1. What will we be testing the water for?

2. Temperature
Temperature controls the rate of metabolic activities, reproductive activities, and ultimately the life cycle. (1)
Most aquatic organisms are cold blooded (cannot regulate their own body temperatures) they need water temperatures to be fairly stable. (1)

3. Temperature
68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) Ideal range – bass, bluegills, carp, catfish, crappie
55-68 degrees F (13-20 degrees C) Ideal range
41-55 degrees F (5-13 degrees C) Ideal range – rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout.
(1)

4. pH = parts Hydrogen
pH – how acidic or basic something is determined by hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxyl ions (OH-).(1)
pH range – 0-14 (7 neutral)
pH 0-7 (acidic)
pH 7-14 (basic or alkaline)

6. pH Optimal pH range for life 6.5-8.21
Distilled water 7, human blood 7.5, sea water 8 (1)
Death points for fish pH 4 and pH 11.4 (4)

7. Alkalinity
Alkalinity – how well a water source can neutralize acidic pollution and resist changes in pH.1 Measured in terms of concentration of CaCO3 mg/L
Alkaline (pH scale = basic) – Ca from the alkaline earth metals (group 2)

8. Concentration CaCO3 (mg/L)
Alkalinity
Fresh water levels between mg/L4
Figure: Desirable Alkalinity Ranges
U.S. E.P.A. Category
Concentration CaCO3 (mg/L)
Acidified
< 1 and pH < 5
Critical
< 2
Endangered
2-5
Highly Sensitive
5-10
Sensitive
10-20
Not Sensitive
> 20
Figure: Addy, Kelly, Green, Linda, and Herron, Elizabeth. pH and Alkalinity; URI Watershed Watch, Rhode Island, Department Natural Resources Science, 2004.

9. Carbon Dioxide
CO2
CO2 – readily soluble in water, important for aquatic plant life survival. 5 Important for plants to be able to produce oxygen for fish.

10. Carbon Dioxide
Ideal Range - Carbon Dioxide (CO2) = less than 10 mg/L (3)
To much CO2 can result in a drop in the pH of blood in fish (6)

11. Chloride
Chloride – commonly distributed and found in nature as sodium (NaCl - salt) concentrations in water. (2)
Chloride concentrations are typically higher near the coast.

12. Chloride
Sources of Chloride – dissolving salt deposits, salting roads, sewage, industrial waste, oil well operations, irrigation drainage, oceans (sea spray into coastal regions). (2)
Desirable ranges – 30 mg/L NaCl or more (3)

13. Nitrite
NO2
Nitrogen is required for by all living organisms for basic process of life, growth and reproduction. (1)
Too much nitrogen can stimulate plant growth why can reduce O2 levels in the water source. (1)

14. Nitrite
Excess N comes from fertilizers applied in fields, lawns, gardens, leaking septic systems, sewage treatment facilities, industrial runoff, livestock, animal wastes, and more. (1)
High levels of Nitrite (NO2) can be toxic to fish. (4)

15. Nitrite
Desirable levels - Nitrite (NO2) = Concentration should be less than 10 times that of chlorides in water. (3)
Example: Nitrite is 0.5 mg/L, chlorides should be at least 5 mg/L. (3)

16. Hardness Total Hardness – total concentration of Ca and Mg. (4)
Ca and Mg are the most abundant alkaline earth metals found in natural waters. (4)
Soft water is easy to lather soap in.
Hard water can’t seem to get soap off.
White circles where water was on washed car.

17. Milligrams Per Liter (mg/L)or Parts Per Million (ppm)
Hardness
Water Hardness Scale
Grains Per Gallon
Milligrams Per Liter (mg/L)or Parts Per Million (ppm)
Classification
less than 1.0
less than 17.1
Soft
Slightly Hard
Moderately Hard
Hard
over 10.5
over 180
Very Hard
(7)

18. Other things that can be tested
Dissolved Oxygen (O2)
Ammonia (NH3)
Turbidity – the amount of suspended particles in the water (how clear the water is)
Conductivity – how well the water conducts electricity (determined by certain elements in the water).
And more!

19. Works Cited
Murdoch, Tom, and Cheo, Martha. Streamkeeper’s Field Guide. Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, Everett, 1999 (p ).
(see my docs for complete word document)
Hach Fish Farmer’s Water Quality Test Kit Manual