Phosporous parameter video transcript

While phosphorus is a natural and vital nutrient in our ecosystems, changes in land-use have radically altered the amounts of phosphorus being delivered to our waterways.

Phosphorus is found as phosphate in lawn and garden fertilisers and enters waterways through runoff. It also enters waterways by the sewage system as it is found in various household cleaners.

Eutrophication is the enrichment of nutrients which may lead to excessive plant growth and the choking of waterways.

To measure the levels of phosphorus in the water at Longneck Lagoon EEC you will use a test tube, a phosphorus test tablet, the colour comparison chart and the water sample bottle from your grey kit. You will need a sample of the water, use the sample bottle to collect this.

As this is a chemical test you are required to wear gloves and safety glasses. Ensure they are on before you remove any tablets from their foil.

Fill the test tube to the 10 ml mark at the top of the test tube with water from your sample bottle.

Remove the phosphorus tablet from its foil and place it in the test tube.

Replace the lid and shake the test tube until the tablet disintegrates. This takes about three to four minutes.

Wait six minutes then invert the test tube once more to mix the colour. Remove the lid and place the base of the test tube upright on the colour chart inside the dotted lines of the white square. Look down through the test tube and compare the water sample with the colours on the chart. The unit of measurement is parts per million.

Dispose of the chemicals in the chemical waste container and wash your test tube in the wash up bucket.

Return all of your equipment to the grey kit.