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WATER ASSESSMENT AND TESTING

WATER ASSESSMENT AND TESTING. Introduction to Watershed Science Merritt College Marc Epstein, Instructor. WATER MONITORING BASICS. Collection of Data Episodic (such as a spill) Synoptic (like snapshot day) Periodic and on a regular basis Continuous over long period of time

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WATER ASSESSMENT AND TESTING

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  1. WATER ASSESSMENT AND TESTING Introduction to Watershed Science Merritt College Marc Epstein, Instructor

  2. WATER MONITORING BASICS Collection of Data • Episodic (such as a spill) • Synoptic (like snapshot day) • Periodic and on a regular basis • Continuous over long period of time Consistent collection methods

  3. ANALYSIS DEFINED An investigation into whether a waterbody can support the beneficial uses assigned to it.

  4. Water quality monitoring is commonly defined as the sampling and analysis of water (lake, stream, river, estuary, or ocean) and conditions of the waterbody.

  5. TYPES OF MONITOING • Biological • Chemical • Physical

  6. BIOLOGICAL • Include measures related to the plant and animal life of the water body, such as: • Fish species diversity and abundance; • Presence or absence of indicator fishes, aquatic invertebrates, or aquatic plants.

  7. CHEMICAL • Include contaminants such as: • Metals • Dissolved nutrients • Oils • Pesticides • Chemical properties of the aquatic system such as: • Dissolved oxygen • Chemical oxygen demand • Acid neutralizing capacity

  8. PHYSICAL • Include general conditions such as: • Temperature • Flow • Sediment characteristics • Water color • Within-channel habitat structure

  9. WHAT IS KWEST MONITORING • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) • A calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. • Water quality standards are set by States, Territories, and Tribes. They identify the uses for each waterbody, for example, drinking water supply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life support (fishing), and the scientific criteria to support that use. • A TMDL is the sum of the allowable loads of a single pollutant from all contributing point and nonpoint sources. • The calculation must include a margin of safety to ensure that the waterbody can be used for the purposes the State has designated. • The calculation must also account for seasonal variation in water quality. (From federal Clean Water Act)

  10. THE BASIC FIVE WATER QUALITY VITAL SIGNS • Temperature • Dissolved Oxygen • pH • Conductivity and Salinity • Turbidity

  11. TEMPERATURE • Measure of average kinetic energy of water molecules • Affects water chemistry and aquatic organisms • Influences: • Amount of oxygen that can be dissolved • Rate of photosynthesis • Metabolic rate of organisms • Sensitivity of organisms to toxic waste, parasites, and diseases • Timing of reproduction and migration of organisms

  12. DISSOLVED OXYGEN • The amount of oxygen dissolved in water • Aquatic organisms need oxygen to survive and grow • Consequences of insufficient dissolved oxygen: • Death of adults and juveniles • Reduction of growth • Failure of eggs/larvae to survive • Change of species in given water body

  13. pH • Measure of acidic vs. basic – strength of Hydrogen ion • Lower value more acidic – Higher value more alkaline • Aquatic organisms require narrow pH • Extreme pH damages fish gills, exoskeleton, and fins • Changes in pH may cause or change chemical reactions http://waltonfeed.com/old/soap/soaplit.html

  14. CONDUCTIVITY / SALINITY • Conductivity is the ability of the water to conduct electrical current • Salinity is a measure of the amount of salts in the water • Salts (solids in dissolved form) break into positively and negatively charged ions • Conductivity and salinity increase with the amount of salts in the water • Salts affect the quality of water for drinking and irrigation • Various species have specific salinity tolerances

  15. TURBIDITY • Amount of suspended particles including • Algae, suspended sediment, and organic matter • Suspended particles: • Diffuse sunlight – reducing light • Absorb heat – Increase temperature • Clog fish gills • Foul gravel beds • Smother fish eggs and benthic insects

  16. BEYOND THE FIVE BASIC VITAL SIGNS • Nitrogen • Large amount introduced creates excessive algal growth resulting in depleted dissolved oxygen • Phosphate • When amounts become elevated algal blooms can occur depleting dissolved oxygen

  17. Bio-Assessment • Survey of benthic aquatic macro invertebrates • Survey of physical habitat

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