Indicators of Water QualityIndicators of Water Quality

HackmannHackmann8th Grade Science8th Grade Science

HackmannHackmann8th Grade Science8th Grade Science

Turbidity:Turbidity:Measure of the degree Measure of the degree

to which water looses to which water looses its transparency due its transparency due to the presence of to the presence of suspended particles. suspended particles.

……in other words, how in other words, how clear or cloudy is the clear or cloudy is the water? water?

Measure of the degree Measure of the degree to which water looses to which water looses its transparency due its transparency due to the presence of to the presence of suspended particles. suspended particles.

……in other words, how in other words, how clear or cloudy is the clear or cloudy is the water? water?

Ideal turbidity level: 1 Ideal turbidity level: 1 NTUNTU

High level of turbidity: 5 High level of turbidity: 5 NTU and aboveNTU and above

A secchi disk is the tool A secchi disk is the tool that is used to that is used to determine the level of determine the level of turbidity.turbidity.

Ideal turbidity level: 1 Ideal turbidity level: 1 NTUNTU

High level of turbidity: 5 High level of turbidity: 5 NTU and aboveNTU and above

A secchi disk is the tool A secchi disk is the tool that is used to that is used to determine the level of determine the level of turbidity.turbidity.

Causes of increased turbidity:Causes of increased turbidity:

Increased levels of phytoplanktonIncreased levels of phytoplanktonSediment from erosionSediment from erosionRe-suspended sediments from the Re-suspended sediments from the

bottom (stirred up by organisms)bottom (stirred up by organisms)Waste dischargeWaste dischargeAlgae growthAlgae growthUrban runoff Urban runoff

Increased levels of phytoplanktonIncreased levels of phytoplanktonSediment from erosionSediment from erosionRe-suspended sediments from the Re-suspended sediments from the

bottom (stirred up by organisms)bottom (stirred up by organisms)Waste dischargeWaste dischargeAlgae growthAlgae growthUrban runoff Urban runoff

Results of high turbidity:Results of high turbidity:

High turbidity increases the absorption of High turbidity increases the absorption of sunlight thus making the water warmer. sunlight thus making the water warmer. Warmer water has lower levels of Warmer water has lower levels of dissolved oxygen causing fish and dissolved oxygen causing fish and larvae to die.larvae to die.

High turbidity increases the absorption of High turbidity increases the absorption of sunlight thus making the water warmer. sunlight thus making the water warmer. Warmer water has lower levels of Warmer water has lower levels of dissolved oxygen causing fish and dissolved oxygen causing fish and larvae to die.larvae to die.

pHpH

pH is the acidity of the water pH is the acidity of the water (presence of the hydrogen (presence of the hydrogen ion in the water)ion in the water)

0 -> 7 is acidic0 -> 7 is acidic7 is neutral7 is neutral7 -> 14 is basic7 -> 14 is basic

pH is the acidity of the water pH is the acidity of the water (presence of the hydrogen (presence of the hydrogen ion in the water)ion in the water)

0 -> 7 is acidic0 -> 7 is acidic7 is neutral7 is neutral7 -> 14 is basic7 -> 14 is basic

pH LevelspH Levels

Surface freshwater: 6.0 -> 9.0Surface freshwater: 6.0 -> 9.0Swamps: as low as 4.3Swamps: as low as 4.3Salt water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7Salt water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7

Surface freshwater: 6.0 -> 9.0Surface freshwater: 6.0 -> 9.0Swamps: as low as 4.3Swamps: as low as 4.3Salt water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7Salt water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7

Causes of changes in pH:Causes of changes in pH:

Natural conditions (especially in Natural conditions (especially in swamps)swamps)

Dumping of waste (such as batteries)Dumping of waste (such as batteries)Farm runoff (such as lime)Farm runoff (such as lime)

Natural conditions (especially in Natural conditions (especially in swamps)swamps)

Dumping of waste (such as batteries)Dumping of waste (such as batteries)Farm runoff (such as lime)Farm runoff (such as lime)

Results in changes in pH:Results in changes in pH:

A change in pH by 2 units results in a A change in pH by 2 units results in a water system having 100 times a water system having 100 times a difference in acidity. Most aquatic life difference in acidity. Most aquatic life cannot withstand water outside of the cannot withstand water outside of the optimum pH thus resulting in death.optimum pH thus resulting in death.

A change in pH by 2 units results in a A change in pH by 2 units results in a water system having 100 times a water system having 100 times a difference in acidity. Most aquatic life difference in acidity. Most aquatic life cannot withstand water outside of the cannot withstand water outside of the optimum pH thus resulting in death.optimum pH thus resulting in death.

Dissolved Oxygen:Dissolved Oxygen:

The oxygen dissolved in the waterThe oxygen dissolved in the waterThe oxygen dissolved in the waterThe oxygen dissolved in the water

Dissolved Oxygen LevelsDissolved Oxygen Levels

Average Level: 9.0 ppmAverage Level: 9.0 ppm

Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse population of fishpopulation of fish

Average Level: 9.0 ppmAverage Level: 9.0 ppm

Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse population of fishpopulation of fish

Causes of changes in dissolved oxygen:Causes of changes in dissolved oxygen:

Turbulent actions (waves, rapids)Turbulent actions (waves, rapids)Water depthWater depthPlant growthPlant growth

Turbulent actions (waves, rapids)Turbulent actions (waves, rapids)Water depthWater depthPlant growthPlant growth

Results of changes in dissolved oxygen: Results of changes in dissolved oxygen: When DO drops When DO drops

too low fish die. too low fish die. When DO is high, When DO is high, the water actually the water actually tastes better but tastes better but can corrode water can corrode water pipespipes

When DO drops When DO drops too low fish die. too low fish die. When DO is high, When DO is high, the water actually the water actually tastes better but tastes better but can corrode water can corrode water pipespipes

Temperature:Temperature:

Measure of Measure of average kinetic average kinetic energyenergy

Measure of Measure of average kinetic average kinetic energyenergy

Temperature Levels:Temperature Levels:

Low: cannot be tolerated below 32 Low: cannot be tolerated below 32 degrees Fdegrees F

High: only rough fish can tolerate High: only rough fish can tolerate temperatures above 97 degrees Ftemperatures above 97 degrees F

Low: cannot be tolerated below 32 Low: cannot be tolerated below 32 degrees Fdegrees F

High: only rough fish can tolerate High: only rough fish can tolerate temperatures above 97 degrees Ftemperatures above 97 degrees F

Causes of change in temperatureCauses of change in temperature

Source of waterSource of waterTime of yearTime of yearSuspended sedimentSuspended sedimentDepth of waterDepth of waterShade from shoreline vegetationShade from shoreline vegetation

Source of waterSource of waterTime of yearTime of yearSuspended sedimentSuspended sedimentDepth of waterDepth of waterShade from shoreline vegetationShade from shoreline vegetation

Results of changes in temperature:Results of changes in temperature:

Changes in temperature can make Changes in temperature can make aquatic life susceptible to disease and aquatic life susceptible to disease and at extreme levels can result in deathat extreme levels can result in death

Changes in temperature can make Changes in temperature can make aquatic life susceptible to disease and aquatic life susceptible to disease and at extreme levels can result in deathat extreme levels can result in death

NitratesNitrates

Compound that contains the nitrogen Compound that contains the nitrogen based polyatomic ion NObased polyatomic ion NO33

(Ex: Sodium Nitrate)(Ex: Sodium Nitrate)

Compound that contains the nitrogen Compound that contains the nitrogen based polyatomic ion NObased polyatomic ion NO33

(Ex: Sodium Nitrate)(Ex: Sodium Nitrate)

Nitrate LevelsNitrate Levels

Drinking Water Max: 10mg/LDrinking Water Max: 10mg/L

Fish: Below 90 mg/L seems to have no Fish: Below 90 mg/L seems to have no effect on warm water fisheffect on warm water fish

Drinking Water Max: 10mg/LDrinking Water Max: 10mg/L

Fish: Below 90 mg/L seems to have no Fish: Below 90 mg/L seems to have no effect on warm water fisheffect on warm water fish

Causes of Nitrates: Causes of Nitrates:

Fertilizer runoff Fertilizer runoff (both farm and (both farm and home)home)

Manure pitsManure pitsLeaks in septic Leaks in septic

systemssystemsAnimal wasteAnimal wasteRain trapping car Rain trapping car

exhaustexhaust

Fertilizer runoff Fertilizer runoff (both farm and (both farm and home)home)

Manure pitsManure pitsLeaks in septic Leaks in septic

systemssystemsAnimal wasteAnimal wasteRain trapping car Rain trapping car

exhaustexhaust

Results of presence of nitrates:Results of presence of nitrates:Nitrates can increase the plant production Nitrates can increase the plant production

and fish population resulting in and fish population resulting in overcrowding. If algae increases due to overcrowding. If algae increases due to nitrates, the DO levels can decrease, nitrates, the DO levels can decrease, killing fish. Nitrates are converted to killing fish. Nitrates are converted to nitrites in humans (can kill children).nitrites in humans (can kill children).

Nitrates can increase the plant production Nitrates can increase the plant production and fish population resulting in and fish population resulting in overcrowding. If algae increases due to overcrowding. If algae increases due to nitrates, the DO levels can decrease, nitrates, the DO levels can decrease, killing fish. Nitrates are converted to killing fish. Nitrates are converted to nitrites in humans (can kill children).nitrites in humans (can kill children).

Bio-indicatorsBio-indicators

Macroinvertibrates (small Macroinvertibrates (small spineless creatures spineless creatures visible to the naked eye) visible to the naked eye) found living in water that found living in water that are sensitive to pollution. are sensitive to pollution.

Examples: mullusks, Examples: mullusks, worms, small worms, small crustaceans, some crustaceans, some insectsinsects

Macroinvertibrates (small Macroinvertibrates (small spineless creatures spineless creatures visible to the naked eye) visible to the naked eye) found living in water that found living in water that are sensitive to pollution. are sensitive to pollution.

Examples: mullusks, Examples: mullusks, worms, small worms, small crustaceans, some crustaceans, some insectsinsects

High level of variety: High level of variety: healthy water sourcehealthy water source

Small level of variety: Small level of variety: poor water source (indicator of poor water source (indicator of

high levels of pollution)high levels of pollution)

High level of variety: High level of variety: healthy water sourcehealthy water source

Small level of variety: Small level of variety: poor water source (indicator of poor water source (indicator of

high levels of pollution)high levels of pollution)

Causes of changes in bio-indicatorsCauses of changes in bio-indicators

Pollution that results in changes in pHPollution that results in changes in pHTemperatureTemperatureDissolved oxygenDissolved oxygenNitrate levelsNitrate levels

Pollution that results in changes in pHPollution that results in changes in pHTemperatureTemperatureDissolved oxygenDissolved oxygenNitrate levelsNitrate levels

Results of few varieties of bio-indicatorsResults of few varieties of bio-indicators

The lack of a large The lack of a large number of different number of different varieties of bio-varieties of bio-indicators is indicators is indicative of indicative of pollutionpollution

The lack of a large The lack of a large number of different number of different varieties of bio-varieties of bio-indicators is indicators is indicative of indicative of pollutionpollution

Abiotic factorsAbiotic factors

Non-living components of the Non-living components of the environmentenvironment

Examples: turbidity, pH, temperature, Examples: turbidity, pH, temperature, nitrates, dissolved oxygennitrates, dissolved oxygen

Non-living components of the Non-living components of the environmentenvironment

Examples: turbidity, pH, temperature, Examples: turbidity, pH, temperature, nitrates, dissolved oxygennitrates, dissolved oxygen