home

=**Passaic River Field Study**=



We are trying to find out if our portion of the passaic river is healthy or not based observations and tests performed on the water quality. Additional test will examine the surrounding area (ex: soil quality). This is part of the larger Passaic River watershed which flows throughout our community it is important for us to understand. Our understanding of a healthy river is that:
 * Purpose**
 * the river can support a variety of life
 * it can support a complete food chain
 * there is a low visible pollution level
 * a neutral pH level (7ish)
 * few point sources feeding into the river
 * there is a normative level of oxygen in the river
 * there are positive indicator species


 * Period 3 Hypothesis:** Is the Passaic River healthy?

Our general hypothesis for this project was generated by class concensus. We believe that the river is unhealthy to drink because of all of the point sources and litter we've observed over the past several years but that it is healthy enough to sustain some lifeforms. Overall our we believe that our tests will indicate that the river is unhealthy.


 * Period 6 Hypothesis:** Is the Passiac River healthy?

Our general hypothesis for this project was generated by class concensus. We believe that the tributary by our school that leads into the Passaic River is unhealthy due to observations we have made. The surroundings, such as houses, street sewers, and construction, should be affecting the river's well being in a negative way. For example, there could be pollutants coming in from these, and other, sources and entering the river. Therefore, we expect the water quality tests that we perform to indicate low levels of health across the board.

**Discussion of Tests**
The links below include a discussion of specific tests conducted as well as a specific hypothesis/prediction, procedure, data, and conclusion from each group that preformed that the test.

Temperature Test Point Sources Test