TEMPERATURE DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) OXYGEN (DO) pH Nitrates TURBIDITY BIO- INDICATORS Water Quality Factors

Indicators Water is seen as “good quality” or “bad quality” based off of several criteria These criteria indicate the health of the water Includes turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrates, and bio-indicators

Definition: Turbidity Turbidity: measure of the degree to which water looses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates This is a river with high turbidity 

Levels: Turbidity Ideal level: 1 NTU (Nephelometric unit) High level: 5 NTU

Causes: Turbidity Causes of increased turbidity: Increased levels of phytoplankton sediment from erosion, re-suspended sediments from the bottom (stirred by bottom dwellers), waste discharge, algae growth, and urban runoff

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

TURBIDITY EFFECTS: Clogs fish gills Smothers eggs Makes water unlivable

Definition: pH pH: the acidity of the water (presence of hydrogen ion) 0  7 is acidic 7 is neutral 7  14 is basic

- Cola Silage leachate

Levels: pH Surface Freshwater: 6.0  9.0 Swamps: as low as 4.3 Salt Water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7

Causes: pH Causes of changes of pH: Natural conditions (especially in swamps), dumping of waste (batteries) and farm runoff (lime)

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

Definition: Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen: the oxygen dissolved in the water

Levels: Dissolved Oxygen Average level: 9.0 ppm (parts per million) Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse population of fish

Causes: Dissolved Oxygen Causes of changes in dissolved oxygen: turbulent actions (waves, rapids), water depth, and plant growth

DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) TO INCREASE DO: Much of DO comes from atmosphere Some of DO comes from photosynthesis TO DECREASE DO: Add pollution Add organic waste

Results: Dissolved Oxygen Results of changes in dissolved oxygen: When DO (Dissolved Oxygen) drops too low, fish die When DO is high, the water actually tastes better but can corrode water pipes

HOW RAW SEWAGE LOWERS DO RAW SEWAGE GOES INTO WATER: 1. Decomposers chow down 2. Decomposers take up oxygen 3. Decomposers reproduce, taking up more oxygen 4. No more oxygen for other animals 5. Nothing left but decomposer & sewage-filled water.

HEALTHY POND

RAW SEWAGE IS DUMPED

UNHEALTHY POND

Definition: Temperature Temperature: the measure of average kinetic energy

Levels: Temperature Low: cannot be tolerated below 32 degrees F High: only rough fish can tolerate temperatures above 97 degrees F

Causes: Temperature Causes of change in temperature: source of water, time of year, suspended sediment, depth of water, and shade from shoreline vegetation

Results: Temperature Results of changes in temperature: changes in temperature can make aquatic life susceptible to disease and at extreme levels can result in death

Stratification can cause dissolved oxygen and temperature to vary at different depths in the same pond. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature Epilimnion Thermocline Hypolimnion High temperature High dissolved oxygen Low dissolved oxygen Low temperature In general the minimum DO should be ≥ 60% of saturation or ≥ 5 ppm (mg/L)

Definition: Nitrates Nitrates: compound that contains the nitrogen based polyatomic ion NO3 (Ex: Sodium Nitrate)

NITROGEN Living organisms need nitrogen to make proteins Nitrates (NO 3 ) & Nitrites (NO 2 ) are compounds made of nitrogen & oxygen Some nitrogen in water is good The wrong amount is bad

Levels: Nitrates Drinking Water Max: 10 mg/L Fish: Below 90 mg/L seems to have no effect on warm water fish

Causes: Nitrates Causes of nitrates: Fertilizer runoff (both farm and home), manure pits, leaks in septic systems, animal waste, and rain trapping car exhaust

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

NITROGEN – EUTROPHICATION Q: How does Nitrogen reduce the amount of DO? A: Eutrophication Nitrogen feeds algae (green stuff) Algae grows & grows Algae blocks sunlight Underwater plants die Algae die and decompose The decomposition takes up oxygen No DO for organisms, so they die

NITROGEN OUR HAPPY POND IS NOW “DEAD”

EUTROPHICATION

NITRATES

Definition: Bio-indicators Bio-indicators: macroinvertibrates found living in water (they tend to remain in one place) that are sensitive to pollution

Levels: Bio-indicators High level of variety: healthy water source Small level of variety: poor water source (indicator of high levels of pollution)

Causes: Bio-indicators Causes of changes in bio- indicators: Pollution that results in changes in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, or nitrate levels

Results: Bio-indicators Results of few varieties of bio-indicators present: the lack of a large number of different varieties of bio- indicators is indicative of pollution

BIO-INDICATORS

Why macroinvertebrates as water quality indicators?  Important link in the food chain  Relatively sedentary  Great diversity of types  Short life cycles  Easy and inexpensive to collect and identify  Range of tolerance for pollutants Macroinvertebrates are good long-term indicators of changes in stream health and water quality!  Important link in the food chain  Relatively sedentary  Great diversity of types  Short life cycles  Easy and inexpensive to collect and identify  Range of tolerance for pollutants Macroinvertebrates are good long-term indicators of changes in stream health and water quality!

Coliform bacteria in surface waters Coliform bacteria:  Found in feces of warm-blooded animals  E.coli in water may indicate presence of more harmful human and animal health pathogens  Can compromise recreational activities  Measured in colonies per 100 ml

Salinity Salinity is the measure of all the salts dissolved in water. Salinity is usually measured in parts per thousand (ppt). The average ocean salinity is 35ppt and the average river water salinity is 0.5ppt or less. This means that in every kilogram (1000 grams) of seawater, 35 grams are salt. Although everyone knows that seawater is salty, few know that even small variations in ocean surface salinity (i.e., concentration of dissolved salts) can have dramatic effects on the water cycle and ocean circulation.

Salinity Evaporation of ocean water and formation of sea ice both increase the salinity of the ocean. However these "salinity raising" factors are continually counterbalanced by processes that decrease salinity such as the continuous input of fresh water from rivers, precipitation of rain and snow, and melting of ice.

Salinity Fresh water is less than 2 g/L Brackish water is 2 g/L to 34 g/L Sea water is more than 34 g/L NaCl

EPA The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is an agency of the United States federal government whose mission is to protect human and environmental health. an independent federal agency, created in 1970, that sets and enforces rules and standards that protect the environment and control pollution. Regina "Gina" McCarthy is currently administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Clean Water Act (CWA) The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Under the CWA, EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. We have also set water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. History of the CWA regulations/history-clean-water-acthttps:// regulations/history-clean-water-act

Upwelling Upwelling is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface. This graphic shows how displaced surface waters are replaced by cold, nutrient-rich water that “wells up” from below. Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away.

Upwelling Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity. Therefore, good fishing grounds typically are found where upwelling is common.

Upwelling Another consequence of upwelling involves its effect on animal movement. Most marine fish and invertebrates produce microscopic larvae as young which drift in the water as they develop. Therefore, upwelling can be a mixed blessing to coastal ecosystems. It can infuse coastal waters with critical nutrients that fuel dramatic productivity, but it can also rob coastal ecosystems of offspring required to replenish coastal populations.