Author: jdr5713

Final Water Testing at Lake Ontelaunee!

jdr5713Berks Nature
Jacob Feist, Jake Maher, Kelsi Maher and Jack Runco testing the Water Quality at Lake Ontelaunee

 

Lake Ontelaunee, a 1082 acre Reservoir in Berks county Pennsylvania, was constructed in 1926 to extend and improve the water supply to the city of Reading. Today April 12th, Our group the Drip gang, decided to test our third and final water quality site here at Ontelaunee. We decided to test Lake Ontelaunee because of it’s importance to the Reading city area and it’s influence on the other water sources within the Deleware River Water shed. We gathered valuable data about the lake water such as Phosphorus and Nitrate Content, Conductivity, PH level Dissolved Oxygen and water temperature. The data that we collected here will be put into the GLOBE watershed analysis program which aims to help NASA better understand the quality of our nation’s watersheds, and we hope to use the data we collected to further support our research on groundwater pollution and it’s affects on local groundwater sources. 

Testing Water Quality at Blue Marsh Lake!

jdr5713Berks Nature
Our Test site on the Sedimentary Beaches at Blue Marsh Lake
Our Group Testing the water for PH, Salinity, Nitrate/Phosphate Levels, Dissolved Oxygen Content and Temperature

 

Ever wonder what is in your water! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Blue Marsh Lake, Located Northwest of the city of Reading PA, is a large reservoir that was built to provide power and provide drinking water source to local residents in Berks County. As part of our EACAP project, we must go out to local water sources and collect data on the qualities of our water, such as Salinity and Oxygen Level. Well, On March 22nd, The Drip Gang from PSU Berks did just that! We got our testing materials from our project organization, the wonderful Berks Nature, and our group went out to different test sites on the lake, one upstream, and one downstream to compare the differences of the water quality at each location. Our group decided on testing at Blue Marsh Lake because of it’s importance to the area, and how much animals like fish, birds, and deer depend on the lake as a natural habitat. Right Now we are analyzing our results and hope to use our data as support in our Research paper on the affects of runoff pollution in water sources.

Water Quality Testing and Training at Berks Nature

jdr5713Berks Nature
The Entrance to Berks Nature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Drip Gang Working Together to Test for important things like Phosphate and Nitrate levels in a Water Sample

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On February 22nd 2019 our team, the Drip Gang, attended our training at the Berks Nature facility, hosted by Education and Watershed Specialist, Michael J. Griffith. During our training we learned about the importance of testing the qualities of water, and we specifically learned about the techniques and tools used to test effectively and accurately for Water Temperature, PH levels, Nitrate, Ion and Phosphate levels in a water sample. After completing our training and setting up and learning to use our GLOBE ( Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment ) accounts, our group is now ready to visit and officially test local watersheds for valuable data that can be used to contribute to and improve the overall quality of water in Berks County and other local areas!