By Anekan Thyagarajan
Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School - Student Writer
Water is an essential resource utilized daily by individuals; however, its cleanliness advances examination. In Sanford, residents are reliant on city water, with some opting for water softeners, filtration systems, and advanced purification methods. I was curious about how clean the city water is. I was also inquisitive about which filtration method is appropriate. To address this query, I analyzed 16 water samples and are prepared to share my findings.
To begin with, significant financial resources are expended by individuals on water treatment systems such as softeners and filters. This study sought to ascertain the quality of city water without supplementary treatments, to identify the changes that occur upon application of various treatments, and to evaluate the necessity of softeners and filters. My analysis of the water samples collected from Sanford indicates that city water is, in general, safe for consumption without further treatment. Although water softeners and reverse osmosis (RO) systems can enhance water quality, they may not be essential for every household. The independent variable in my study was the type of water source or treatment applied (e.g., city water, softener, RO), while the dependent variables encompassed pH, hardness, alkalinity, and the presence of contaminants. The control group consisted of untreated city water.
Secondly, to execute this experiment, I collected 16 water samples in glass vials from residences in Sanford, labeling each sample according to its source: city water, softeners, or RO. I utilized microbial test kits to assess the presence of harmful bacteria. Water test strips were employed to measure various parameters, including pH, total hardness, alkalinity, carbonate levels, zinc, sodium chloride, free chlorine/bromine, iron, copper, lead, mercury, nitrate, nitrite, total chlorine, manganese, sulfate, and fluoride. The materials utilized included water test strips for the aforementioned parameters, clean glass vials for sample collection, and microbial testing kits for coliform bacteria detection. I documented the results in a notebook and subsequently compared the performance of municipal water against treated water to determine if the treatments significantly enhanced quality.
Lastly, for the water samples to be deemed satisfactory, pH levels should range from 6.8 to 8.4, hardness levels should remain between 0 to 25 ppm, and alkalinity should fall between 40 to 120 ppm. Furthermore, the presence of harmful metals, chemicals, or bacteria must be absent. My findings demonstrate that municipal water is not only safe but also suitable for consumption and household use. While water softeners effectively reduce hardness, their necessity varies by household. Reverse osmosis systems are noted for their efficacy in purifying water, although they may marginally decrease pH levels, which could necessitate the reinsertion of minerals to achieve optimal drinking quality. The majority of the water samples analyzed exhibited pH levels within the acceptable range of 6.8 to 8.4. The municipal water displayed moderate hardness at 100 ppm, substantially reduced to 25 ppm when softeners were utilized. Additionally, the alkalinity of municipal water was measured at 120 ppm, which is considered favorable for drinking. Importantly, the analysis revealed no traces of harmful metals or chemicals, nor the presence of harmful bacteria in any of the samples, whether treated or controlled, therefore the water is already good.
In conclusion, the municipal water supply in Sanford is determined to be both adequate and safe for drinking purposes. The city is to be commended for maintaining this standard. Should individuals desire softer water or improved taste, treatments such as softeners or filters may be beneficial but are not universally necessary. Expenditures on reverse osmosis systems may not yield significant benefits and could potentially be detrimental in certain situations. It is essential to recognize that this project was exploratory, and further comprehensive studies may substantiate these findings and yield enhanced recommendations for the residents of Sanford.
