Stream Side Science Test Kit and Equipment Specifications and Sources

We provide many of the supplies needed for the course. However, for your reference below are possible sources for the course equipment:

Ben Meadows Company
Hach Company
List of U.S. distributors of Lamotte products

Turbidity
The preferred instrument to measure turbidity is a secchi disk, a circular piece of material 20 cm in diameter divided into four quadrants alternately painted black and white. The disk is attached to a rope or cord and lowered into a water body until the black and white pattern is no longer visible. This depth is recorded and converted to standard units of turbidity. Secchi disks are available from Ben Meadows Company, Hach Company, and Lamotte.

While not preferred for use in this course, a turbidity tube (long, clear tube with a secchi pattern and drain tube at the bottom) could be substituted for a secchi disk.

Electrical Conductivity
Electrical conductivity is measured using a meter which displays either conductivity or concentration of dissolved solids in the sample. For the purposes of this class, the meter can be a pocket sized model with a range of approximately 0-20 dS/m or 0-13,000 ppm.

Two possible models are the Hanna Pocket Conductivity Tester DiST 4 available from Ben Meadows Company and the Oakton Waterproof Conductivity TestrTM available from Ben Meadows Company and Hach Company.

pH
pH meters provide a convenient and accurate way to measure pH of water bodies without producing chemical waste. Meters should have a range of at least 5-9 and must measure tenths of pH units. While pH meters are preferred, pH test kits are also acceptable. pH paper will not work.

Possible models of pH meters are the Hanna Waterproof pHep pH Tester, the Sharp pH Tester, or the Piccolo pH Tester, all available from Ben Meadows Company. All pH meters require a calibration solution in the pH 3-8 range.

Possible pH test kits include the Lamotte Wide Range (3-10.5) Individual pH Test Kit or the Hach Single Parameter wide range (pH 4-10 ) pH Color Disc Kit Model 17N.

 Nitrate
Nitrate must be measured using a chemical test kit that measures either nitrate in the 0-50 ppm range or nitrogen as nitrate in the 0-10 ppm range. Possible kits include the LaMotte Individual Water Test Kit which measures Nitrogen as Nitrate by zinc reduction in the 0-15 ppm range with 1-5 ppm resolution, the Hach® Single Parameter Nitrogen as Nitrate Color Disc Test Kit Model N1-14 (0-10 ppm), or the Hach Nitrate test Model N1-11 (0-50 ppm).

Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved oxygen tests should have a range of at least 0-14 ppm. A possible test to use is the Hach® Single Parameter Dissolved Oxygen Titration Test Kit, Model OX-2P, Drop Count, 100 Tests

Phosphate
Phosphate tests should have a range of 0-1 or 0-5 ppm. Possible tests to use include the Hach® Single Parameter Phosphate Color Disc Kit Model PO-19 containing 100 Tests or the Lamotte Individual Phosphate Test Kit containing 50 tests.

Other Equipment
Dip Nets
Both Ben Meadows Company and Lamotte sell a variety of dip nets and kick nets. These can also be constructed using window screen.