TYPES OF WATER TYPES OF WATER TESTINGTESTING

pH testingpH testing

• pHpH is a measure of the acidity or  is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water.alkalinity of water.

• pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. 7 is considered neutral. Pure water 7 is considered neutral. Pure water has a pH of 7. Measurements below 7 has a pH of 7. Measurements below 7 are are acidicacidic. Those above 7 are . Those above 7 are alkalinealkaline..

EC test (Electrical EC test (Electrical Conductivity)Conductivity)

• Electrical conductivity (EC)Electrical conductivity (EC) is a  is a measure of water's ability to conduct measure of water's ability to conduct an electrical current. Salty water an electrical current. Salty water conducts electricity more readily conducts electricity more readily than fresh water, so electrical than fresh water, so electrical conductivity is commonly used to conductivity is commonly used to measure salinity. measure salinity.

TemperatureTemperature

• Temperature is measured to find out Temperature is measured to find out how hot or cold a body of water is.how hot or cold a body of water is.

• Temperature is measured in degrees Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (°C). A normal thermometer Celsius (°C). A normal thermometer is used.is used.

TurbidityTurbidity

• TurbidityTurbidity refers to the amount of  refers to the amount of suspended and dissolved matter that suspended and dissolved matter that can give water a cloudy appearance. can give water a cloudy appearance. Suspended matter can be particles of Suspended matter can be particles of clay, silt, sand, clay, silt, sand, algaealgae or other  or other substances.substances.

• Turbidity is measured in NTUs (an Turbidity is measured in NTUs (an international unit of measurement)international unit of measurement)

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

• Dissolved oxygen (DO)Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the oxygen  is the oxygen that has dissolved into the water.that has dissolved into the water.

• Dissolved oxygen should not be Dissolved oxygen should not be confused with the oxygen atoms in confused with the oxygen atoms in water molecules (the O in H2O). DO water molecules (the O in H2O). DO is measured in percentage per is measured in percentage per million or parts per million (ppm).million or parts per million (ppm).

Laboratory TestingLaboratory Testing• Here are some basic information Here are some basic information

about six laboratory tests.about six laboratory tests.

1. Metals1. Metals• Testing for Testing for 

heavy metalsheavy metals, for , for example, mercury and example, mercury and lead. Heavy metals lead. Heavy metals accumulate in your accumulate in your body and cause health body and cause health problems. problems.

2. Pesticides2. Pesticides• Testing for Testing for

pesticides such as pesticides such as deildren (DDT). deildren (DDT). Pesticides in water Pesticides in water may affect plant may affect plant growth and fish growth and fish health. health.

3. Nutrients3. Nutrients• Testing for phosphorus Testing for phosphorus

and and nitrogennitrogen in high  in high levels. Nutrients are levels. Nutrients are usually related to usually related to agricultural activities agricultural activities upstream. The upstream. The presence of nutrients presence of nutrients is often a sign of the is often a sign of the growth ofgrowth ofalgalalgal blooms blooms. .

4. Hydrocarbons4. Hydrocarbons• Testing for hydrocarbons Testing for hydrocarbons

such as oil or grease. The such as oil or grease. The presence of hydrocarbons presence of hydrocarbons can be a result can be a result of surface runoff from of surface runoff from highways and roads. It can highways and roads. It can also indicate if the also indicate if the surrounding soil, or even surrounding soil, or even the groundwater, is the groundwater, is contaminated. contaminated.

5. Biological5. Biological• Testing for the presence of Testing for the presence of

certain organisms to give an certain organisms to give an indication of water health. indication of water health. These organisms are also These organisms are also known as biological indicators. known as biological indicators. If we find a known organism If we find a known organism that can only survive in a that can only survive in a certain pH or cannot tolerate certain pH or cannot tolerate certain levels of DO, then that certain levels of DO, then that tells us the water quality tells us the water quality without further testing. without further testing.

6. Bacteriological6. Bacteriological• Testing for bacteria. Bacteria Testing for bacteria. Bacteria

are extremely small and can are extremely small and can cause problems to human cause problems to human health - if they do, they are health - if they do, they are known as pathogens. The known as pathogens. The water is filtered and then the water is filtered and then the filter is incubated to allow filter is incubated to allow for colonisation and final for colonisation and final identification. identification.