Hands-On Water Quality Assessment For Everyone! By Dr. Birgit Hagedorn University of Alaska Anchorage & Edda Mutter University of Alaska Fairbanks By Dr. Birgit Hagedorn University of Alaska Anchorage & Edda Mutter University of Alaska Fairbanks

Water Quality  Different levels: –Drinking - Potable Water –None-Potable Water  Recreational Water Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –Drinking Water Standards  Different levels: –Drinking - Potable Water –None-Potable Water  Recreational Water Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –Drinking Water Standards

Water Monitoring  Seasonal Changes  Snowmelt  Droughts  Summer Rain Events  Freeze-up  Seasonal Changes  Snowmelt  Droughts  Summer Rain Events  Freeze-up

Water Sources  Surface Water –Stream –Lakes  Groundwater  Rain & Snowmelt Water  Surface Water –Stream –Lakes  Groundwater  Rain & Snowmelt Water

Water Characteristics  Physical, Chemical, and Biological –Natural and Anthropogenic  Physical, Chemical, and Biological –Natural and Anthropogenic

Physical Characteristics  Temperature –Chemical and biological Implication  Odor-Taste  Particulate and Sediment Load –Glacial & Sediment-Rich Water –Burn and Road Dust  Surface and Rainwater –Filtration  Temperature –Chemical and biological Implication  Odor-Taste  Particulate and Sediment Load –Glacial & Sediment-Rich Water –Burn and Road Dust  Surface and Rainwater –Filtration

Chemical Characteristics  pH  Salt Content  Oxygen Concentration  Alkalinity - Hardness –Within specific range for drinking water standard –Implication of other chemical and biological processes  pH  Salt Content  Oxygen Concentration  Alkalinity - Hardness –Within specific range for drinking water standard –Implication of other chemical and biological processes

Biological Characteristics  Biological Oxygen Demand  Microorganisms such as bacteria  Plants and Algae  Macroorganisms such as larvae, fish and clams  Biological Oxygen Demand  Microorganisms such as bacteria  Plants and Algae  Macroorganisms such as larvae, fish and clams

Contaminants  Natural Contaminants - Geology Metals  Anthropogenic –Mining –Solid Waste –Honey Bucket Waste  Natural Contaminants - Geology Metals  Anthropogenic –Mining –Solid Waste –Honey Bucket Waste

pH - Values  Tells you how acidic or basic water is  Range 0-14 pH –Acidic water < pH 7 –Basic water > pH 7  Natural water range of pH is 5-8 –pH 5.5 common for rainwater –~ pH 8 in limestone water –Drinking water range of pH is 6 to 8.5  Tells you how acidic or basic water is  Range 0-14 pH –Acidic water < pH 7 –Basic water > pH 7  Natural water range of pH is 5-8 –pH 5.5 common for rainwater –~ pH 8 in limestone water –Drinking water range of pH is 6 to 8.5

Alkalinity  Ability of a solution to neutralize acids  Measurements –Total Alkalinity (EPA regulated in terms of total dissolved solids 500 mg/L) –Phosphorus –Nitrate  Ability of a solution to neutralize acids  Measurements –Total Alkalinity (EPA regulated in terms of total dissolved solids 500 mg/L) –Phosphorus –Nitrate

Alaska (DEC) Water Quality Standards  Iron 0.3 mg/L  pH  Temperature < than 15 degrees Celsius  Total Dissolved Solids 500 mg/L  Chloride 250 mg/L  Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) > than 7 mg/L  Ammonia 30 mg/L  Copper 1.0 mg/L  Iron 0.3 mg/L  pH  Temperature < than 15 degrees Celsius  Total Dissolved Solids 500 mg/L  Chloride 250 mg/L  Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) > than 7 mg/L  Ammonia 30 mg/L  Copper 1.0 mg/L