Water Quality: Ohio River vs' Cherokee Lake

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Water Quality Ohio River vs. Cherokee Lake

• By Jennifer Cox

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pH Level Acidic or Basic

• Measures Hydrogen ion concentration of solution
• 0-14 Scale 7neutral lessacidic morebasic
• Determines Intensity of acidic or alkaline
  materials within the water
• Causes -6.5elevated levels of toxic metals,
  metal pipe corrosion, metallic sour tasting
  water 8.5alkali taste, deposits on fixtures

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pH Level River or Lake?

• Typical pH levels of drinking water 6.5 to 8.5
• Ohio River 7.6
• Cherokee Lake 7.2
• Tap drinking water 8.2
• Conclusion Draw. River and lake both within
  acceptable and normal levels.

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Alkalinity Buffering capacity of water

• Function Ability to react with strong acids to a
  designated pH
• Made of combination of bicarbonate, carbonate,
  and hydroxyl ions
• Functions balance corrosive effects of acidity
  controls water wastewater treatment
• Causes 220ppmfixture scaling unpleasant
  taste excessive drying out of human skin

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Alkalinity advantage Cherokee Lake

• Normal levels in nature 20ppm-200ppm
• EPA suggests 80ppm or above for advantages to
  water
• Ohio River 240ppm
• Cherokee Lake 120ppm
• Higher level suggests sewage wastewater
  unpleasant taste
• Drinking water 120ppm

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Hardness Dissolved mineral content in water

• Consists mainly of calcium and magnesium calcium
  carbonate
• In practical terms waters capacity to
  precipitate soap out of solution
• Soft water (0-60ppm) poor nutrients lack of
  plant growth
• Moderate water (61-120ppm)
• Hard water (121-180ppm) abundant minerals
  nutrients substantial plant growth
• EPA standard none

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Hardness Pros vs. Cons

• Pros calcium magnesium source for dietary
  needs great effects on plant growth
• Cons possible kidney stones pipe scaling
  inhibition of soap and detergents build-up on
  equipment (i.e. boilers) plumbing corrosion
• Neutral food and beverage preparation varies
  with respect to product quality
• Ohio River 250ppm hard water
• Cherokee Lake 120ppmmoderate
• Drinking water 120ppmmoderate

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Chlorine Bacteria Eliminator

• Definition highly reactive gas element
  manufactured from the electrolysis of sodium
  chloride
• Used for treating drinking water, public waters,
  swimming pools control odor in wastewater key
  part of insecticides, plastics, solvents, and
  cleaning preparations killing disease-causing
  microorganisms

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Free and Total Chlorine

• Free chlorine most actively involved in
  disinfecting bacteria and water-borne diseases in
  public water systems
• Total chlorine sum of free chlorine and combined
  chlorine

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Chlorine conclusion

• Safe drinking water consumption 0.1 to 0.4ppm
• Greater than 0.5ppm suggests contamination from
  industrial sources and processes cacogenic
  effects negatively impacted aquatic life forms
  organic compound odor taste
• Free chlorine EPA suggestion 0.2ppm or less no
  recommendation for total chlorine
• Free chlorine 0ppm for river, lake drinking
• Total chlorine Ohio River drinking
  water0.5ppm Cherokee Lake0ppm

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The Final Take Ohio River vs. Cherokee Lake

• pH no advantage either way
• Alkalinity Cherokee Lake
• Hardness no distinct advantage for either
• Chlorine Ohio River
• My Preference Cherokee Lake. Closely mirrors
  those numbers of tap drinking water. Less exposed
  to the pollution and human contamination than the
  Ohio River.