Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Exhibit A
Laboratory Report on Mineral Analysis for Surface Water
Constituent
Unit
Value
(1)
pH
-
7.35
(2)
Total alkalinity (as CaCO
3
)
mg/l
52.14
(a) Carbonate alkalinity (as CaCO
3
)
”
2.02
(b) Bicarbonate alkalinity (as CaCO
3
)
”
50.12
(3)
Bicarbonate (HCO
3
)
”
82.24
(4)
Sulfate (SO
4
)
”
32.33
(5)
Chloride (Cl)
”
35.05
(6)
Nitrate (NO
3
)
”
17.14
(7)
Silica (SiO
2
)
”
8.01
(8)
Sodium (Na)
”
15.27
(9)
Potassium (K)
”
8.13
(10)
Calcium (Ca)
”
30.19
(11)
Magnesium (Mg)
”
20.52
(12)
Hardness (as CaCO
3
)
”
93.14
(13)
Silica (SiO
2
)
”
16.67
(14)
Iron (Fe)
”
8.03
(15)
Manganese (Mn)
”
7.14
(16)
Boron (B)
”
3.56
(17)
Turbidity
ppm
15.36
(18)
Suspended Solids
mg/l
40.25
(19)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
”
523.10
(20)
Electrical Conductivity
mm/cm
106.0
Exhibit B
Errors/Irregularities/Inadequacies in Report
Most of values shown in Exhibit A are not realistic in terms of significant
figures. Most of these analyses are reproducible only within a few
percent. Thus, to report the results to hundredths of a mg/l is actually
silly. A suitable presentation of these values is shown in the revised
tabulation, Exhibit C.
At pH of 7.35, no carbonate alkalinity is possible (to have carbonate
alkalinity, (pH must be 8.3 or more).
If the bicarbonate alkalinity is 82.24 mg/l, then its equivalent in me/l would
be 1.35 me/l or 67 mg/l as CaCO
3
.
In terms of me/l, the total major cations must be approximately equal to the
total major anions, which is not at all the case here. Hence, one or more
of the major anion and major cation determinations must be in error.
