MINI PROJECT
WATER QUALITY FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES
Aida Azmi, Aisya Rahmad, Hani Musfirah Mohd Dzahir, Elisha Addina Azman, Nur Izzati
Mohamad Misenan, Muhammad Ilham Md Ishak
ABSTRACT
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical and biological characteristics or components of
water. The condition of water can be measured relative to the requirements of many species
such as humans for its need or purpose. Different water samples for the analysis were collected
from river, lake, tap water and drain. These samples were tested for parameters like pH and
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). The values of each parameter gave interesting values.
These values were used to determine the water quality. Out of all samples, the water quality of
Bernam River is the least and not up to the standard as methylene blue solution decolorizes
completely and lower pH value is recorded.
INTRODUCTION
Water is vital natural resources known on earth to all living organisms, human health, food
production, ecological system and economic development. The safety of drinking water is still a
concern worldwide. Traditionally, the safety of clean water supplies has been controlled by
disinfection of the water normally by chlorination and coliform population estimates. However, it
has been shown that coliform-free potable water is not totally free of pathogens. Clean water is
very important for us as we use it in our daily life.
The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) determination is a chemical procedure for
determining the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic organisms in a water body to
break the organic materials present in the given water sample in a specific period of time. BOD
of water or polluted water is the amount of oxygen required for the biological decomposition of
dissolved organic matter to occur under standard condition. The higher the BOD, the lower the
level of dissolved oxygen in water samples. The water sample is said to have a high BOD value
or it is highly polluted.
pH is used to determine the intensity of the acidic or alkaline condition of a solution. When
the pH value is less than 7, it indicates acidity whereas when the pH value is greater than 7, it
indicates alkalinity. Water that has more free hydrogen ions is acidic, whereas water that has
more free hydroxyl ions is basic. Since pH can be affected by chemicals in the water, pH is an
important indicator of water that is changing chemically.
The aim of this project is to investigate the quality of our water from different water sources
such as river water from the Bernam River while pond, drain and tap water from our college
which is UiTM Dengkil. By using two methods, water quality is tested by investigating the pH
value of water using pH meter and determining the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of each
water sample using a methylene blue solution. The results obtained were recorded to find the
value of pH meter and the time taken for the methylene blue solution to decolourise. The higher
pH value indicates that the water sample is alkaline. The lower pH value indicates that the water
sample is acidic. Methylene blue solution is added into the base of each water sample in a
reagent bottle When the time taken for the methylene blue solution to decolourise increases, the
lesser Biological Oxygen Demand in the water. Therefore, the water quality is at a high rate.
OBJECTIVE
1. To test water quality by investigating the pH of water on different types of water samples.
2. To test water quality by investigating the BOD level on different water samples using
methylene blue solution.
HYPOTHESIS
1. Tap water is the least polluted out of all water samples.
2. River water is the most polluted out of all water samples.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Materials
Methylene blue solution (0.1%) , water samples (tap water, river water, pond water,drain water) ,
distilled water
Apparatus
Reagent bottles with stoppers , stopwatch , syringes , pH meter , beaker , magnetic stirrer
Method
Dependent variables:
1. The pH value of water sample
2. Time taken for the methylene blue solution to decolourise
Independent variables:
1. Water samples
Controlled variables:
1. Size of reagent bottle
2. The concentration of methylene blue solution
3. The volume of water samples
Procedure
1. Water samples are collected from different water sources such as the river from Sungai
Bernam while pond, tap water and drain water are from UiTM Dengkil. Each water
sample is filled into a labelled reagent bottle for part 1 and 2;
A: river water, B: pond water, C: tap water, D: drain water
2. Cover the reagent bottle with an aluminium foil or shield them away from the light
source.
Part 1 : Testing the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of water by using methylene blue solution.
1. A syringe is used to add 1ml of methylene blue solution to the base of each water
sample (A, B ,C and D).
2. The reagent bottles are closed quickly. The contents of the bottles cannot be shaken.
3. All the bottles are placed in a dark cupboard and the stopwatch is activated.
4. The bottles are examined from time to time,
5. The time taken for the methylene blue solution to decolourise is recorded for all water
samples
Part 2 : Testing the pH of water by using a pH meter.
1. Calibrate the pH meter according to instructions supplied by the Lab staff.
2. Pour sample into a clean beaker.
3. Rinse the probe thoroughly with distilled water to prevent any carry-over. Switch to pH
mode.
4. Immerse the probe in the sample.
5. Establish equilibrium between probe and sample by stirring to insure homogeneity.
Gently drop a stirring bar into the sample and place the beaker on a magnetic stirrer.
Start the magnetic stirrer and adjust the speed to give thorough but gentle mixing.
6. Read and record the pH.
7. Rinse the electrode thoroughly with distilled water.
8. When not in use, the electrode should be replaced in the beaker containing water
RESULTS
Table 1
OBSERVATION
REAGENT BOTTLE
Time taken for methylene blue pH
solution to decolourise for 60
minutes (min)
A 22 3.51
B 45 6.50
C 60 7.72
D 37 4.20
Figure 1: The time taken for methylene blue to decolourise in 60 minutes for each reagent
bottles
Figure 2: pH level for each reagent bottles
DISCUSSION
Based on our observation for both parts, time taken for methylene blue solution to
decolourise for reagent A is the shortest by 22 minutes while the pH value is the lowest at 3.51
which is the most acidic. This showed that water from the Bernam River is the most polluted
water among other water sources used. So, the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water
sample is low which results in high BOD level. This is due to the agriculture sector that
contributed the most to river pollution. In modern agriculture technology, they use fertilizers to
provide essential nutrients for plant growth. However, when it rains, the fertilizer which contains
phosphorus and nitrogen will run off to the river. The excess nitrogen and phosphorus will cause
an overgrowth of algae in a short period of time which called algae blooms. The algae bloom will
consume the dissolved oxygen and block the sunlight from penetrating into the water.
Secondly, for reagent B, the time taken for methylene blue to decolourise is longer than
reagent A by 45 minutes and the pH value is 6.50 which is less acidic than reagent A. The
presence of dissolved oxygen is higher than reagent A which also indicates a higher BOD level.
This is because the pond is polluted by the dumping of rubbish from the irresponsible people. In
reagent C, the colour of methylene blue decolourize in 60 minutes during the observation and
the pH value is 7.72 which is neutral. This showed that tap water is the least polluted. Therefore,
the presence of dissolved oxygen is the highest among the other water samples. This is
because the tap water has been filtered by the wastewater and sanitation company like Indah
Water before they distributed to the individual households. However, the tap water in UiTM
Dengkil is still slightly polluted but is still consumable. Research showed that filtered tap water is
still laced with 20 or 30 chemical contaminants that derive from a wealth of sources such as
agriculture, factory discharges, urban runoff and wastewater treatment plants.
For reagent D, the time taken for methylene blue solution to decolourise is longer than
reagent A at 37 minute while the pH value is 4.20 which is also less acidic than reagent A.
Hence, the presence of dissolved oxygen is higher which also results in higher BOD level
compared to reagent A. The water becomes polluted due to domestic waste which is generated
by the community of UiTM Dengkil . Hence, sewage is the type of wastewater which is produced
by the community that comes from their sinks, showers and toilets. For example, the detergent
in soaps that has been used will reduce the oxygen level in the water.
CONCLUSION
At the end of this experiment , we can conclude that the BOD test and pH value of water
are the useful ways that can be used to determine the water quality. River water took the lowest
time for methylene blue solution to decolourise and the ph value is the lowest which means it is
the most polluted water sample in this experiment. Meanwhile, the methylene blue in the tap
water sample does not decolourise in 60 minutes and the pH value is in the range between 6.5
to 8.5. So, tap water is a good water quality in this experiment. Based on the experiment’s
result, the hypothesis is accepted.
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