Chloride Monitoring in Natural Water Sources

Winona, Minnesota

Chloride contamination in natural water sources significantly affects aquatic biota by interrupting their habitual osmoregulatory function, causing these organisms to have a reproduction, growth, and survival deficit. Not only does chloride contamination harm aquatic entities but it can negatively impact human health as well by increasing the possibility of kidney and heart disease/failure. A safely consumable level of this chemical is 250 mg/L, any specimen measured above this value is considered to be in an impaired state. Water samples were taken from both the large and small sections of Lake Winona at 12 specific locations over several weeks. Once the specimens were collected they were analyzed using two methods, a chloride ion selective electrode and chloride sensitive test strips. Examination of these samples revealed that there is a significant chloride contamination problem during the spring in Lake Winona.