Results: Since there is no Canadian Drinking Water Guideline for Ammonia you will compare results to the European Union limit. The standard should give a result very close to the 0.5 mg/L colour; if the colour is darker then it DOES NOT meet the guidelines.
To allow students to run tests on five different sources of water. Students are expected to collect three samples of water: Urban and Rural (includes Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities) treated waters, and a Raw Source Water.
1. One bottle contains 5 micrograms/L arsenic. Put 100 mL of water sample in the second plastic bottle with lid (not the flip top type). Water should be room temperature (20-25 degrees C).
Students enter their results for the tests: alkalinity, ammonia, colour, copper, pH, sulphate, total chlorine, and total hardness. Students compare their results to the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
Most countries, including Canada, have set an aesthetic rather than a health guideline for manganese. The reason for this is that levels above the guideline can stain porcelain and laundry, drinks such as coffee and tea can become cloudy and taste funny. High manganese levels can also cause diarrhea.
There are many negative health effects related to Nitrate, some of which include blood deficiencies, thyroid problems, decreased vitamin A, and cancer. It is, however, rare that nitrate levels are above the Canadian Water Quality Guideline for drinking water. Contaminated private wells are likely the most common place where high levels of nitrate are found.
Studies have shown that when total chlorine levels drop below recommendations, several water quality problems can occur. With regard to public health, bacteria and selected viruses, called bacteriophages, are able to multiply in water that is not properly disinfected and, depending on the species, could potentially cause waterborne illnesses
