1. Water Quality & Testing
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water
The vast majority of surface water on the planet is neither potable (fit for drinking) nor toxic (poisonous) – essentially, not good or bad
Approximately ___% of the world’s population has no access to potable water 25

2. Water Quality
No single property can tell whether water is polluted or not
Review: What are some sources of water pollution?

3. Sources of Water Pollution
Industrial discharge of chemical wastes and byproducts
Discharge of poorly-treated or untreated sewage
Surface runoff containing pesticides or fertilizers
Slash and burn farming practice, which is often an element within shifting cultivation agricultural systems
Surface runoff containing spilled petroleum products
Surface runoff from construction sites, farms, or paved and other impervious surfaces
Discharge of contaminated and/or heated water used for industrial processes
Acid rain caused by industrial discharge of sulfur dioxide (by burning high-sulfur fossil fuels)
Eutrophication by runoff containing detergents or fertilizers
Underground storage tank leakage, leading to soil contamination, and hence aquifer contamination
Inappropriate disposal of various solid wastes and, on a localized scale, littering
Oil spills

4. Water Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates limits on the amount of certain contaminants in the water
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits contaminants in bottled water
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

5. Categories of Water Tests
Biological
Microorganisms such as fecal coliform bacteria (Escherichia coli), Cryptosporidium, and Giardia lamblia
Dissolved organics: Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
Bethic Macroinvertebrates:
Mollusca (Snails)
Ephemeropteroidea (Mayfly)
Plecoptera (Stonefly)
Trichoptera (Caddisfly)
Chemical
Dissolved Oxygen(DO) pH
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus
Dissolved metals and metalloids (lead, Mercury (element),arsenic, etc.)
Pesticides
Heavy Metals
Pharmaceuticals
Hormone analogs
Physical
Electrical Conductivity (salinity)
Color, Taste and Odor
Turbidity (clarity)
Total suspended solids (TSS)
Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus
Dissolved salts and elements (sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium)
Temperature

6. Temperature Determine types of organisms that can live in water
Affects how much oxygen water can hold
Warm water holds less oxygen
Thermal Pollution (increased water temperature)
decreasing oxygen supply
killing fish juveniles which are vulnerable to small increases in temperature
affecting ecosystem composition.

7. Dissolved Oxygen Measurement for outdoor bodies of water
Measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water
Measurement for outdoor bodies of water
More DO generally relates to “healthier” water (oxygen necessary for most aquatic species to breath)
Related to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water

8. Representative pH values
Substance pH
Hydrochloric Acid, 10M
-1.0
Lead-acid battery
0.5
Gastric acid
1.5 – 2.0
Lemon juice
2.4
Cola
2.5
Vinegar
2.9
Orange or apple juice
3.5
Tomato Juice
4.0
Beer
4.5
Acid Rain
<5.0
Coffee
5.0
Tea or healthy skin
5.5
Urine
6.0
Milk
6.5
Pure Water
7.0
Healthy human saliva
6.5 – 7.4
Blood
7.34 – 7.45
Seawater
7.7 – 8.3
Hand soap
9.0 – 10.0
Household ammonia
11.5
Bleach
12.5
Household lye
13.5 pH
Potential of Hydrogen – measures hydrogen concentration in water
7.0 is neutral on scale of 0 – 14
Can affect how chemicals dissolve in water

9. Nutrients
Eutrophication, strictly speaking, means an increase in chemical nutrients (typically nitrogen and phosphorus)
Resultant increase in primary productivity
excessive plant growth and decay
Further impacts, including lack of oxygen and severe reductions in water quality and in fish and other animal populations.

10. Turbidity / Total Suspended Solids
Amount of particulate matter in water
Related to sediment, phytoplankton and nutrients in water
Turbidity reflects matter visible to naked eye (measured with secchi disk)
TSS collects dissolved material (filtered) measured as weight

11. Salinity Dissolved salt content in water
Influences organisms that can live in that area
Oceans are about 35 ppt or so
Water salinity
Fresh water
Brackish water
Saline water
Brine
< 0.05 %  %
3 - 5 %
> 5 %
< 500 ppm
ppm
ppm
> ppm

12. Heavy Metals
Living organisms require trace amounts of some heavy metals, including iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, strontium, and zinc
excessive levels can be detrimental to the organism.
Other heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium are toxic metals
they have no known vital or beneficial effect on organisms
their accumulation over time in the bodies of mammals can cause serious illness

13. Microorganisms
E. coli (fecal coliform bacteria) can generally cause several intestinal and extra-intestinal infections
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan pathogen and causes a diarrheal illness called cryptosporidiosis
Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that colonises and reproduces in the small intestine, causing giardiasis. Symptoms of include diarrhea, malaise, excessive gas, etc