1. Riverwood Middle School 8th Grade Science Mrs. McAven
Water Quality Booklet
Riverwood Middle School
8th Grade Science
Mrs. McAven

2. Point & Non-point Source Pollution (Color, Sediments & Hardness)
Water Quality Booklet
Point & Non-point Source Pollution pH
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
Phosphates & Nitrates
Bio-indicators
Turbidity
(Color, Sediments & Hardness)

3. Point & Non-point Source Pollution
Create a Venn diagram that compares and differentiates between point and nonpoint source pollutions. Make sure your Venn has 2 similarities and at least 4 differences on each side.

4. pH What is it? Why is it important? Acceptable level/conditions
What causes water to become too acidic? Why?
What causes water to become too basic (alkaline)? Why?
How does the pH level of a body of water influence what organisms live there?

5. Temperature What is it? Why is it important?
Acceptable level/conditions
Explain 3 other indicators that are affected by temperature.
Why is colder water generally better for aquatic life?

6. Dissolved Oxygen What is it? Why is it important?
Acceptable level/conditions
Does cold water hold more or less dissolved oxygen? Is this good or bad? Explain.
What 3 factors can influence dissolved oxygen levels?

7. Phosphates & Nitrates What is it? Why is it important?
Acceptable level/conditions

8. Bio-indicators What is it? Why is it important?
Acceptable level/conditions
Give 3 examples of bio-indicators and explain how each one tells us about the health of the environment.

9. Turbidity Color, Sediments & Hardness
What is it?
Why is it important?
Acceptable level/conditions
What are 2 causes of increased turbidity?
Explain how dissolved oxygen decreases with increased turbidity.
Draw a diagram of 3 samples of water with different turbidities.