water quality notes
Water Quality Indicators Notes
Using the presentation, fill in the chart for each water quality indicator.
| Name of Indicator | IndicatesWhat does the test tell us about the water? | Healthy IndicatorsWhat results would we expect to see if the water was good water quality? | Causes What causes the water to be poor water quality? | Impact If the water was not good quality for this indicator, what would happen? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acidity (pH). | If the water is more acidic (less than 7) or more basic (more than 7) | Living things can survive within specific ranges of pH (6.0 -7.5) | Contamination by industrial waste, agricultural and urban runoff, or drainage from mining operations | When the pH is outside of the healthy range, organisms can become ill or die |
| Turbidity. | The amount of dirt and microscopic organisms are floating in the water. The more murky (cloudy) the water, more turbid the water is. | Lower turbidity, clearer water | Turbid water results from soil erosion, urban runoff, and bottom sediment disturbances | If water is more turbid, then less sunlight can reach the plants. This results in less organisms that can live in the water. |
| Bacteria (fecal coliform). | If fecal coliform or other disease causing bacteria are in the water | No fecal coliform is present | Bacteria enter the water through runoff from farms or sewage discharge. | Swimming in or drinking from waters with high fecal coliform levels can increase a person’s risk of getting sick |
| Dissolved oxygen. | The amount of oxygen that is dissolved in the water. Dissolved oxygen increases with cooler temperatures and more turbulence (movement of water) | High levels of dissolved oxygen | Excess algae growth that dies and decomposes, using up the oxygen in the water | Low levels of dissolved oxygen makes it difficult for aquatic animals to live |
| Plant growth. | Thick plant growth in the water indicates the water contains large amounts nitrates and phosphates | Balanced ecosystem with natural amount of plant material | Excess runoff containing nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, farms, sewage and detergents | Light cannot reach deeper areas; creation of dead zones with low oxygen levels |
| Macroinvertebrates. | The level of pollution in the water | A wide variety of macroinvertebrate species (organisms including aquatic insects, crayfish, clams, snails, and worms), especially those that are intolerant to pollution, are found. | Pollution and sediment enters the stream | Poor water quality can affect the types and number of organisms that can live in the water |