Trace Metal Analysis of Drinking Water in Chapel Hill
Undergraduate: William Larsen
Faculty Advisor: Xiaoming Liu
Department: Geology
On February 2nd, a water main break caused a severe shortage of potable drinking water in Orange County. While OWASA (Orange Water And Sewage Authority) worked to solve this problem, a sharp decrease in water pressure prompted Do-Not-Use and Do-Not-Drink orders which lasted until February 5th. While OWASA has published lab results within the allowable limits for fluoride, E. Coli, and pH, the decrease in pressure introduces a small possibility of trace metal contamination by backflow. In this study, drinking water samples taken from various locations around Chapel Hill before and after the water emergency are analyzed using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer). The results will allow us to observe any changes in the concentration of potentially toxic trace metals such as lead, chromium, and cadmium which may be attributed to contamination during the water emergency.