Water Quality Unit

Field Trip to Jamaica Pond

Introduction
Our field trip to Jamaica Pond is the most important activity in preparing you for conducting field water quality testing independently. In the course of the pre-trip activities, the trip itself, and the post-trip follow-up activities, you will have a chance to practice all the main skills you will use in conducting your final projects.

Goals for the Trip

Understand the importance of conducting a good site survey prior to testing for water quality, and be able to do it
Understand how to make predictions about water quality based on your site survey
Understand the proper field sampling and testing technique for each of the six water quality parameters
Understand how to explain your field testing results in light of your site survey and the background information that you have on the site

How to dress/ what to bring
This trip will take place rain or shine. Check the weather forecast and if there is any hint of possible rain, bring the best rain gear you can find. Make sure you have warm clothes with you – we will be out at the site for over 3 hours, and Jamaica Pond can get quite windy.
Expect to get wet and dirty, and do not let this hold you back from participating – wear older clothes for this. If you have rubber boots, bring them! Some of you will need to get your feet in the water.
Bring all the unit handouts / assignments with you

What we will do at Jamaica Pond
1. Upon arrival at Jamaica Pond, we will immediately split up into three large groups by class. Every group will have 1 or 2 chaperones / discussion leaders who will take the group to their “base” site. At the base, each group will split up further into groups of 4, choose sampling locations on the map, and spend 10-15 minutes reviewing the basics of a good site survey.

2. Every group of 4 heads to their sampling location. Verify your location on the map, and spend 20 minutes conducting a thorough survey of your site and its surroundings. Complete 2 copies of the site survey form. Give your group a name, and name your site. Include your names, group name, site number, and site name on the site survey form. Based on your survey, complete 2 copies of the prediction form and give brief explanations on why you have predicted these values for water quality.

3. Return to base. Turn in 1 copy of your site survey and your prediction form to the discussion leader and spend 15-20 minutes discussing what the groups found and how they thought these findings would affect water quality. The leaders will then discuss some of the specific sampling techniques with the groups and explain the testing “rotation” about to follow.

4. Collect the materials necessary for a pH paper test and measuring temperature, and head out to your site. Every group will need to conduct the following tests:
- pH paper
- pH MWRA color comparator
- Temperature
- Turbidity
- DO (CBL probe)
- You will also need to collect samples for the TH and FC tests to be conducted in lab the next day
Complete 2 copies of the data collection form. Do the pH paper and temperature tests while you are waiting for the other equipment. Take multiple readings as the data collection form indicates. Once a pH or a Turbidity kit is brought to you, immediately begin working on this test. Take 2 readings for each – it’s best if different group members do the 2 trials. Uncontaminated JP water may be returned to the pond; water with any chemicals added should be put in the disposal containers. Once finished with these tests, immediately send 1 or 2 people to deliver the materials to the next group.
The discussion leader will be coming around with the DO probes and supervising the DO test.

5. On hearing the discussion leader’s signal, head back to the base, return all equipment and chemical waste materials. Give the labeled FC and TH samples to the leaders. Hand in one copy of the data collection form to the leader. Return to the bus.