Do You Know What You are Drinking?

Kelly Mannion

Background Information• Bacteria: dangerous

microbes found in the environment

• Lead: a metal found in natural deposits

• Pesticides: deadly chemicals used to kill harmful elements in crops.

• Nitrates and Nitrite: harmful pollutants resulting from animal or human wastes

coming in contact with water. • pH: the measure of acidity • Hardness: caused by

magnesium and calcium compounds

• Chlorine: a drinking water disinfectant

Question

What is the quality of ice in local convenient stores?

Hypothesis

There will be variances in the quality of ice in local convenient stores

depending on the results of the tests performed.

Variables • Independent: the source of the ice• Dependent: the water quality of the ice• Constants: the collection process, the container

the ice is stored in, the testing methodology, the time between collection and testing, and the temperature of the water when tested

• Control: the amount of water taken as samples, and the testing procedure

Procedure I • Collect ice from local convenient stores (label the cups

accordingly)• Allow all ice to melt completely • Bacteria test: fill bacteria test vial with water and shake

for 20 seconds. Let stand for 48 hours then observe the results.

• Lead/Pesticide test: place two dropper-fuls of the water sample into the test vial, swirl, and place both test strips into the test vial. Let stand for 10 minutes then observe.

• Nitrate/Nitrite test: immerse testing pads into the water sample for 2 seconds, then observe results after 1 minute

Procedure II• pH/Hardness/Chlorine test: immerse testing

pad into water sample and remove immediately. Hold the strip level for 15 seconds, then observe results.

• Repeat tests for all water samples.

Data I Water Sample Negative Positive

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Pesticide Test:

Water Sample Negative Positive

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Lead Test:

Data IIWater Sample Low Nitrite (0 ppm) 0.5 ppm

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Nitrate/Nitrite Test:

Water Sample Low Nitrite (0 ppm) 0.15 ppm

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Nitrite Test:

Data IIIWater Sample Normal Acidic

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

pH Test:

Water Sample 0 ppm 50 ppm

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Hardness Test:

Data IVWater Sample 0 ppm 2.0 ppm

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Chlorine Test:

Water Sample Negative Positive

WaWa X

Cumberland Farms X

McDonalds X

Panera Bread X

711 X

Bacteria Test:

Limitations• Possible cross contamination• Exposed to open air • Only one sample was tested from each ice

location

Conclusion • The ice collected from local convenient stores

is clean and free of harmful contaminants• All ice was at a healthy level for bacteria, lead,

pesticides, nitrates/nitrites, pH, harness, and chlorine

• The results rejected the hypothesis in the sense that there was no variation between the different ice sources. All ice sources were clean.

Works Cited• “Get Ahead of Lead! Get the Lead Out of Drinking Water.” Department of Health. New

York State, Jan. 2009. Web. 3 Dec. 2010. <http://www.health.state.ny.us/ publications/ 2508/>.

• Harrison, Steve. “Health Effects of Chlorine in Drinking Water.” Pure Earth Technologies Inc. Pure Earth Technologies, 2 Feb. 2000. Web. 3 Dec. 2010. <http://www.pure-earth.com/ chlorine.html>.

• Hart, Anna. “Science Fair Project on Testing Drinking Water.” Ezine Articles. N.p., 2 Mar. 2007. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.

• New York State Department of Health. “Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water Supplies.” Department of Health. New York State, Mar. 2005. Web. 3 Dec. 2010. <http://www.health.ny.gov/ environmental/ water/ drinking/ coliform_bacteria.htm>.

• Washington State Department of Health. “Nitrate in Drinking Water.” Division of Enviornmental Health Office of Drinking Water. Washington State Department of Health, 28 Sept. 2010. Web. 3 Dec. 2010. <http://www.doh.wa.gov/ ehp/ dw/ Programs/ nitrate.htm>.

• WaterSafe. “WaterSafe Science Project Kit.” N.d. HTML file.