Do You Know What You
are Drinking?
Kelly Mannion
Background Information
• Bacteria: dangerous
water.
microbes found in the • pH: the measure of
environment
acidity
• Lead: a metal found in • Hardness: caused by
natural deposits
magnesium and
• Pesticides: deadly
calcium compounds
chemicals used to kill • Chlorine: a drinking
harmful elements in
water disinfectant
crops.
• Nitrates and Nitrite:
harmful pollutants
resulting from animal
or human wastes
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
Pesticide Test:
Water Sample
Negative
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
Positive
Lead Test:
Water Sample
Negative
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
Positive
Data II
Nitrate/Nitrite Test:
Water Sample
Low Nitrite (0 ppm)
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
0.5 ppm
Nitrite Test:
Water Sample
Low Nitrite (0 ppm)
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
0.15 ppm
Data III
pH Test:
Water Sample
Normal
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
Acidic
Hardness Test:
Water Sample
0 ppm
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
50 ppm
Data IV
Chlorine Test:
Water Sample
0 ppm
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
2.0 ppm
Bacteria Test:
Water Sample
Negative
WaWa
X
Cumberland Farms
X
McDonalds
X
Panera Bread
X
711
X
Positive
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
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“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.