Water may contain phosphate through contact with natural minerals such as apatite or through pollution from fertilizers, sewage, or industrial waste. Detergents or surfactants are synthetic chemicals compounds designed to emulsify dirt. The detection of surfactants is an indication of pollution. The test kit we will use only identifyies the presence or absence of hydrocarbons. This may include a variety of organic compounds.
Water is tested instead for a group of nonpathogenic bacteria, the coliform group.
Coliform bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are highly present in the humane intestine and are indicatores of fecal contamination. We are going to test each water sample for Phosphate, Calcium Hardness, Nitrate, Detergents, Dissolved Oxygen, and Hydrocarbons. Also, in some sample we will test for Coliform Bacteria.