Ammonium Levels in Creek Water

Katie Bosveld, Sara Noordam, and Lydia Vermeer

Abstract
In this study, creek water was tested for the presence of ammonium ions during
the autumn season. Several samples of water were collected from Tiffany Creek, a
narrow stream that runs through the property of Hamilton District Christian High School
in Ancaster, Ontario. It flows from Tiffany Falls, a waterfall located close to Wilson Street
- also in Ancaster. The samples were tested with an ammonium-specific electrode
containing a membrane which only allows NH 4+ ions to pass through. At a shallow site
along the creek, ammonium levels ranged from 0.29mg/L to 1.57mg/L. At a deeper,
marshy site along the creek, levels ranged from 0.37mg/L to 0.44mg/L. Because levels
above 0.5mg/L are dangerous to aquatic life, the marshy site supports more organisms,
and the shallow site is nearly empty of life.

Background
The presence of ammonium ions is
an important indicator of water quality for
both human and aquatic life. When
ammonia (NH3) enters water, it
neutralizes to form NH4+ and OH- ions. The
chemical reaction is as follows:
NH3(g) + H2O(l) NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq)
This is an equilibrium reaction,
meaning that both the reactants and the
products exist simultaneously in water.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the
determined ammonium levels
approximately equal the levels of
ammonia in the creek as well. Ammonium
is relatively harmless in water very high
levels are needed in order to pose a
danger. However, ammonia in levels as
low as 0.06mg/L can be harmful to
organisms in creeks and other bodies of
water. For humans, high levels of
ammonia in drinking water are toxic, and
trace amounts can interfere with the
ability of chlorine to disinfect drinking
water.
This study was intended only to
determine ammonium levels in Tiffany
Creek. If ammonium levels are
determined to be high through this study
or any like it, further investigation can be

conducted to discover the causes. Then,

steps can be taken to prevent the levels
from rising any higher, thereby improving
the water quality of the creek.

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to
determine the ammonium levels at
different locations along Tiffany Creek
during the month of October 2013.

Method
A total of three sample sets of
creek water were collected and tested
with the Vernier Ammonium-Ion Selective
Electrode, using a computer with Logger
Pro 3.6.0 Software.
Samples were collected from two
sites along the creek. The first location
was a shallow area near a man-made
bridge across the west side of the creek;
the second was a marshy area along
Glancaster Road, on the east side of the
creek. The water was stored in shallow
plastic containers with lids to be
transported indoors to be tested.
The Ion Selective Electrode (ISE)
required calibration before the samples
could be tested. To calibrate, the probe
must be soaked in both highconcentration and low-concentration

ammonium solutions as per the

manufacturers instructions.
After calibration, tests were
performed. The probe was submerged in
the first sample up to the small white
reference points on either side. Collect
was clicked on the Logger Pro Software,

and the probe was held immersed in the

sample for 60 seconds. The software
records one result per second. After 60
seconds, stop was clicked. The average
result was obtained by clicking Stats
and recorded. This procedure was
repeated with the second sample

Results
Data:
Bridge Area

Wetland Area

Day 1

1.57 mg/L

0.44 mg/L

Day 2

0.64 mg/L

0.44 mg/L

Day 3

0.29 mg/L

0.37 mg/L

Weather Conditions:
Day

Condition at time of collection

Condition 24 hours prior to collection

Overcast, 12C

Intermittent rain, overcast, foggy, 15C

Mix of sunny and overcast, 12C

Overcast, 10C

Sunny, 8C

Sunny, 5C

Conclusion/Discussion
During this study, there was a spill of the high concentration solution needed to
calibrate the ISE, and the electrode also malfunctioned in early November. Because
there are only three sets of results, any conclusions drawn from these results must be
considered as fairly unreliable and subject to change. However, speculation on the
causes and implications of these results is still valuable.
There are several possible causes for the higher than average ammonium levels
in Tiffany Creek. The creek is extensive, running through both urban and rural areas.
Rural areas in particular pose a threat in terms of ammonia runoff. NH3 is a major
ingredient in many fertilizers. Runoff from fertilized fields could wash ammonia into the
creek (which then neutralizes to form ammonium ions, as mentioned previously). In
addition, the creek is surrounded by a lot of plant life, and decaying plant matter is a
source of ammonia as well. The results stayed fairly steady throughout, save for the
bridge sample on Day 1. A possible cause of the spike is the rain from the previous 24
hours causing more runoff to flow into the creek. The bridge area is more open to the
grassy field close to the creek; allowing for more runoff, while the marshy area is
surrounded by plant growth.
The ammonium levels in Tiffany Creek are high enough to cause concern. When
levels are above 0.6mg/L, as they were at the bridge area on Days 1 and 2, even
strong, ammonia-resistant fish such as carp begin to die. Weaker organisms start to die
far sooner. Very little aquatic life was observed at either site along the creek.
For humans, the ammonia levels in Tiffany Creek are not high enough to be toxic.
However, any levels above 0.2mg/L interfere with the ability of chlorine to disinfect
water, causing up to 68% of the chlorine to react and become unavailable.
In conclusion, the ammonium levels in Tiffany Creek water samples are above
average. This, along with other contributing factors, may explain the absence of
aquatic life in the creek.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Mr. Hordyk for teaching us how to use the Ion Selective
Electrode, as well as Mrs. Oppertshauser for all her help along the way, including
making new high concentration ammonium solution for us.

Works Cited
Ammonia in Drinking Water. (n.d.).Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. Retrieved
January 17, 2014, from http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/
Important Water Quality Factors. (n.d.).H2O U. Retrieved January 17, 2014, from
http://www.h2ou.com/h2wtrqual.htm