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Our FIndings
In this section, we present our pictures, sketches and annotations that we collected and use these evidences to provide deeper insights of the water quality in Bishan Park.
In this collage of images that we took in the park, we notice that in the top image, the overall landscaep of Bishan Park is clean, but when we look closer, there is bound to be litter and Bishan Park is no exception. Thus, in the second image we found a red plastic bag thrown in the bottom of the river. We also found a cluster of litter in the third image just between a storm drain and the Kallang river, suggesting that the litter was washed away from the storm drain. Thus, we find that though Bishan Park is rather clean, traces of litter are still eminent.
From the picture above, we notice that we had discovered majority of litter near the storm drain. When examining the area, we had noticed that both sites had litter strewn storm drian near them. We could infer that indeed the litter in Bishan Park could be litter washed off and flooded out onto the river bank.
There was a construction site around 50 metres away from the river and it was at the top of the hill, with the river at the bottom. The concern would be that rain could wash the dust, pollution and particles into the river, polluting the river. Fortunately, we did not find much pollution near the site.
RESULTS
Here we present the crucial data revoloving around the quality of water in its different aspects: turbidity, pH level, temperature and oxygen level. From our results, we were able to determine the quality of water in the two sites: X and Y and were able to see if there was a contrast between the two and what had caused it. We used several tools and charts to determine if the water was healthy in the different aspects. We break them dow below:
Temperature - measured with a temperature strip
This temperature strip is simple and measures the
temperature of the surface touching its face in this case the water.
Acceptable range in Singapore: 29°C - 34°C
Turbidity - We measured turbidity by placing a secchi disk in the water and determining the clarity of water by comparing the turbidity chart and the observation of the water.
Acceptable range for consumption : less than 10 JTU
pH level - measured by mixing the water with a pH indicator liquid and compared to a chart to determine the pH level of the water.
Acceptable range for consumption: 6.5 - 8.5
Oxygen level - measured by adding a oxygen level indicator chemical to determine the oxygen level of the water. It is then compared to a chart and the level is determined
Acceptable range for aquatic life: 6ppm - 8ppm
Site X results:
Water Quality in Site X
Site Y results:
Water Qualtiy in Site Y
Evaluation of Results on water quality in the sites
From the results, we find that the water quality in the sites are very similiar in the aspects investigated, except for temperature, however, this is due to the recordings being taken at different times, site X, at 10am and site Y, at 11am.
GI Question 1
After doing water tests using the water testing kit and observing the results such as the oxygen level and the turbidity, we discovered that the water quality was quite good apart from some litter in the river and on the river bank. This applied for both sites as we had identical results on the water quality for both. In each individual aspect for water testing like pH level and turbidity, We also found that the results fall under the healthy range and we can see that generally, the water quality in the river is consistent and is of good quality and there are traces of living organisms like algae in the river, however,considering it is only results for two sources, the results are accurate only to a certain extent.
Recordings of water quality on site X and Y
GI Question 2
Although we had not physically seen any activites that affected the river directly, we found evidence of littering and pollution like the red plastic bag in the river and also the cluster of litter near the storm drains. We noticed that most of the litter was domestic waste most probably disposed by civillians and washed away by the storm drain. Though the government has put in place many preventions of littering like fines and national education through videos to raise awareness against littering, ther are still traces of such activities. We also found a construction site nearby on the top of the steep slope facing the river of site X. We could also infer that the pollutants, litter and other waster are a potential and direct hazard to the river.
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