Student Research Reports

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To determine if the hypothesis supported the data, the following design was implemented. Samples were collected from three urban rivers. These are the Ottawa River, the Rouge River, and the Huron River. These samples were tested for water quality parameters and the results recorded for study and analysis. Tests conducted were: dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH, nitrates, phosphates, copper, lead, turbidity and atmospheric data. All water samples were then filtered through four brands of filtration systems: Brita, Pur Basic, Pur Plus, and Zero Water. For each river, ten trials were run for each system tested. Each sample was tested for pH changes. The filtrated results were tested and compared with the original over a two-week period of daily application of water. The control group was watered with spring water while the rest received the polluted water and purified water. A total of 160 soil plots were tested. The hypothesis stated that pH is affected when polluted water is consistently used to hydrate soil, making it unusable for growth of plant materials BUT it can be reversed by applying filtration methods that can remove the soil toxins and return the pH to its original state. The data did partially support the hypothesis. Different protocols were affected by different systems. Brita apparently was the most effective in restoring and improving the impacted soil plots. Further research on a much larger scale is necessary to fully support this hypothesis but enough evidence exists that suggest it is a worthwhile study.