Water Quality Testing

Environmental Science – Water Quality Testing Alkalinity Alkalinity refers to the ability of water to neutralize acids as they are added to or created in the aquatic ecosystem. This neutralization process is called buffering, and is critical to maintaining proper pH levels. A healthy, productive freshwater lake has a pH of about 8. Natural pH buffers, primarily carbonates and bicarbonates, help to maintain the pH at this level and to prevent drastic pH fluctuations. A temporary loss of buffering capacity can permit the pH to drop to levels that are harmful to aquatic life. For example, and entire season of acidic precipitation can be stored in the form o f snow and ice, so areas which receive a lot of snow melt in the spring are especially susceptible to seasonal loss of buffering capacity. Buffering materials in the water are produced by leaching of the rocks and soil through which the water flows. Alkalinity is usually expressed as parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate (CaCo3). Alkalinity levels of 100 to 200 ppm will stabilize the pH level in a body of water. Levels between 20 and 200 are typically found in freshwater, while sea water generally has alkalinity levels from 100 to 125 ppm. Ammonia Ammonia is present in variable amounts in many surface and ground waters. The primary sources of ammonia in water are bacterial decomposition of organic waste and excretions of aquatic animals. Ammonia serves as a source of nitrogen, which is used as a nutrient for the growth of aquatic plants. Ammonia exists in water as two forms, un-ionized (NH3) and ionized (NH4). Un-ionized ammonia is toxic to fish while the ionized form is non-toxic, excerpt at extremely high levels. The relative proportions of each form present are regulated by pH and temperature. Ammonia is usually present in low quantities (less than 1 ppm) in non-polluted, well-oxygenated waters, but may reach levels of 5 to 10 ppm in areas with low dissolved oxygen and large amounts of decaying organic materials. Chloride Chloride is one of the major anions found in water and sewage. The presence of chlorides in large amounts may be due to the natural process of water passing through salt formations in the earth, or it may be evidence of the intrusion of sea water or pollution from industrial or domestic wastes. Chloride gives water a salty taste. Drinking water standards recommend a maximum chloride concentration of 250 ppm. Salinity is an important water quality measurement that is related to chloride. It is the total of all salts dissolved in water. The salt content of water affects the distribution of plant and animal life in an aquatic system, based on the amount of salt they can tolerate. Salinity can be calculate from chloride concentrations, and I usually expressed as parts per thousand (ppt), ranging from 0 ppt in freshwater, up to 35 ppt in sea water. Chlorine Chlorine is not present in natural waters, and is found only as a result of chlorination of water supply. It is widely used for sterilization and disinfection in municipal water supplies, swimming pools and spas, food and beverage processing, and in medical facilities such as dialysis units. Swimming pools generally have a chlorine concentration of 1 to 3 ppm, while levels in drinking water are maintained below 0.5 ppm. High levels of chlorine can be harmful or fatal to plants and fish. Chromium Chromium compounds may be found in natural waters in trace amounts ranging from 0.003 to 0.040 ppm. It may also be present in water containing waste from industrial processes such as metal plating, or in overflow waters from large air conditioning units, where chromium is frequently added to cooling water to control corrosion. Chromium is on e of a class of heavy metals sometimes found in the bottom mud of polluted bodies of water. It is considered to be a toxic chemical. Certain shellfish are capable of concentrating this element, endangering the health of consumer organisms, human or other. Chromium levels over 0.5 ppm are evidence of pollution from untreated or incompletely treated waste. Dissolved Oxygen/Biochemical Oxygen Demand Fish, invertebrates, plants, and aerobic bacteria all require oxygen for respiration. Oxygen dissolves readily into water from the atmosphere until the water is saturated. Once dissolved in the water the oxygen diffuses very slowly, and distribution depends upon the movement of the aerated water. Oxygen is also produced by aquatic plants, algae, and phytoplankton as a by-product of photosynthesis. Aquatic organisms require different amounts of dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen levels below 3 ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms. Dissolved oxygen levels below 2 0r 1 ppm will not support fish life. Levels of 5 to 6 ppm are usually required for the growth and activity of aquatic organisms. Iron Iron is present in most natural waters, and is an important nutrient for many organisms. Soil and rocks provide the most common sources of iron in water. Industrial waste, such as acid mine drainage, can contribute to elevated levels. Concentrations can vary from trace amounts (0.1 ppm) up to several parts per million. Large amounts of iron in the water will cause problems such as orange stains on porcelain fixtures and laundry, and may cause undesirable taste and color in drinking water and beverages. Iron concentrations should not exceed 0.2 ppm for domestic use, and for some industrial applications, not even trace amounts can be tolerated. Hardness Hardness refers primarily to the amount of calcium and magnesium ions in water. Other ions contribute to hardness also, but are usually present in insignificant amounts. Calcium and magnesium enter the water mainly by the leaching of rocks and soil. Calcium is an important component of aquatic plant cell walls and also the shells and bones of many aquatic organisms. Magnesium is an essential nutrient and is a component of chlorophyll. Hardness is usually expressed as ppm of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). These results can be expressed as calcium or magnesium by multiplying by 0.4 for calcium and 0.24 for magnesium. Waters with calcium levels of 10 ppm or less can support only sparse plant and animal life. Levels of 25 ppm or more are typical of waters having excessive levels of plant nutrients, and may contribute to excessive algae growth. Typical levels of magnesium in freshwater range from 5 to 50 ppm. Sea water contains high levels of both calcium and magnesium. Typical se water contains 400 ppm calcium and 1350 ppm magnesium, which adds up to a total hardness of above 6625 ppm. Water with a low level of hardness is generally referred to as “soft”, while water with high levels of hardness are described as “hard”. Hard water can cause problems in home and industrial water systems, including scaly deposits in plumbing and appliances, and decreased cleaning action of soaps and detergents. Water with total hardness from 0 to 60 ppm is soft, from 60 to 120 ppm is medium hard, from 120 to 180 ppm is hard, and above 180 ppm is considered very hard. Nitrate Nitrogen is a nutrient that acts as a fertilizer for aquatic plants. When nitrogen levels are high, excessive plant and algae growth creates water quality problems. Nitrogen enters the water from human and animal waste, decomposing organic matter, and lawn and crop fertilizer run-off. Nitrogen occurs in water as Nitrate (NO3), Nitrite (NO2), and Ammonia (NH3). Unpolluted waters usually have a nitrate level below 4 ppm. Nitrate levels above 40 ppm are considered unsafe for drinking water. pH The pH test is one of the most common analyses in water testing. pH is a measurement of the activity of hydrogen ions in a water sample. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Water samples with a pH below 7.0 are considered acidic, those above 7.0 are basic, and those at 7.0 are neutral. A pH range of 6.5 to 8.2 is optimal for most aquatic organisms. Rapidly growing algae and vegetation remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the water during photosynthesis. This can result in a significant increase in pH. Most natural waters have pH values from 5.0 to 8.5. Acidic, freshly fallen rain water may have a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Alkaline soils and minerals can raise the pH to 8.0 to 8.5. Sea water usually has a pH value close to 8.0. Phosphate Phosphorus is a nutrient that acts as a fertilizer for aquatic plants. When nutrient levels are high, excessive plant and algae growth creates water quality problems. Phosphorus occurs in natural waters in the form of phosphate (PO4). Over half of the phosphates in lakes, streams, and rivers come from detergents. Phosphate levels higher than 0.03 ppm contribute to increased plant growth. Turbidity Turbidity is a measure of water’s lack of clarity. Water with high turbidity is cloudy, while water with low turbidity is clear. The cloudiness is produced by light reflecting off of particles in the water; therefore, the more particles in the water, the higher the turbidity. Many factors can contribute to the turbidity of water. An increase in stream flow due to heavy rains or a decrease in stream-bank vegetation can speed up the process of soil erosion. This will add suspended particles, such as clay and silt to the water. High turbidity will decrease the amount of sunlight able to penetrate the water, thereby decreasing the photosynthetic rate. Reduced clarity also makes the water less aesthetically pleasing. While this may not be harmful directly, it is certainly undesirable for many water uses. When the water is cloudy, sunlight will warm it more efficiently. This occurs because the suspended particles in the water absorb the sunlight, warming the surrounding water. This can lead to other problems associated with increased temperature levels.