Chemical Water Testing
Temperature Remember water-temperature and oxygen relationship: High temperature= Low DO Low temperature= High DO Causes: industry (power plants) AKA thermal pollution
pH Scale from 0 to 14 0 is acidic 14 is basic 7 is neutral (ideal for most streams) Limestone bedrock tends to neutralize a lot of acid in our area
Total Dissolved Solids AKA “TDS” Includes mineral, organic matter, and nutrients Regulates osmosis Found in rock, bedrock and soil Pollution caused by road salt, fertilizers, acid rain
Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen molecules suspended between water molecules Diffuses into water when it travels over rocks, in riffles Valuable to water breathers Low DO caused by: fertilizers, sewage treatment, animal waste, soil erosion, paper mills, food processing plants
Nitrogen NO3 N2 gas makes up 79% of atmosphere but not useful to plants and animals Must be converted to nitrates or ammonia through nitrogen cycle Humans can disrupt the cycle: farmers add too much fertilizer, crops removed from a site
The Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorous Necessary for growth and metabolism in plants and animals Can be washed into streams if attached to soil particles, with human/animal waste Causes: faulty septic tanks, livestock in streams, industrial waste Effects: rapid growth in algae and plants in stream, eutrophication
Phosphorus Cycle
Eutrophication Explosion of algae or plant life Eventually these die Decomposition of dead plants uses up oxygen DO level drops: kills animal life/creates toxic situation
Eutrophication
Examples of Eutrophication Nutrient Pollution Video
Alkalinity Ability of a water system to resist changes in pH when acid is added High alkalinity= stream can handle addition of acid Low alkalinity= stream pH will go down with the addition of acid Limestone can neutralize acid and increase alkalinity (PA has a lot of limestone)
Turbidity Measures cloudiness of the water High turbidity=cloudy water Causes: suspended organic matter/minerals EROSION Effects: clouds water blocks sunlight Reduces visibility Clogs fish gills, covers eggs Absorbs heat, raises temp. of stream, DO goes down
High Turbidity
Review Exit Ticket…. How are temperature and DO related? What biological process is affected by the Total Dissolved Solids in a waterway? Why is acid rain not a big problem in western PA? Name 2 problems caused by high turbidity.