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Why Measure Water Quality?

Why Measure Water Quality?. To identify whether waters are meeting designated uses To identify specific pollutants and sources of pollution To determine trends To screen for impairment. Water Quality Parameters Discharge/Velocity Temperature pH Dissolved oxygen Turbidity

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Why Measure Water Quality?

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  1. Why Measure Water Quality? • To identify whether waters are meeting designated uses • To identify specific pollutants and sources of pollution • To determine trends • To screen for impairment

  2. Water Quality Parameters • Discharge/Velocity • Temperature • pH • Dissolved oxygen • Turbidity • Nutrients (N, P) • Total dissolved solids • Other pollutants bacteria, metals, organophosphates, etc.

  3. Discharge • Large rivers tend to be less affected by pollution discharges • Small streams have less capacity to dilute and degrade wastes

  4. Velocity • Determines the kinds of organisms that can live in the stream • Affects the amount of silt and sediment carried by the stream • Fast-moving streams generally have higher levels of dissolved oxygen

  5. DO: Dissolved Oxygen • Streams both produce and consume oxygen • Oxygen comes from the atmosphere and from plants • Running water, because of turbulence, contains greater concentrations of DO than still water • DO levels determine how many and what types of animals can survive

  6. Temperature • The rates of biological and chemical processes depend on temperature: • DO and pH levels • Rates of photosynthesis and metabolism • Aquatic organisms can only live within certain temperatures • Salmonids require temps below 18° C, up to 21° C; above 25° C is lethal

  7. pH • Largest variety of aquatic animals require pH 6.5-8.0 • Low pH can also allow toxic metals and compounds to become bioavailable • pH outside of optimal range stresses physiological systems and can reduce reproductive rates

  8. Until reality hits… DO meter is DOA! Faulty wiring in cable or sensor – unit has to go back to factory Discharge meter is checked out! for a full week? why? BUT 3rd pH meter (and 4th electrode)work! much gratitude to Lewis Harrison of the SF PUC

  9. Using Beckman pH metermodelФ810 with Thermo Orion 91-55 electrodes, with ATC on 4/29/04

  10. Water Quality Results • Temperature range 16.2 – 19.6° C • Temperatures are within optimal range for cold, freshwater salmonid habitat • pH range 8.13 – 8.3 • pH > 8 not optimal for most aquatic organisms • highest water quality upstream • lowest pH & temps

  11. Room for Error? • Different pH meters give different readings • more samples needed • Downstream readings taken an hour after upstream readings, ~ 2:30 PM on a sunny day, • other team members surveying in stream • did solar input have an effect? • did increased turbidity have an effect? • Again more samples needed

  12. References EPA. “Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual” (EPA 841-B-97-003). 1997. Hagar Environmental Science. “Steelhead Habitat Assessment For The San Pedro Creek Watershed.” 2002.

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