Using Excel for water quality analysis

Using Excel for water quality data:

1) First make sure that you have downloaded the water quality data in an Excel file so that you can manipulate the data.
2) Highlight the entire sheet by clicking on the upper left hand corner.
3) Go to “Data” menu then “sort” and choose the Mexico Sample # column or US sample area.
4) Separate the samples areas by inserting lines between them. Highlight the row just below the last row of one sample area, right click and go to insert. Ctrl “Y” will insert another row.
5) BEFORE you find the averages, you must look at the data and get MY approval to ignore any outliers.
6) Remove the approved outliers from the data set by clearing those cells.
7) To find averages, go to an empty cell below the measure, go to “Insert” menu and then “Insert function” select AVERAGE. This will place the function in that cell. You then need to highlight the cell that you want to take the average of. Once you have the first function inserted for that row, just right click that cell, copy it and paste all the way down the row.
8) Repeat step 5 for each of the sample areas.
9) Print out the data tables (US and Mexico) with all of your calculations and turn it in with your group’s analysis.
10) View the observed comments on each area to help you distinguish between the sites in the US. The Famosa Slough web site has a map with their official water testing sites. We stayed pretty close to those so you can use those pictures and descriptions to help you in your analysis.