1. Water Quality
Indicators

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

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

6. Please fill out flow chart for this guided notes section

7. 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.

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

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

10. Turbidity

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

12. 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

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

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

16. 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

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

18. 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.

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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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).

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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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.

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

28. 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

29. 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

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

31. 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)

32. 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.

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

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

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

36. 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:

37. 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:

38. 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:

39. 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: