Scientific Paper on Sope Creek

2011 Words9 Pages
Running Head: WATER QUALITY INDEX OF SOPE CREEK The Water Quality Index of Sope Creek, in Marietta Georgia Jacob Lanier and Clarence Jackson Abstract Sope Creek, in Marietta, Georgia, was a recent site of water quality tests. The tests were taken on October 20, 2011, in the section of Sope Creek behind Wheeler High School. After the initial tests were taken, the results were taken to the lab to be interpreted and analyzed. Some of the results came back with surprising results. It was found that fecal coliform and dissolved oxygen were rather unhealthy, comparatively speaking. The overall water quality index was 72.03, which was lower than expected. After researching, it was inferred that the tests came back low because the first half of the tests were taken in highly contaminated water. This is most likely what swayed the averages, causing the water quality index to be very low. Introduction Sope Creek is located in Marietta, GA, and is the test site of recent water quality index tests. It contains multiple rapids that are rated up to Class III. However, Sope Creek is rather shallow, with an average depth of only about two feet. (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011) Our test site was about the same, at a depth of one foot. The water quality index is made up of multiple tests that include the following: pH, Turbidity, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrates, Phosphates, Total Solids, Fecal Coliform Bacteria, and Biological Oxygen Demand. It brings all of this data together to form one rating on the health of the stream. (Abid, 2011) Then that number is put on a percentage scale, which is easy to interpret, even by the public. (Abid, 2011) pH is the first test that measures acidity. pH is the first test, and is important because it measures how acidic the water is, with the normal range around seven. It is affected by pollution and can then continue to affect

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