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Water Quality Tests

Water Quality Tests. What do they all mean?. Dissolved Oxygen - DO. Measure of how much oxygen is available Heavily influenced by temperature Cold water dissolves more than warm water 4mg/L or higher is needed to sustain life

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Water Quality Tests

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  1. Water Quality Tests What do they all mean?

  2. Dissolved Oxygen - DO • Measure of how much oxygen is available • Heavily influenced by temperature • Cold water dissolves more than warm water • 4mg/L or higher is needed to sustain life • Insect larvae and young fish need more DO than adults – important factor for replenishing biodiversity • Reduced by organic matter such pet and livestock waste

  3. DO Continued

  4. pH • Measures the [H30+] • Most natural waters have a pH between 6 – 8.5 • Photosynthesis increases pH • Cellular Respiration lowers pH • Natural rain has a pH of about 5.6 due to carbon dioxide making carbonic acid • Metals are more soluble in low pH • Important to monitor mine run-off (often has a pH of 2 or 3) • pH influences solubility of Ca, P, N, & other elements • Little to no wildlife can live below 4 or above 9 • Acid precipitation contributes to issues • Acid waterways can be somewhat remediated by adding lime (a base)

  5. pH Continued…

  6. pH Continued…

  7. Biological Oxygen Demand • Measures how much oxygen is needed by aerobic microorganisms • Indicator of the amount of organic waste • Sewage treatment effluent • Stormwater (pets and farmland) • Septic systems • Dead organisms • Industrial effluent • High BOD lowers DO

  8. Temperature • Varies due to climate and depth • Thermal pollution can lead to water being out of the tolerance range of native organisms • Testing for thermal pollution • 2 locations 1.6 km apart • Tested at the same time • Should be no more that 2 degrees Celsius apart

  9. Turbidity • Measure of suspended particles • Sand, silt, clay • algae • Plankton • Caused by • Urban run-off • Bottom dwelling fish (stir up water) • Algae growth • Soil erosion • Heavy storms • High water velocity leading to streambank erosion

  10. Turbidity continued… • Measure of suspended particles • Sand, silt, clay • algae • Plankton • High turbidity • Increased water temperature due to heat absorption by particles; leads to low DO • Decreased light penetration for photosynthesis • Particles clog fish gills, filter feeder siphons, smother fish eggs & benthic organisms

  11. Turbidity Cont….. • Measured with a turbidity meter or Secchi Disk – what is considered good turbidity depends on water depth, water velocity, and ecosystem type

  12. Fecal Coliform Bacteria • Bacteria normally found in intestinal tracts of animals (including humans) – Escherichia coli(E. coli) and several other types tested • Not toxic but indicates that other toxic bacteria and protozoans also found in animal intestinal tracts could be present • No swimming or eating of shellfish in high level waters • Can cause water to be smelly and murky

  13. Fecal Coliform Bacteria Cont…. • Caused by • Sewage treatment and wastewater run-off • Animal waste • Septic system issues • EPA Recommendations • body-contact recreation is fewer than 200 colonies/100 mL • fishing and boating, fewer than 1000 colonies/100 mL • domestic water supply, for treatment, fewer than 2000 colonies/100 mL • drinking water standard is less than 1 colony/ 100ml.

  14. Fecal Coliform Bacteria Cont….

  15. Nitrates • Caused by • Animal waste • Fertilizers • Human sewage • Can cause water eutriphication

  16. Nitrate Cont…. • Should be tested in Drinking Water Too • Methemoglobinemia = Blue Baby Syndrome • Reduces the ability for the RBC to carry oxygen • Linked to non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Stomach Cancers – still disputed by scientists • Levels in drink levels • Below 10 mg/L (some experts recommend below 1 mg/L for infants 3 months old or younger)

  17. Phosphorus • Caused by • Animal waste • Detergents • Fertilizers • Industrial Run-off • Too much causes eutrophication

  18. MacroinvertebrateTesing • Uses an index to identify water quality • What type • How many

  19. Other Water Quality Tests • Alkalinity • Chlorine • Iron • Copper • Iodine • Hardness • Heavy Metals

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