Correlations between Water and Soil?
May, 28 2008
By: Zachary Nelson
Grade: 11
Instructed by: Mr.Matty
Objective:
To determine concentrations of Nitrates, Hardness, and iron of drinking (tap)
water and compare results to underlying soil types to see if a correlation exists.
Abstract:
The purpose of this project is to determine the concentrations of nitrates (NO3),
hardness(CaCO3), and iron of drinking (tap) water, and compare the results to underlying
soil types to identify a possible correlation. To date, thirty-nine water samples have been
collected. A majority of the water samples were collected from Marinette County. Some
were from outside of the county and other states. Water containing high and low nitrate
levels along with hard and soft water has been found from Marinette County. Results of
this work will help farmers and other people growing plants evaluate if the land they are
buying for that plant.
Background Information.
What is Hardness? (CaCO3)
Hard water usually has Calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) ions and or other minerals
dissolved in the water. Calcium usually enters the water as calcium carbonate, in the form
of limestone and chalk or calcium sulfate (CaSO4). Hard water is usually not harmful.
What is Nitrates? (NO3)
In inorganic chemistry, a nitrate is a salt (chemistry) of nitric acid with an ion composed of
one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms (NO3−). In organic chemistry the esters of nitric acid
and various alcohols are called nitrates. Nitrate from food, especially vegetables, is converted
in the human digestive tract to nitrite which reacts with amines to form carcinogenic
nitrosamines.
What is Iron?
Iron is believed to be the tenth most abundant element in the universe, and the fourth
most abundant in the Earth’s crust. The concentration of iron in the various layers in the
structure of the Earth ranges from high (probably greater than 80%, perhaps even a nearly
pure iron crystal) at the inner core, to only 5% in the outer crust. Iron is second in
abundance to aluminum among the metals and fourth in abundance in the crust. Iron is
the most abundant element by mass of our entire planet, making up 35% of the mass of
the Earth as a whole.
Iron is usually divided into 2 main categories. These categories are soluble and
insoluble. In soluble iron the most common is “clear water” iron. This is the most
common type complained about. If a glass of water is set on the counter for a few
minutes, you will be able to see reddish brown particles settling to the bottom of the
glass. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a secondary standard for iron of 0.3
mg/L.
What is soil?
Soil is natural occurring, loose material on the earths surface, and is able to support life.
Soil has three components which are; Solids, liquids, and gas. Soil particles pack loosely,
forming a soil structure filled with voids. The solid component of soil takes up about half
of the soil volume. The rest is water and gases.
Soil types
AREAS DOMINATED BY SOIL THAT FORMED IN GLACIAL TILL
1.) Emmet-charlevoix association: deep, nearly level to steep, well drained and
somewhat poorly drained, loamy soils on moraines and drumlins.
2.) Menominee-Emmet association: Deep, nearly level to steep, well drained, sandy
and loamy soils on outwash plains, moraines, and drumlins.
3.) Cunard-Emmet association: Moderately deep and deep, nearly level to steep, well
drained, loamy soils on moraines and drumlins.
4.) Sarona-Keweenaw association: Deep, nearly level to steep, well drained, loamy
and sandy soils on moraines.
AREAS DOMINATED BY SOOILS THAT FORMED IN GLACIAL OUTWASH
AND TILL
5.) Wainola-Deford association: deep, nearly level and gently sloping, somewhat
poorly drained to very poorly drained, sandy and mucky soils in glacial lake
basins.
6.) Mancelona-Emmet-Menahga association: Deep, nearly level to steep, well
drained to excessively drained, sandy and loamy soils primarily on end moraines.
7.) Menahga association: Deep, nearly level to steep, excessively drained, sandy soils
on moraines, outwash plains, and stream terraces.
8.) Pence-Padus association: deep, nearly level to very steep, well drained, loamy
soils on outwash plains, stream terraces, moraines, lames, and eskers.
9.) Ishpeming-Michigamme-rock outcrop association: Moderately deep, gently
sloping to moderately steep somewhat excessively drained and well drained,
sandy and loamy soils, and rock outcrop, on outwash plains and moraines.
AREAS DOMINATED BY ORGANIS SOILS
10.)
Seelyeville-Markey-Emmet association: deep, nearly level to steep, very
poorly drained and well drained, mucky and loamy soils in glacial lake basins, on
stream terraces, outwash plains, and moraines or on upland moraines and
drumlins
11.)
Seelyyeville-Markey association: Deep nearly level, very poorly drained,
mucky soils in glacial lake basins and on stream terraces, outwash plains and
moraines.
AREAS DOMINATED BY SOOILS THAT FORMED IN GLACIAL OUTWASH
AND TILL
Summary procedure:
Thirty-nine water samples were collected and tested for nitrates, hardness, and
iron. Data was taken and put into a data chart and bar graph. Results were compared to
underlying soil types.
Procedure:
1.) 20 fl oz water samples were taken from areas around Marinette County.
2.) A Piece of paper with number of water sample on it was tacked onto a Marinette
county soil map.
3.) Tests on the water samples were done for nitrate, iron and total hardness.
4.) Results were taken and put into Data chart and graph. Results were then compared
to underlying soil types.
Materials Used:
-WARDS Iron test kit catalog #21-9075
-Chemetrics Vacuettes kit nitrate k-6902A
-WARD’S Total hardness test kit catalog #21-9074
Data Chart and Graphs
Dashed lines indicate no water samples in those areas.
Soil type
water
sample
soil type 1
Nitrates
Hardness
12
10.00
220
38
0.00
120
5.00
280
total
Soil Type 2
n/s
Soil type 3
--
Soil type 5
10.00
210
21
6.00
200
8.00
310
n/s
--
25
--
180
0.15
180
7
2.50
130
11
10.00
250
24
10.00
180
28
3.00
200
29
0.25
140
32
0.00
110
33
0.00
100
36
3.00
250
Soil Type 7
9
0
0
0
0
0.75
164
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.50
130
0
0
39
total
0
0
0
0
0
0
--
0.15
total
Soil Type 6
--
13
total
soil Type 4
--
Iron
0
0
0
0
0
0
120
10
1.00
150
14
3.00
160
16
1.25
105
17
0.00
140
19
10.00
145
22
0.25
110
23
2.00
100
26
0.75
160
27
0.75
110
34
0.75
85
37
0.75
100
1.92
125
total
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Soil type 8
n/s
--
--
--
Soil type 9
n/s
--
--
--
Soil Type
10
20
total
Soil type
11
18
total
soil type
1
2
3
4
5
total
nitrates
9.00
210
9.00
210
0.02
160
0.02
160
total
hardness
5
--
280
--
8
--
310
--
0.15
180
total
iron
0
0
-0
0
-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0.75
164
7
8
9
1.92
125
---
---
10
9
210
11
0.02
160
0
0
0
0
--0
0
0
0
PPM
(Nitrates) PPM vs. Soil types
10
8
6
4
2
0
Series1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11
soil types
(Hardness) ppm vs. soil types
ppm
400
300
200
100
Series1
0
1 2
3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11
soil types
 Have not detected any Iron in water samples.
Soil Legend map
Different color areas are the different soil types
Water sample area with
pin and sample #.
Conclusion
In conclusion, from the data collected, the highest readings for nitrates were 10 PPM.
There were five samples that had that reading. For Iron their have been no readings.
Water Sample 11 had the Highest Total hardness witch was 250 PPM. After looking at
the soil types and the pins with the sample on it, most water samples have come from the
soil type’s Mancelona- Emmet association and Menahga association. Data recorded in the
project shows that more water samples will be needed to figure out if a correlation exists.
From the water samples collected there doesn’t seem to be a correlation between the soil
and the water because of how the sample readings aren’t all close together in ppm.
References/Sources and Acknowledgements
Mr. Matty- Project guidance.
People who brought in water samples
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/nitrate.htm#well%20test
http://www.gordonengland.co.uk/hardness/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water