Lab Report on Kam Tin River Pollution

Table of Contents

Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Methods Used

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Reference

Introduction

1.1 Background

Sample collection of water is conducted in eight sites along the course of Kam Tin River. By taking the same amount of the sample of different sites at the same period, spatial variation can be shown. Water samples show differences and imply the different factors that may influence the water quality. During the collection of sample, the field observation also does in order to have better understanding of the changing of the water quality at different sites.

1.2 Purpose

The field trip aims to show the interrelation of water quality and human activities based on the pollutant and organism found in the water samples. Sample collection is to prove the actual spatial variation of water in different sites. The variation leads students to draw the implication based on their result finding and notice the environmental change, thereby understanding the relationship between environment and human.

1.3 Objectives

i. To measure the water quality of samples by the laboratory analysis and calculation
ii. To identify and show the differences of different water samples
iii. To understand to the spatial variation of water sample at different sites
iv. To show the environmental change induced by human activities by the water sample
v. To draw the implication of the water result by testing
vi. To show the relationship between human and environment

1.4 Methods Used

In this field trip, two plastic bottles are used to collect samples. One for measuring suspended solids (SS) and total nitrogen (TN); while the other measures the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Seven indicators that reflects water quality is measured, which includes water temperature, amount of dissolved oxygen, conductance, pH, suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand in 5 days (BOD5) and total nitrogen(TN) . We used an electrical thermometer for the water temperature, a portable dissolved oxygen meter for the amount of dissolved oxygen, a water conductivity meter for conductance, a pH meter for pH, gravimetric analysis for suspended solids and dilution method for BOD5.

Site description

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AC site contains lots of grass which growing near the river. Its surrounding is full of trees and the Shek Kong Barracks is nearby. The dominant substrate includes sand, gravel, cobble, boulder, bedrock. The dominant riparian vegetation is grass. We can see that the water appears to be very clear and assume that there is nearly no pollution. The use of land is for gardening or planting.

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As the site of WCYa, the channel of the river is very wide. It seems that the use of land is for domestic or garden use. There are lots of houses, and trees and grasses are near the river. The main substrate includes sand, gravel, cobble and boulders. The dominant riparian vegetation is grass. Because of these conditions, the water appearance is seemingly clear. There is no more pollution in this place.

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As for the upland site of WCYb, the dominant riparian vegetation is mixed and succession including wetland, grass covering the surface of the stream, fern shrub and trees. However, the water quality appears to be clear. As a result, it can be assumed that there is no source of pollution except acid rain because it is an upland site and the land usage is low. Therefore, the site is clean and not polluted.

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For the lowland site of Shell, the land cover has only wetland, grass and trees with many rattans. Since there are many car factories and garages near the stream, the land is used to discharge pollutants caused by the industrial waste materials such as petrol pollutants. Therefore, the water quality is moderately turbid. Another reason for the water’s turbid appearance may be because the lower-course location of the Shell site.

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For the site of KTN, the dominant use of land is drain. The main substrate is concrete. Outside the site includes trees. The appearance of water is very turbid. We can assume that there is some pollution. Also, there are lots of houses, factories as well as public projects for the highway, so that lots of polluted gases are released which cause the air pollution. On the surface of the water, some of the garbage is among the water.

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For the lowland site of KTM, the water appearance is clear since there are some spiral shells in the water which can be observed. It should have been a main stream of Kam Tin River but now left out due to the nullah construction to avoid flooding of the River. The land use is for decking and there are wetland, grass and trees surrounding the stream. The dominant substrate is just a few fines and sand. Due to the land usage of KTM is not high and it has been left out for ecological recovery, the water quality is still acceptably clean although it is a lowland site.

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