Laboratory for ENSC 160 Pollutant Movement through Air, Land and Water
This
lab will familiarize you with environmental sampling techniques for surface
water, ground water, soil and air. Emphasis will be placed on
quantitative analyses and quality control. Labs will also complement
topics being presented in lecture. Group projects will be a major portion
of the lab experience and will primarily be focused on understanding inputs and
outputs of nutrient/contaminants in the area of UVM's dairy farm. Other
projects will study such things as indoor air quality in UVM buildings and the
use of biochar for various applications.
By the end of the semester, you should have a better understanding of
environmental monitoring and analysis, especially concerning the movement of
pollutants within a small watershed.
Instructors:
Thursday AM: Don Ross, 260 Jeffords, 6-0138, dross@uvm.edu, office hours: 10:30-noon Monday and Wednesday
and by appointment.
Friday AM: Christine Peterson, cpeters7@uvm.edu
Friday PM: Bart Gengler, bgengler@uvm.edu
Grading:
The lab grade is 30%
of the overall grade for ENSC 160. Of this 30%, 20% will be allocated to
the project (effort, presentation and report) and 10% to lab reports. Three
lab reports will be due throughout the semester.
Due Dates for Lab Reports:
9/27-28 One report covering Weeks 2
and 3 (surface water)
10/25-26
One report covering Week 5 and a well drilling video (groundwater)
11/15-16 One report covering Week 9 (soil)
Project Dates:
Sept. 6-7 Groups formed and projects
chosen (provide list of 3 choices)
Sept. 20-21 Meet with consultants
Sept. 27-28 Submit sampling plan
October-November--sample, sample, sample
Nov. 8-9 Last day to submit samples
for analysis
Nov. 15-16 Meet with consultants
Nov. 29-30 Project presentations
Dec. 7 Project
reports due
Lab Schedule:
Date |
Topic |
Description |
|
8/30-31 Jeffords 118 |
Week 1 Introduction |
Description
of lab projects Preparation
for Lab 2 QA/QC /
spelling |
|
9/6-7 meet at site ( |
Week 2 Stream sampling,
mock contaminant spill |
Deadline
for choosing lab project. Potash
Brook: Measure flow and dispersion of a contaminant "spill". Demonstrate
sampling. Take
samples for Week 3. |
|
9/13-14 Jeffords 118 |
Week 3 Chemical and
biological analysis of stream samples |
Total
suspended solids (TSS) BOD,
fecal coliforms Soluble
Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) |
|
9/20-21 Various locations |
Week 4 Project
planning with consultants |
Arrange
a meeting with your consultant during this lab period if they are available.
Otherwise, arrange a meeting during the preceding or following week. |
|
9/28-29 Near Spear |
Week 5 Groundwater sampling |
Finalize
project sampling plan Methods--baler,
pump, etc. Sample wells Chain
of custody forms |
|
10/4-5 |
Week 6 Project |
Lab
dedicated to group projects |
|
10/11-12 Centennial Woods |
Week 7 Soil pits and
soil sampling |
Obtain
samples for soil extraction. Video of well drilling and installation, well boring log. |
|
10/18-19 Various locations |
Week 8 Project |
Lab dedicated to group projects |
|
10/25-26 Jeffords 118 |
Week 9 Soil extraction
and instrumental analysis |
EPA method 8080A, Extracts soils and controls Demonstrate ICP, IC, etc. |
|
11/1-2 |
Week 10 |
Lab
analysis and prep of samples. |
|
11/8-9 Downtown: Corner of Main and
Winooski |
Week 11 Air monitoring |
Demonstration
of air monitoring instrumentation. Last
possible date to submit samples to Don Ross for analysis (unless otherwise
arranged). |
|
11/15-16 various locations |
Week 12 Project |
Meet
with consultants to review compiled data. |
|
11/22-23 |
Week 13 THANKSGIVING |
|
|
11/29-30 Jeffords 118 |
Week 14 Group
project presentations |
Project
presentations Project
reports due 12/9. |