Errors:
- How we collected the samples of water
- Time of day
- Temperature of the water
- D.O. bottle leaked; excessive air may have been introduced to our sample
- Nitrogen Analysis
- Questionable accuracy of the pipettes
- The Nitrogen tablets were partially crushed, prior to use
- Phosphate Analysis
- Questionable accuracy of the pipettes
- Used the wall clock, not a precision timer
- Accuracy of the Lab Quest meter
- Negative turbidity readings for the water sample from Herbert Run
- Questionable reading for the pH
Limitations:
- One sample was collected from each source
- Should have taken multiple samples
- Should have used different sources
- We conducted only one analysis for each category
- Each scientist should have conducted individual tests and compared the results
- Samples were collected by different people
- Uniform Collection
- Uniform Handling
Revisions:
- Collect more samples
- Different locations
- From a known tainted area vs. an unknown area
- Collect at the same time of day
- Run different tests
- Conductivity
- Fecal analysis
- Use accurate instruments/methods
- Stop watch
- Pipettes
- (Calibrated) Lab Quest meter
Future Experiments:
- Test other bodies of water
- Test an area of known contaminated water
- Test different areas within the Herbert Run watershed
- Test a different area immediately outside of the Herbert Run watershed
- Conduct analysis of non-chemical variables
- Flora & fauna
- Macro-invertebrates