Hadley Reservoir Report
The Hadley Emergency drinking water supply is contained in two small manmade ponds situated on the down slope of the Holyoke Mountain range. The research done in this study examined the quality of the water for drinking purposes and a healthy eco-system. The ponds are oblong shaped with one input and one output of water for each. The upper pond is teaming with aquatic plant life including lily pads, tall grasses and thick bushes all congregating around the edges. The lower pond also contains an abundance of aquatic plants on the shallow shores of the water. Both ponds are fairly stagnant beyond the initial flow of water in and out of the ponds. At first look these ponds appear to be healthy thriving eco-systems. The Pollution and Our Environment class at
Hampshire College decided to take a closer look.
In August 2013, thirteen students took seven water samples from each of the two
Hadley drinking water reserves. The lower pond is about 100 meters across with thick vegetation around the ponds ridges. The upper pond is about 90 meters across with thick bushes and grasses surrounding the pond. Both ponds are located within a healthy wooded eco-system. Local hikers, bikers, nature enthusiasts and illegal swimmers frequent both ponds. Each one of the fourteen samples were taken from different locations along the banks of the ponds. The sample locations differed greatly depending on depth of water, vegetation, direct sunlight, stagnation of water and proximity to water input and output sources. Each pond was labeled “Upper” or “Lower” pond and each water sample was labeled 1-7 and identified by its pond. Each sample location was well documented and described of its surroundings. Students also took measurements of the pH, Oxygen Reduction Potential (ORP), Conductivity and temperature from each sample site. In order to take the pH sample, the students used a Yellow Spring Instrument (YSI) pH meter (Yellow Springs, OH). For Conductivity the students
Hampshire College decided to take a closer look.
In August 2013, thirteen students took seven water samples from each of the two
Hadley drinking water reserves. The lower pond is about 100 meters across with thick vegetation around the ponds ridges. The upper pond is about 90 meters across with thick bushes and grasses surrounding the pond. Both ponds are located within a healthy wooded eco-system. Local hikers, bikers, nature enthusiasts and illegal swimmers frequent both ponds. Each one of the fourteen samples were taken from different locations along the banks of the ponds. The sample locations differed greatly depending on depth of water, vegetation, direct sunlight, stagnation of water and proximity to water input and output sources. Each pond was labeled “Upper” or “Lower” pond and each water sample was labeled 1-7 and identified by its pond. Each sample location was well documented and described of its surroundings. Students also took measurements of the pH, Oxygen Reduction Potential (ORP), Conductivity and temperature from each sample site. In order to take the pH sample, the students used a Yellow Spring Instrument (YSI) pH meter (Yellow Springs, OH). For Conductivity the students