1 Abstract

In this experiment, several water quality parameters of three water samples (A, B and C)
were examined.
Table 1: Parameters investigated in the different parts of experiment
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Total Solids (TS) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Turbidity Chloride
Total Volatile Solids (TVS) Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) Conductivity
Total Fixed Solids (TFS) Fixed Suspended Solids (FSS) pH
From the results obtained, it was deduced that A could be drain water, B could be pond water
while C could be wastewater.
2 Aims & Theories of Experiment
This experiment aims to deduce the possible sources of water samples A, B and C by
investigating the solid contents, chemical and physical properties, and the chloride content of
the three water samples.
2.1 Part 1: Solid Contents Parameters
In this part of the experiment, TS, TVS, TFS, TSS, VSS, FSS of the water samples were
determined using gravimetric analysis.
The following experimental procedure was carried out to determine the amount of TS, TVS
and TFS of the water samples.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram illustrating the procedure used to determine TS, TVS and TFS in the water samples.
W
1
represents the mass of the empty crucible while W
2
and W
3
represent the measured mass of solid residual.
The following experimental procedure was carried out to determine the amount of TSS, VSS
and FSS of the water samples.







Figure 2: Schematic diagram illustrating the procedure used to determine TSS, VSS and FSS. W
2
and W
3
represent
the measured mass of solid residual.
In the above procedures, a heating temperature higher than 100
o
C (e.g. 103
o
C) was used to
completely drive off the water content of the samples because the samples, which contained
impurities, would have boiling points higher than that of pure water i.e. 100
o
C. The samples
were further heated at 500
o
C to ensure all organics (volatile solids) present were combusted,
thereby allowing us to obtain total fixed solids.
103
o
C

30 min
1. Filtration

2. Dry at 103
o
C
for 1h
Total solids left after
evaporation to dryness
W
2

Total fixed solids left
W
3
500
o
C

20 min
Empty crucible
W
1
Suspended solids on
filter disk
W
2

500
o
C

20 min
Fixed suspended
solids on filter disk
W
3

25 mL of sample
Crucible containing 25
mL of sample
Filter apparatus with
glass fibre disk
2.2 Part 2: Chemical and Physical Parameters
This part of the experiment was carried out to study turbidity, conductivity and pH of the
three water samples. Turbidity, conductivity and pH measurements were made using a
turbidimeter, conductivity meter and pH meter.
2.3 Part 3: Determination of Chloride Content Using Mohr Method
To determine the concentration of Cl
-
present in the water samples, the water samples are
titrated against AgNO
3
(aq) with potassium chromate as the indicator.
AgNO
3(aq)
+ Cl
-
(aq)
AgCl
(s)
+ NO
3
-
(aq)
The above equation shows that 1 mole of AgNO
3
reacts with 1 mole of Cl
-
, hence the
number of moles of AgNO
3
is equivalent to number of moles of Cl
-
present in the water
sample.
3 Experimental Results
3.1 Part 1A: Determination of TS, TVS and TFS
From the equations
sample of Volume
W W
TS
1 2

,
sample of Volume
W W
TVS
3 2

,
sample of Volume
W W
TFS
1 3


where W
1
: mass of empty crucible
W
2
: mass of crucible with sample after evaporation to dryness at 103
o
C for 30 min
W
3
: mass of crucible with sample after heating in furnace at 500
o
C for 20 min,
the following table of values of TS, TVS and TFS is obtained:
Table 2: Tabulated values of TS, TVS and TFS of the water samples
Water
Sample
Volume of
sample / mL
W
1
/ g W
2
/ g W
3
/ g TS / mg L
-
1

TVS / mg L
-
1

TFS / mg L
-
1

A 25 36.3573 36.3604 36.3590 124.0 56.0 68.0
B 25 33.3934 33.3992 33.0052 232.0 80.0 152.0
C 25 35.9834 36.0052 36.0007 872.0 180.0 692.0
3.2 Part 1B: Determination of TSS, VSS, FSS and TDS
Table 3: Tabulated values of W
1
, W
2
and W
3
of the water samples



From the equations
TS = TSS + TDS,
sample of Volume
W W
TSS
1 2

,
sample of Volume
W W
VSS
3 2

,
sample of Volume
W W
FSS
1 3


where W
1
: mass of fibre disk and container
W
2
: mass of fibre disk, container and sample, after evaporation to dryness at 103
o
C
for 30 min
W
3
: mass of fibre disk, container and sample, after heating in furnace at 500
o
C for 20
minutes,
the following table of values of TSS, VSS and FSS and TDS is obtained.
Table 4: Tabulated values of TSS, VSS, FSS and TDS of the water samples
Sample Volume of <W
1
> / g <W
2
> / g <W
3
> / g TSS / mg VSS / FSS / TDS/
Water
sample Volume of sample / mL
Trial I Trial II
W
1
/ g W
2
/ g W
3
/ g W
1
/ g W
2
/ g W
3
/ g
A 500 29.7217 29.7232 29.7231 29.8404 29.8419 29.8418
B 300 30.6870 30.6936 30.6922 30.3675 30.3722 30.3708
C 50 31.2664 31.2715 31.2684 35.3824 35.3878 35.3846
sample / mL L
-1
mg L
-1
mg L
-1
mg L
-1

A 500 29.78105 29.78255 29.78245 3.00 0.20 2.80 121.0
B 300 30.52725 30.53290 30.53150 18.80 4.70 14.20 231.2
C 50 33.32440 33.32965 33.32650 105.00 63.00 42.00 767.0

3.3 Part 2: Chemical & Physical Parameters of the Water Samples
Table 5: Tabulated values of Turbidity, conductivity and pH of the water samples
Water sample Turbidity / NTU Conductivity / mS cm
-1
pH
A 1.29 1.352 7.39
B 3.41 2.085 8.23
C 16.7 6.711 5.59

3.4 Part 3: Determination of Chloride Content using Mohr Method
Standard solution used: N
NaCl
= 0.0141eq/L
A B C* Standard Blank

Titration
1

Titration
2

Titration
1

Titration
2
Titration
1
Titration
2
Titration
1
Titration
1
Initial burette
reading/cm
3
0.60 3.90 23.00 26.15 25.00 27.60 1.20 22.00
Final burette
reading/cm
3
3.90 7.20 26.15 29.25 27.60 30.10 22.00 23.00
Volume of
AgNO
3
used/cm
3
3.30 3.30 3.15 3.10 2.60 2.50 20.80 1.00
<Volume of
AgNO
3
used>/cm
3
M
1
=3.30 M
1
=3.13 M
1
=2.55 20.80 M
2
=1.00
*Sample C is diluted by a factor of 10.
N
AgNO3
=
mL) (in used AgNO of Volume
N mL) (in used NaCl of Volume
3
NaCl

=
mL 20.80
eqL 0.0141 mL 20
-1

= 0.013558 eq/L

Trace chloride content is found to be present in the blank sample (100 mL of deionised water).
Chloride content could have contaminated the bottle of deionised water from which the blank
sample was taken when the bottle of deionised water was used extensively to rinse the
experimental apparatus and to dilute the water samples to 100 mL. To determine the actual
[Cl
-
] of the water samples, this trace [Cl
-
] must be taken into account. Hence the equation
used to calculate the [Cl
-
] of each water sample is:
mL) (in sample of Volume
N 1000 45 . 35 ) M M (
factor dilution mg/L) (in ] Cl [
3
AgNO 2 1
-


Example: For water sample C,
[Cl
-
] = 10 mg/L 5 . 74
100
013558 . 0 1000 45 . 35 ) 00 . 1 55 . 2 (

Table 6: Tabulated values of [C
l-
] of the water samples
Water Sample A B C
[Cl
-
]/mgL
-1
11.1 10.2 74.5

4 Analysis and Discussion
Table 7: Measurements of various water quality parameters of the water samples
Water Sample Water sample with

A B C Highest value Lowest value
TS / mgL
-1
124.0 232.0 872.0 C A
TVS / mgL
-1
56.0 80.0 180.0 C A
TFS / mgL
-1
68.0 152.0 692.0 C A
TSS / mgL
-1
3.00 18.80 105.00 C A
TDS / mgL
-1
121.00 231.20 767.00 C A
VSS / mgL
-1
0.20 4.70 63.00 C A
FSS / mgL
-1
2.80 14.20 42.00 C A
Conductivity / mS cm
-1
1.352 2.085 6.711 C A
pH 7.39
(neutral)
8.23
(alkaline)
5.59
(acidic)
B C
Turbidity / NTU 1.29 3.41 16.70 C A
[Cl
-
] / mgL
-1
11.05 10.21 74.50 C B
Possible source Open drain Pond Sewage
Water sample A could be taken from an open drain in the residential areas because it the
lowest amount of TS (124.0 mg/L) and it is generally clear (turbidity of 1.29 NTU). The solids
present could be due to the soil and solid particles deposited by surface runoff. It also has a pH value
of 7.39 which is close to the pH of tap water (pH=7.6) [1]. The amount of chloride content in water
sample A is moderately low and it may have originated from some of the household chemicals e.g.
bleach.
Water sample B could be taken from a pond. The water sample is slightly alkaline (pH=8.23)
and this can be explained by the possibility of the pond being situated near an alkaline fertilizer source.
The water sample is generally clear (turbidity of 3.41 NTU) and algae and suspended silt particles can
account for the moderate TVS (80.0 mg/L) and TFS (152.0 mg/L) present in it. It has the lowest
chloride concentration (10.21 mg/L) which probably originated from chlorinated pesticides.
Water sample C could be wastewater because it contains a high amount of solids (TS = 872.0
mg/L) and is murky (high turbidity value of 16.70 NTU). Its pH level is moderately low (pH 5.59)
while its [Cl
-
] is high (74.50 mg/L) and this could be a result of acidic wastewater discharge from
homes (human excretion) or industries (muriatic acid).

From the results, it is observed that there is a direct relationship between turbidity and the gravimetric
results. Water sample A has the highest TSS (105.00 mg/L) and turbidity values (16.70 NTU) while
water sample C has the lowest TSS (3.00 mg/L) and turbidity values (1.29 NTU). A higher TSS value
corresponds to a higher turbidity because having more suspended solids in the sample would result in
more light being scattered in the turbidimeter. A higher NTU value will thus be reflected on the
turbidimeter.
It is also observed that conductivity and TFS share a direct relationship. Water sample A, which has
the highest TFS value, has the highest conductivity value while water sample C, which has the lowest
TFS value, has the lowest conductivity value. A high TFS value corresponds to larger conductivity
because TDS makes up a large portion of TFS (the dissolved solids in the water sample crystalise
instead of combust to become part of the TFS measured when the sample is heated). Since the
dissolution of solids may result in the formation of ions which help to carry electric current, a larger
TFS value will correspond to larger conductivity.
5 Precautions
The precautions that were taken to ensure the accuracy of results are as follows:
1) The experimental procedure for the measurement of TSS/ VSS/FSS/TDS was repeated twice and
the average results were taken to ensure more accurate results.
2) The burette was rinsed with AgNO
3
while the pipette was rinsed with the water sample to be
tested before the titration process. This was done to prevent dilution of the reagents.
3) The glass fibre disks were weighed one at a time because they absorb atmospheric moisture very
quickly and this would result in erroneous values of W
1
.
4) The samples in the sample tubes were well-mixed and the surface of the sample tubes and the
reference standard tube were wiped clean with lens tissue before they were placed into the
turbidimeter. This was done because residues on the surface of the tubes would add on to the
intensity of scattered light, resulting in higher NTU value.
5) For thick samples, it might be difficult to remove the air bubbles that form in the sample tubes
during the pipetting process. Hence, the pipettin process was carried out slowly and at an angle to
minimize the formation of air bubbles.
6) The pH probes were calibrated with standard buffer solutions before they were used to test the
water samples.
6 Possible Sources of Errors and Improvements
The possible sources of errors and improvements are as follows:
1) 30 minutes of drying at 103
o
C during the gravimetric analysis may not be sufficiently long to
completely dry the sample. This would cause the recorded TS value to be higher than the actual
TS value. This error could be avoided by extending the drying duration to 1h.
2) The percentage error in the results obtained would be large since the volume of sample used in
many parts of the experiment is a small value of 25 mL. This error can be minimized by raising
the volume of samples used, and repeating the experiment several times to obtain average results.
3) The fibre disk is still able to absorb moisture from the atmosphere and our fingers despite it being
weighed one at a time. This will result in higher W
1
values and lower-than-actual TSS values.
This error can be minimized by wearing gloves and conducting the weighing process in a
controlled environment with lower humidity (e.g. air-conditioned room).
4) Measuring the chloride content in the water samples using the Mohr method leaves out the
chlorine present in organic substances that do not dissociate within a short period of time.
Persistent substances such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) which may be present in the
water samples take a long time to degrade and form Cl
-
. This error can be overcome by
conducting in tandem tests that determine the presence of such persistent chlorinated substances.
7 Conclusion
This report has discussed the tests that can be conducted to assess selected water quality parameters.
Through these tests, it was possible to deduce the sources which the given water samples were taken
from. Water samples A, B and C is believed to be taken from an open drain, pond and sewage system
respectively.

8 References
[1] Public Utilities Board (PUB). (n.d.). Water Treatment.
http://www.pub.gov.sg/general/pages/watertreatment.aspx (accessed February 26, 2013)