Helping Farmers Test Water Quality [Video]

A Common Story from Sanjianyuan:

After facing the western winds for many hours, a rural farmer takes a short rest along the banks of the Yangtze River. He passes riverbanks like this one on a daily basis and so he can say with a degree of certainty that the water is changing – but he does not know the reasons why and he struggles to precisely explain how the water is different. Lacking tools and knowledge, the insight of this ‘local expert’ may be forever lost…

SANJIANGYUAN & BEIJING (July 7, 2016) – One of the key objectives of GEI Ecological Conservation and Community Development and Ecological Conservation Program in the Sanjiangyuan region is to teach local herders how to take care of their local environment. GEI officers are particularly keen to monitor the water resources as the Sanjiangyuan region houses the headwaters of China’s three critical rivers, the Yangtze, and Yellow and Mekong rivers.

GEI began distributing a water quality monitoring toolkit in 2014 to herders in Sanjiangyuan. Our research and experience have shown that involving the local people in environmental monitoring, like by having them conducting water quality tests, help them to not only learn about the environment but also have a greater sense of responsibility to care for the land.

GEI’s Dr. Kui Peng, Program Officer, brings the toolkit to Sanjiangyuan about twice a year for water quality toolkit trainings (see news stories here) and helps build up the local’s understanding of the precious environment in which they live. So far, over 30 herdsmen have already been trained on the toolkit and we’re eager to involve more people in the process. 

On-site/field training for monitoring water quality – GEI 2016

So to keep Dr. Peng’s lessons fresh for the herders, GEI has created a video version of his water monitoring toolkit class, “How to Test Water Quality”. In June 2016, the video was distributed to the herders and is now available online so that other organizations and institutes conducting water monitoring tests in a rural region can observe the GEI method.

Dr. Kui Peng demonstrates how to conduct 11 different water quality tests in the latest video from GEI – GEI 2016

*As the video was developed for the Sanjiangyuan herders with access to our specific toolkit, the video content has only been produced in Chinese. However, a translation of the tests and basic method has been included below. If you are interested in learning more, ample material about the test and toolkit is available in both Chinese and English from GEI; for this information please contact Dr. Peng kuipeng@geichina.org  or Kendall Bitonte kendall@geichina.org)

Learning how to Test Water Quality – Video Content Summary

00:15     Objectives of Water Monitoring

Dr. Peng describes the objectives and foundational skills for monitoring the water quality. He explains why it is important to regularly monitor and record the quality and situation of the riverbed. He also explains the benefits of keeping through note-taking and photography records as through these methods it will be possible to recognize problems and changes in the environment.

01:03    Proper Methods for Taking the Water Sample

Dr. Peng uses a simple illustration of a river system to explain where along the water flow one should gather water samples. He also explains that while the toolkit is equipped to conduct about a dozen different tests, some tests need not be done as often as others.

5:18      Open Area Water Testing Demonstration

After the proper water collection location has been selected, monitors should take precautions such as wearing gloves (also included in the toolkit) and be able to assess if the water they gathered is suitable for the tests.

6:43     Test 1: Water Temperature

Dr. Peng demonstrates how to use a special tool to conduct a simple water temperature test. He also explains the necessary frequency of conducting the test and recording the results.

7:58    Test 2, 3 & 4: TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), Sand & Transparency

Using the same tool that can measure temperature, Dr. Peng shows how herders can measure TDS and instructs them how often to test and record the results.

9:01    Test 5: pH

In order to measure the pH, herders must use a different tool and simply insert the measuring end into the water sample. After waiting for a short time the pH is calculated. Dr. Peng also used this opportunity to introduce the pH scale and how an acidic or basic water sample may indicate the existence of pollutants.

10:53    Test 6: Water Hardness

To test water hardness, Dr. Peng uses the specific paper, which after submerged in water, removed and set alone for one minute, will change color. Using the toolkit manual’s specific charts, Dr. Peng demonstrated how to hold the testing paper against a white background and compare the paper’s color to the official scales so to record the proper quantity.

11:56    Test 7: Ammonia and Nitrogen

 

The test for Ammonia and Nitrogen requires a slightly more complicated testing mechanism in which herders must use a special chemical regent. Dr. Peng demonstrates how to add the water to the pre-packaged chemical regent and conduct the test. The water will change color based on the level of ammonia and nitrogen, and the water’s color can be checked against the color scale in the water monitoring testing booklet.

13:25    Test 8: Sulfide Test

Measuring sulfide requires adding two regents, one solid and one liquid, to a single water sample and then cross-checking the water’s color against the booklet’s official charts. As Dr. Peng instructs, after adding the first regent, the sample is inverted; the second regent is then added to the first sample using a small syringe, after which the sample must be inverted one time.  Before the color can be confirmed, however, the water sample must sit for 5 minutes.

15:08    Test 9: Copper test

In order to test for Copper, the herders use yet a different chemical regent, stored in a small pouch. Unlike the sulfide test, however, there is no waiting time required. As Dr. Peng explains, the herders can check the color almost immediately after adding the regent.

16:08     Test 10: Zinc test

Testing zinc follows the same regent testing procedure but with the respective chemical. Before checking the color of the water sample, it is necessary to wait for one minute.

17:08     Test 11: Lead test

To test for led, it’s important to use a dropper to isolate a small quantity of the water sample into a small vile and the special measuring paper is submerged for just a few seconds. After waiting for 10 minutes, the color of the measuring paper can be checked with the booklet.