Conservation of Local Waterbody Ecosystems

Our waterbodies, either natural or human-made, play an important role in maintaining ecological
balance. They provide biodiversity that strengthens the ecosystem’s functions like water circulation and
exchange, soil fertilisation, nutrient recycling, pollination, soil erosion and many more with necessary
raw materials and support. The WWF article, ‘Water crisis threatens $58 trillion in economic value, food
security and sustainability’ dated October 16, 2023, states that shockingly, two-thirds of the world's
largest rivers are no longer free-flowing, while wetlands continue to be lost three times as fast as
forests.

Many of the water resources that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have
become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. All these
changes trace their origins to climate change. It is time all of us become aware of our role in society to
safeguard this change and begin campaigning for Climate Action.

This project can be conducted over a period of time where we test the physical and chemical
parameters of our local waterbody, study the biodiversity around it, the impact of climate change and
its implications on life in our community. We will analyse our recordings over the time period and create
a plan of action to safeguard the local ecosystem.

Of the physical characteristics, we will test the temperature of the waterbody and its salinity.

Temperature of water

The temperature of ocean surface can vary in temperature from a warm 30°C (86°F) in the tropics to a
very cold -2°C (28.4°F) near the poles. In warm freshwater streams, the temperatures should not exceed
31.67°C (89.006°F). Cold freshwater water streams should not exceed 68° F.

Salinity of water

Salinity is the measure of the ‘saltiness’ of seawater, or more precisely the amount of dissolved salt in
seawater. Salinity is usually expressed in parts per thousand (ppt) or ‰. Freshwater has a salinity of 0.5
ppt or less. The average salinity of ocean water is 35 ppt. A hydrometer is used to measure it.

Nitrate level in water

Drinking water with concentrations of nitrate (measured as nitrate-nitrogen) below 10 milligrams of

nitrate per litre of water (mg/L) is considered safe for everyone.

pH level of water

Ocean water is normally slightly basic, with a surface water pH of about 8.2, but that has declined in
recent years to about 8.1; whereas pH of freshwater like rivers and lakes generally ranges between 5
(acidic) and 9 (basic) on the pH scale.
 Project Work
Task: To test the physical and chemical parameters of a local body

Goal: To find the temperature, salinity, nitrate concentration and pH level of the chosen waterbody and
to study the biodiversity around the local waterbody and how it impacts the lifestyle of the local
community

Skills involved: Problem-solving, synthesising and analysing, observation, planning, following scientific
methods

Materials required: Water sample, digital temperature probe, nitrate test strips or colour disk kits,
hydrometer, salinity deduction chart

Science behind: Ocean water and freshwater have specific physical and chemical parameters, and they
play major roles in maintaining ecological balance

Safety notes: Adult supervision is required during the testing. Make sure that data is recorded with
care.

RESEARCH
1. Find out the ideal range of temperature, salinity, nitrate level and pH level of ocean
water or freshwater.
2. Research the Nitrate Electrode Method.
3. Prepare a list of biodiversity present around your local waterbody.

SCHEME FOR DOING: (Skills used: Brainstorming)

Ideate: List the materials you would need for Sketch: Draw a rough sketch of the
the activity. experimental set-up of Nitrate Electrode
Method.

Credit: williv
Creative #:182477990
PROJECT EXTENSION: (Skills used: Iterating)
Plan: Create a group of 5. Four of you can measure one parameter each and one of you can study about the
biodiversity present around the waterbody.

Procedure to measure temperature and salinity:

1. Collect a water sample from the nearby waterbody (for example, river, lake, pond, sea or ocean).
2. Measure the temperature of the sample collected, immediately, with the help of a temperature probe. (If
the waterbody is static like a pond or a lake, then hold the probe directly in the static water.)
3. Leave the thermometer in the water sample for three minutes.
4. Read the temperature without removing the bulb of the thermometer from the water.
5. Let the thermometer stay in the water sample for one more minute.
6. Read the temperature again. If the temperature has not changed, go to Step 7. If the temperature has
changed since the last reading, repeat Step 3 until the temperature stays the same.
7. Record the temperature on a data sheet.
8. Now release a hydrometer in the same sample. Wait till it stabilises and record the specific gravity of the
water sample.
9. Using the specific gravity chart deduce the salinity of the water sample collected.
10. Repeat the experiment twice again and record the average temperature of three readings taken for three
samples and specific gravity.

Procedure to measure pH level and nitrate level (Nitrate Electrode Method) of a waterbody:

Measuring pH of waterbody using pH-meter:

1. Rinse the sample cup thrice before taking the final sample for the measurement. If possible and safe to do
so, you can also dip the pH-meter right into the waterbody.
2. Dip the meter into the water and wait for the number on the screen to stabilise before recording the
number.
3. After the measurement, be sure to rinse the probe with distilled water before the next measurement or
before putting it away.
4. The average of three sample recordings is a preferable final reading.

Nitrate Electrode Method:

A nitrate electrode (used with a meter) is similar in function to a dissolved oxygen meter. It consists of a probe with
a sensor that measures nitrate activity in the water; this activity affects the electric potential of a solution in the
probe. This change is then transmitted to the meter, which converts the electric signal to a scale that gives the
reading in millivolts. The millivolts are then converted to mg/L of nitrate by plotting them from a standard curve (see
above).
Test

Observation table:

Sample Temperature of Specific gravity of Salinity of water pH level of Nitrate

taken water water water concentration
[Record in water
day and
date]
Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Average

Biodiversity present around the waterbody:

Date Plant life Animal life

Conclude and Act

Draw your conclusions based on your observations and recordings across the four months. It should address the
fields mentioned below:

1. Salinity
2. Temperature
3. Nitrate level
4. pH level of water
5. Presence of biodiversity
6. Impact of climate change

Design a plan of action to safeguard the local waterbody and ecosystem. It should include:

1. Strategies to maintain physical and chemical characteristics of waterbody at ideal conditions.

2. Strategies to reduce the impact of climate change and safeguard the biodiversity around the waterbody.
3. Ways to safeguard the physical, social and cultural environment of the local community.