Healthy Water

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Healthy Water
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River Watch H2O Tests

• Alkalinity
• Dissolved O2
• Hardness
• pH
• Temperature
• Velocity
• Macro-benthic invertebrates

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Alkalinity

• Measure of the waters capacity to resist a
  decrease in pH.
• (Acid neutralizing capacity)
• Function of carbonate minerals (ex limestone)
  which carry a negative charge so they bind with
  H in solution calcium ions Ca2, carbonate ions
  CO32-, bicarbonate ions HCO3-, or carbonic acid
  H2CO3 depending on water pH will release
• carbonate (CO32-) if pHgt10.33
• bicarbonate (HCO3) if pH 6.4 to 10.33
• carbonic acid (H2CO if pHlt6.4
• Human waste is another source (not a major
  problem) Aquatic Gr. Plants undergoing
  photosynthesis use up CO2
• Remove heavy metals from solution
• Should be a least 20mg/l to protect aquatic life

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Alkalinity Test

• Titration of known quantity of acid is added to
  water until it reaches a pH of about 4.
• More volume of acid needed to add, then higher
  the alkalinity
• Less volume of acid required the lower the
  alkalinity
• Alkalinity is the measure of all available bases
  in water which would come from carbonate minerals.

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Alkalinity variables

• Green plants impact the carbonate system during
  photosynthesis by consuming CO2 that would
  otherwise form carbonic acid when dissolved in
  water.
• Treated waste water effluent contains cleaning
  agents made from carbonate and bicarbonate used
  in hospitals, homes, and businesses.
• Waste water also contains residues from food
  (particularly vegetables beans), that
  contribute to alkalinity.

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Relevance of Alkalinity

• In natural levels, alkalinity is beneficial to
  all organisms because it resists a change in pH
  to prevent acidic water to humans, wildlife, and
  aquatic organisms.
• Some acidic water mobilizes toxic heavy metals,
  making them available to the environment.

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Impacts of Alkalinity

• Work like an antacid works on indigestion. Even
  small amounts of acid could harm life.
• Water alkalinity of at least 20mg/L CaCO3 will
  protect and sustain aquatic life
• Too much alkalinity causes water to be too basic
  which cause corrosive properties.

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Dissolved O2

• Dissolved oxygen is literally O2 dissolved in
  water. Measuring DO tells us how much oxygen is
  in the water for aquatic systems, measured in
  percent saturation.
• Factors that influence saturation
• Amount of organic material present
• (more present more consumed)
• 2.Oxidation of sulfides, ferrous iron, ammonia

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O2 Sources

• Oxygen is dissolved in water either directly at
  the air-water interface, or as a byproduct of
  aquatic plant photosynthesis.

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O2 Losses

• Dissolved oxygen comes out of solution and is
  removed from water when the temperature of water
  increases.
• It can be consumed by animals during respiration.
• It is consumed during the decomposition of
  organic matter by microorganisms.

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Amount of O2 dissolved in water at any given time
depends on..

• Water temperature
• Turbidity
• Rate of Photosynthesis
• Volume of Organic Matter
• Amount of Dissolved Solids
• Degree of Agitation
• Source of Water
• Prevailing Barometric Pressure

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Water Temperature

• The colder the water temperature, the more oxygen
  can be dissolved in it.

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Hardness
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pH
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Temperature
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Velocity
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Macro-benthic Invertebrates

• The type of life found or not found in the water
  will tell us if the water is polluted or not.

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Other Water Quality Tests

• Bacteria
• Conductivity
• Nitrates
• Phosphates
• Total Dissolved Solids
• Turbidity/Transparency