Water Quality Testing

Testing of water is used to determine if water needs to be cleaned up.

Dissolved Oxygen A measure of the amount of gaseous oxygen dissolved in a liquid Gets there through diffusion from surrounding air, rapid movement, and photosynthesis DO concentrations too high and too low can be harmful Affected by temperature, altitude, salinity, and stream structure

Turbidity Test A measure of how clear the water is Affected by pollutants, plant and animal life, sediments, and river bottom

Fecal Coliform Test Indicates water has been contaminated with fecal material from man or other animals Could indicate pathogens (typhoid, hepatitis A) are in the water

Nitrate and Phosphate Tests Nitrate in water comes from fertilizers, animal waste, and human sewage Phosphates in water usually come from fertilizers Potential Health Risks: Blue Baby Syndrome, indigestion

Alkalinity, Chlorine, and Hardness Alkalinity: a substances’ ability to keep pH from changing- can protect streams from acid rain Chlorine: used as a disinfectant; toxic to fish and aquatic organsims Hardness: created by cations in the water, can produce material that breaks down pipes