Week 2 - More Water Sampling!

Week 2! If you haven't seen week 1, check that post out here.

This week, I continued water sampling, and also began logging my data - analysis will happen later! The tests I used this week were a bit different than those I used last week. Due to supply issues, I had to switch to using tests from Amazon. These tests look at more parameters than the previous ones, so the sites that were tested with those ones will be tested a third time to have the same amount of comparison points across all sites, as I mentioned in last week's post.

The use of the new tests was very straightforward - fill a test tube, dip the test strip in, and compare to the chart on the bottle. Since the strips are only accurate for 60 seconds, I ended up taking pictures to log the data later, since that is hard in the field anyway. I continued the independent pH tests, and also used the 48-hour e.coli test that the new strips came with at all 8 sites.

At this point in time, all 8 sites have been tested twice. A few will be retested, for the reasons I mentioned or if there is a great discrepancy between the two tests. The towns with Superfund sites may also have an additional test site added if it seems that will benefit the project. Next week, on to GIS!