ORTHOPHOSPHATE

A measure of the amount of Phosphate actually available to organisms inhabiting the river. Phosphate is the most important factor in the cultural eutrophication of rivers and streams throughout the world.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING TEST KIT:

1. Fill one square mixing bottle to the 20 ml mark.

2. Add the contents of one PhosVer III phosphate reagent powder pillow and swirl to mix. Cap the bottle and shake hard to insure that the contents of the sample are mixed thoroughly.

3. Allow at least two minutes (but not more than ten minutes) for color development. The sample will turn blue if phosphate is present. Pour the sample into a test tube until it is completely full. Stopper the tube with a clear stopper, wipe it dry, and place it in the right opening in the color comparator.

4. Take a second tube and fill it full of river water. Stopper it with a clear stopper, wipe it dry, and place it in the left opening of the color comparator.

5. Hold the color comparator up to a bright light, and rotate the color wheel until the color of the wheel matches the color of the sample. Note the reading in the window at the bottom of the color comparator. Divide this number by 50 to get mg/l orthophosphate.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

Is your level higher than 1 mg/l, or much lower than this?

EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH PHOSPHORUS

• Promotes algal growth(blooms)
• You get lots of pond scum
• Anaerobic conditions can be created in the water (check your dissolved oxygen test)
• The river begins to smell
• Water and aquatic life quality decreases.
• River recreation use decreases.

WHY YOU HAVE TOO MUCH:

• Is the area rural?
• How do rural people dispose of sewage?
• Are there septic tanks in the area that can leak?
• How efficient is the sewage plant?
• Are there any chemical plants upstream?
• Has there been recent development and stripping of topsoil?
• Are people draining wetlands in the watershed?
• Is the area highly industrialized?
• Is the river slow-moving at this site?
• Has the area lost population recently?
• How much vegetation is present?

Is there a relationship between high phosphorous levels in the river and the problems present in Lake Erie?

*TRY TO PINPOINT WHY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, AND IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO.

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