Conclusions
The purpose of this science project was to evaluate the amount of suspended solids in 3 different rivers and how urban development affects the amount of suspended solids in each river. These suspended solids come form dust, solid particles, and sewage waste that travels through the air and through our sewage systems. Suspended solids are bad for river water because they can result in damage to fish gills, limit spawning habitat by smothering fish eggs. Suspended solids interfere with water treatment processes. It negatively impacts aquatic ecosystems.
For this project, we selected three streams on Vancouver's North Shore. We took a total of six water samples, one upstream and one downstream for each river. We measured the suspended solids in the water for each sample.
This experiment proved that our hypothesis was correct, because in all three rivers there were higher concentrations of suspended solids on the downstream side of the rivers than the upstream side before the urban developments.
Mosquito Creek had the biggest increase in concentrations of suspended solids (52.251 mg/L), followed by Brothers Creek (7.132 mg/L) and Capilano River (0.091 mg/L).
The science project showed that urban developments could impact water quality and the ecosystems on Vancouver's North Shore rivers.
We should always try and protect our rivers and streams in our communities.
For this project, we selected three streams on Vancouver's North Shore. We took a total of six water samples, one upstream and one downstream for each river. We measured the suspended solids in the water for each sample.
This experiment proved that our hypothesis was correct, because in all three rivers there were higher concentrations of suspended solids on the downstream side of the rivers than the upstream side before the urban developments.
Mosquito Creek had the biggest increase in concentrations of suspended solids (52.251 mg/L), followed by Brothers Creek (7.132 mg/L) and Capilano River (0.091 mg/L).
The science project showed that urban developments could impact water quality and the ecosystems on Vancouver's North Shore rivers.
We should always try and protect our rivers and streams in our communities.