May 22, 1998
Quantitative
Students and teachers traveled to Danville, VA and South Boston, VA on May 22, 1998. Water samples were taken at both sites and tested. The pH level at both areas was 8 and students found no traces of chlorine, chromium, copper, cyanide, sulfide, oil contamination or excessive amounts of sediment in the samples.
From the Danville samples, students' tests were positive for ammonia nitrogen, iron, nitrate
nitrogen, silica and phosphates. This was the largest amount of pollution found in all of the
testing sites (from the Headwaters to Gaston, VA).
From the South Boston samples, students found smaller traces of ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, phosphates, and silica. Students also noted that the water sample collected at South Boston was taken by a water treatment plant; therefore, they concluded that the level of pollution was less at the South Boston site than at the Danville site.
Qualitative
Water appearance at Danville was very muddy, milky, and brownish; the streambed was brown and there was no odor to the water. Weather conditions were clear and hot. Air temperature was 78F and water temperature was 68F. The water was moving slow.
Water appearance at South Boston was milky and brownish; the streambed was brown and there was a musky odor to the water. Water movement was slow.
Aquatic Life
In Danville, VA, students collected and identified whirligig beetles, water bugs, baby fish (fry), and a jumping spider, which can live in partially polluted waters.
Students concluded that the Dan River in Danville is partially polluted.
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