).  Specifically to Volusia County, our groundwater’s health can be impacted by coastal urbanization, saltwater intrusion, over-pumping, leachate from a landfill, treatment plants, and agricultural/livestock production farms. Natural disaster events, for example Hurricane Irma, could have recently effected aquifers due to flooding and storm surges. I hope by gathering nitrate and phosphate level as well as salinity and pH levels from my water samples, I can determine if our aquifers have been humanly impacted or not.

Materials and Methods

Map of Volusia County. Each site a water sample 
was taken will be represented on this map.

The best way to reach our aquifers is through our faucets! I will be collecting water samples from my classmates who have well water in Volusia County. Private well water owners typically have their own filtration system and are responsible for the maintenance and quality of their water as oppose to residents with city water. Residents with city water is treated by the city at a water treatment facility. Those with well water will be contacted and given a water sampling bottle. Once he/she is given a water sampling bottle, take a sample from an outdoor hose (or if possible take water sample before water reaches your private filtration system). Once the water sampling bottle is returned, I will then be using my scientific tools to test the nitrate, phosphate, salinity, and pH levels. I will be creating a transect on a map of Volusia county from the sites each water sample was taken. My data will be interpreted through a bar graph.  I will have a total of 4 graphs for each of my data collected.

 

This is the DR/890 Hach Color-meter 
that I will be using to test
 the nitrate and phosphate levels.

This is the Hach HQ11d that 
I will be using to test the pH level.

This is a refractometer that I 
will be using to test the salinity.

                                                                      References

1. “Home Water Testing.” EPA, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-11/documents/2005_09_14_faq_fs_homewatertesting.pdf.

2. “Drinking Water Quality Reports.” Volusia County, www.volusia.org/services/public-works/water-resources-and-utilities/drinking-water-quality-reports.stml.

3. “National Primary Drinking Water Regulation.” EPA, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/npwdr_complete_table.pdf.

4. “National Water-Quality Assessment.” USGS NAWQA: Regional Assessments of Principal Aquifers, water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/praq/flordn/index.html.

5. “Florida Springs Institute” - Floridan Aquifer, floridaspringsinstitute.org/floridan-aquifer.