Water Quality Indicators

Standards and Indicators What are Water Quality Standards and Indicators Water quality and indicators are measurements of the substances in water beside water molecules that determine the healthiness of the water or its level of pollution

How do we treat our drinking water? Water from both public and private supplies often need some type of treatment to ensure it is safe. First filtration and coagulation, Second chlorination, Third aeration and additional treatment, Fourth testing samples

What is water pollution? Water pollution is the addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or the living things that depend on the water. Pollutants are the substances that pollute the water.

What are the three main sources of water pollution? Three main sources of water pollution are human waste, industrial waste, and chemical runoff.

Please fill out flow chart for this guided notes section

Why is this important? In addition to drinking water , we also eat fish on a regular basis. Some of these fish have toxic chemicals stored in their bodies. Over time the chemicals are stored in our body fat. This can lead to birth defects and or cancer to name a few.

Water Quality Indicators Turbidity pH Dissolved oxygen Temperature Nitrates (nutrients) , NH3, NO-2 Bio-Indicators Hardness - amount of calcium and magnesium

refers to water clarity. Turbidity refers to water clarity. Ideal Level: low turbidity is clear water High Level: unclear water /unhealthy water

Turbidity

Causes of increased Turbidity Erosion causes loose soil to enter the waterways Increased Algae blooms Waste drainage Agricultural and urban runoff

Result of High Turbidity Suspended sediment blocks sunlight to plants (photosynthesis) and reduces dissolved oxygen. Increased levels of sediments absorbs more thermal energy (Heat) making water warmer which lowers dissolved oxygen This causes fish and larvae to die -Fish kill

High or low pH are signs of unhealthy water the acidity of water –presence of hydrogen ion (H+). The pH scale is zero to 14. 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is basic (or alkaline). High or low pH are signs of unhealthy water

Swamp: 3.5 to 4.0 Salt Water: 7.5 to 8.4 Surface Freshwater: 6.5 - 8.0 pH Surface Freshwater: 6.5 - 8.0 Swamp: 3.5 to 4.0 Salt Water: 7.5 to 8.4 Most aquatic organisms exist within a pH range of 6.5 to 8.2.

pH tolerance for most aquatic life Carbon dioxide reacts with water to form a weak acid called carbonic acid. pH tolerance for most aquatic life

Factors effecting pH levels Natural phenomenal such as algae blooms or man made events such as dumping in water or runoff

DISSOLVED OXYGEN Is the measure of gaseous oxygen (O2) dissolved in water. It’s a product of photosynthesis and diffusion. The warmer the water, the less oxygen it can hold.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN levels Average Level: 9.0 ppm Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse population of fish

Causes of Changes in Dissolved Oxygen turbulent action – rapid waves Solubility decreases with increasing temperature and water depth Increase algae growth decreases DO Increase plant growth increases DO

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

The higher the temperature the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen. Measure of the average kinetic energy (movement of particles in matter). The higher the temperature the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen. Most aquatic organisms live within a temperature range of +32º F (+0º C) to 90º F (32º C).

Levels of Temperature Low: cannot be tolerated below 320F High: only rough fish can tolerate temperatures above 970F

Cause of change in TEMPERATURE source of water time of year suspended sediment depth of water shade from shoreline vegetation Result of change in TEMPERATURE changes in temperature can make aquatic life susceptible to disease and at extreme levels can result in death

Temperature affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of water. Rapid temperature change and temperature extremes can stress aquatic organisms. Temperature affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of water. 14 Dissolved Oxygen (ppm) 12 10 8 6 4 ____________________________________ Winter Summer As the water warms, the amount of dissolved oxygen decreases.

Nutrients –Nitrates and phosphates (Nitrogen and Phosphorous) Although nutrients are essential elements for plants and animals, their presence in excessive amounts cause undesirable conditions and negatively impact fish and other aquatic life.

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

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

Fertilizer runoff (farm and home) Manure pits Septic system leaks Causes of Nitrates in water Fertilizer runoff (farm and home) Manure pits Septic system leaks Animal waste Rain trapping car exhaust

Potential Consequences of Nutrient Overenrichment • Low Dissolved Oxygen • Nuisance Algal Growth • Harmful Algal Blooms • Fish & Shellfish Kills • Human Health Effects

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

Bio-Indicators Organisms (macro-invertibrates) found living in water (they tend to remain in one place ) that have specific living conditions and are very sensitive to pollution. The presence or absence of particular organisms can tell us a lot about the quality of the body of water being studied.

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

Causes of Changes in Bio-Indicator pollution that results in changes in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, or nitrate levels

Results of Few Varieties of bio-indicators the lack of a large number of different varieties of bio-indicators is indicative of pollution

Indicators of Water Quality Turbidity: measure of the degree to which water looses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates pH: the acidity of the water (presence of hydrogen ion) 07 is acidic 7 is neutral 714 is basic Indicators of Water Quality Ideal Level: 1 NTU High Level: 5 NTU and above Surface Freshwater: 6.0 9.0 Swamps: as low as 4.3 Salt Water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7 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 Causes of changes in pH: natural conditions (especially in swamps), dumping of waste (batteries) and farm runoff (lime) Causes of changes in dissolved oxygen: turbulent actions waves, rapids), water depth, and plant growth 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. Results of changes in 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 of the optimum pH thus resulting in death. Results of changes in dissolved oxygen: When DO drops too low fish die. When DO is high, the water actually tastes better but can corrode water pipes. Average Level: 9.0 ppm Must be 4-5 ppm to support diverse population of fish Dissolved Oxygen: the oxygen dissolved in the water Causes: Results: Levels: Definition:

Indicators of Water Quality Temperature: measure of average kinetic energy Nitrates: compound that contains the nitrogen based polyatomic ion NO3 (Ex: Sodium Nitrate) Bio-indicators: macroinvertibrates found living in water (they tend to remain in one place) that are sensitive to pollution Indicators of Water Quality Low: cannot be tolerated below 320F High: only rough fish can tolerate temperatures above 970F Drinking Water Max: 10 mg/L Fish: Below 90 mg/L seems to have no effect on warm water fish High Level of Variety: healthy water source Small Level of Variety: poor water source (indicator of high levels of pollution) Causes of change in temperature: source of water, time of year, suspended sediment, depth of water, and shade from shoreline vegetation Causes of nitrates: fertilizer runoff (both farm and home), manure pits, leaks in septic systems, animal waste, and rain trapping car exhaust Causes of changes in bio-indicators: pollution that results in changes in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, or nitrate levels Results of changes in temperature: changes in temperature can make aquatic life susceptible to disease and at extreme levels can result in death Results of presence of nitrates: nitrates can increase the plant production and fish population resulting in overcrowding. If algae increases due to nitrates, the DO levels can decrease, killing fish. Nitrates are converted to nitrites in humans (can kill children) Results of few varieties of bio-indicators present: the lack of a large number of different varieties of bio-indicators is indicative of pollution Definition: Levels: Causes: Results:

Indicators of Water Quality Turbidity: pH: Indicators of Water Quality Ideal Level: High Level: Surface Freshwater: Swamps: Salt Water: Causes of increased turbidity: Causes of changes in pH: Causes of changes in dissolved oxygen: Results of high turbidity. Results of changes in pH: Results of changes in dissolved oxygen: Average Level: Dissolved Oxygen: Causes: Results: Levels: Definition:

Indicators of Water Quality Temperature: Nitrates: Bio-indicators: Indicators of Water Quality Low: High: Drinking Water Max: Fish: High Level of Variety Small Level of Variety: Causes of change in temperature: Causes of nitrates: Causes of changes in bio-indicators: Results of changes in temperature: Results of presence of nitrates: Results of few varieties of bio-indicators present: Definition: Levels: Causes: Results: