NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: water quality, community based monitoring

Objective(s): To collect surface water samples of several connected lakes and analyze for temperature, salinity, pH, TSS, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) and coliforms.

Project Description: The objectives are to; 1) Collect surface water samples of several connected lakes, 2) Analyze the water samples for temperature, salinity, pH, TSS, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) and coliforms, 3) Interpret data and present information to the community Lakes will be accessed by walking or snow machine. Five sampling holes will be randomly chosen along a 500 m transect oriented from magnetic north. Sampling holes will be chosen using a randomized number spreadsheet at 20m intervals and marked by GPS on each lake for sampling. When the locations are chosen a four inch hand auger will be used to drill the sampling hole in the ice. A scoop will be used to remove the ice shavings and slush. When the ice shavings are removed an alcohol thermometer will be used to record the water temp 10 cm depth below the surface for each hole. After the temperature is recorded the water samples will be collected in 300ml bottles, colle... Show morecting 3 bottles per sampling hole. Each plastic sampling container bottle will be sealed with an aluminum lid and filled to approximately ¾ of the total volume to allow for expansion in case the sample freezes. The samples will then be stored in a Rubbermaid container for transportation until returned to the lab at the Aurora research Institute (ARI) for chemical analysis. Wet lab water analysis will consist of measuring pH, salinity, alkalinity, total suspended solids, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) using LaMotte water sampling test kits and the coliform presence will be tested for using the LaMotte Coliform Test kit. However, the dissolved oxygen will be sampled onsite using the LaMotte Dissolved Oxygen test kit. Industrial rubber gloves will be used during sampling to prevent contamination and to keep hands dry and warm. - Data will be graphed, interpreted and presented This work will provide will provide water quality information to the community. A technical report of the will be produced showing results and conclusions of the water sampling. This report will be presented orally to the Environment and Natural Resources Technology Program class at Aurora College and the community of Aklavik (upon invitation). The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 29, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Show less