Water Quality Chemical Testing

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Water Quality Chemical Testing
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Dissolved OxygenWhat is it?

• It is what aquatic life needs to breathe
• Sources of Dissolved Oxygen
• Atmosphere
• Waves
• Riffles
• Tumbling Water
• Algae
• Aquatic Plants

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What causes dissolved oxygen to change?

• The volume of the waterway
• The temperature of the water, as the water
  temperature rises the DO level decreases
• Organic Waste- anything that was once a part of a
  living plant or animal

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What effect does dissolved oxygen have on the
river?

• It is essential for a healthy river
• Lack of DO is a signal of severe pollution
• If DO level is low, little aquatic life will be
  present
• DO levels of 2 or lower will not support life
• Aquatic life will become stressed at 3 ppm (parts
  per measurement)
• DO level should be at least 5 to sustain aquatic
  life

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TurbidityWhat is it?

• It is the measure of the clarity of water or how
  cloudy the water is
• Turbidity reduces the amount of sunlight reaching
  the aquatic life

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What causes turbidity?

• Soil Erosion
• Waste Discharge
• Runoff
• Algae growth

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What effect does turbidity have on the River?

• High turbidity causes a rise in water temperature
• Aquatic life find it difficult to survive (When
  the temperature is up, the DO level goes down)
• The inability of sunlight to pass through the
  water results in photosynthesis slowing down
• Solids floating in the water clog fishs gills
• As solid settle on the bottom, the eggs, larvae,
  and aquatic insects are covered and smothered

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PhosphateWhat is it?

• It is a nutrient that is necessary for life.
• It is found naturally in water.

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What causes phosphorous?

• Organic-parts of living plants and animals, their
  byproducts, and their remains.
• Inorganic- ions attached to soil particles or
  laundry detergents.

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What effect do phosphates have on the river?

• When there is too much phosphorous
• Plants begin to grow rapidly, turns the water a
  cloudy pea green
• Abnormal plant growth causes the DO level to be
  significantly lower or even depleted.
• Rotten Egg smell from gases being released
  (hydrogen sulfide)

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pHWhat is it?

• According to the Carlsberg Foundation pH stands
  for "power of hydrogen
• It measures the acidity of water.
• The pH scale ranges from 0-14. The lower the
  number, the more acidic it is.
• We want our water to be between 6.5-8.5.
• Every unit represents 10 times greater or less
  the preceding number.

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What causes pH levels to change?

• pollutants in the stream
• types of rock the water passes over or through
• vegetation
• acid rain

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What effect does phosphates have on the river?

• The range of pH levels that will
• support specific life
• Bacteria 1-13
• Plants 6.5-12
• Snails, clams, mussels 7-9
• Bass, bluegill, crappie 6.6-8.5
• Largest number of animals 6.5-7.5
• Carp, suckers, catfish 6-9