What are the differences in water quality between rural and urban environments?
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Greg Pope
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
Description
The comparison of freshwater water quality across urban and rural environments in New Jersey is crucial to be able to assess the health of the water body and which populations may be more vulnerable to contamination in their drinking water. Differences in land use, industrialization, and human activity contribute to varying levels of surface water pollution. This study will focus on analysis of various water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, and nitrate of four New Jersey rivers: the Passaic River, Raritan River, Musconetcong River, and Pequest River. Given New Jersey’s highly urbanized landscape, rural areas will be determined by lower population density and greater agricultural activity. Results are expected to show that rivers surrounded by abundant urban activity will have poorer water quality compared to rural areas related to runoff from traffic and residential waste. Poor water quality may be defined as having very high or very low pH levels, low dissolved oxygen, extreme variations in temperature, and elevated levels of phosphate and nitrate. Additionally, rural areas are often heavier in agricultural activity and so rural bodies of water may experience runoff from pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste resulting in high levels of phosphate and nitrate.
What are the differences in water quality between rural and urban environments?
The comparison of freshwater water quality across urban and rural environments in New Jersey is crucial to be able to assess the health of the water body and which populations may be more vulnerable to contamination in their drinking water. Differences in land use, industrialization, and human activity contribute to varying levels of surface water pollution. This study will focus on analysis of various water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, and nitrate of four New Jersey rivers: the Passaic River, Raritan River, Musconetcong River, and Pequest River. Given New Jersey’s highly urbanized landscape, rural areas will be determined by lower population density and greater agricultural activity. Results are expected to show that rivers surrounded by abundant urban activity will have poorer water quality compared to rural areas related to runoff from traffic and residential waste. Poor water quality may be defined as having very high or very low pH levels, low dissolved oxygen, extreme variations in temperature, and elevated levels of phosphate and nitrate. Additionally, rural areas are often heavier in agricultural activity and so rural bodies of water may experience runoff from pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste resulting in high levels of phosphate and nitrate.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.