Downstream Water Parameter Series
Algae: Algae refer to a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms found in various aquatic environments. The parameter of interest often involves the concentration and types of algae present in water bodies, as well as their biomass and chlorophyll levels. These aquatic species can be invasive, produce toxins, and deplete oxygen in stagnant water bodies if not maintained.
Color: Water color is more than just a visual indicator but can be used as a measure of water quality and potential impairments. There are various changes in color depending on the source. This includes urban runoff (municipal and industrial effluent) versus natural runoff (agriculture and forested areas), which can have significantly different types of organic compounds, pollutants and treatment processes.
Dissolved Oxygen: Dissolved oxygen, often referred to as DO, is the oxygen in water that is available to support aquatic organisms like fish and algae. The oxygen in the water can be directly dissolved from the air or produced by aquatic plants during photosynthesis. Many different environmental conditions can affect the amount of DO in the water, which is why DO indicates other pollution and environmental issues.
Fecal Coliform/Enterococcus: Fecal coliform and Enterococci are types of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, such as humans and cows. In water, their presence is an indicator of fecal contamination, which can include harmful, disease-causing bacteria. These indicators can have impacts on public recreational (swimming and kayaking) and residential areas where there is a risk of exposure to people.
Metal: Heavy metals like mercury, lead and cadmium can contaminate water sources through natural and industrial processes. Even metals with nutritional value can be toxic at high concentrations. Metals can be bound to clay, sand or organic matter from environmental systems and released into the surrounding environment during rain events.
Nitrogen: Nitrogen is a key nutrient in water systems and is essential for plant and animal life. Though nitrogen is needed for an ecosystem to thrive, anything in excess can cause impairments. The common forms of nitrogen are nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-) and ammonium (NH4+). These different forms are present in many types of fertilizers or natural organic matter.
pH: Potential hydrogen (or pH) is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration in water. This indicates how acidic or basic aqueous solutions are on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Less than 7 on the pH scale is acidic conditions, while above 7 indicates basic conditions. This can be a good indicator of water impairments and environmental hazards.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a chemical element that is essential for all living organisms. There are many different forms that can come from various sources, including fertilizers, pesticides, natural organic matter and soap products. Phosphorus is less bioavailable due to its binding affinity to soil. If soil is eroded or transferred as fine particles in runoff to aquatic systems, it can be broken down, thus releasing phosphorus into the water.
Salinity: Salinity is the measurement of all dissolved salts in water, which includes mostly chloride, sodium, sulfate, magnesium, calcium and potassium. For water, the most common measurement is for sodium chloride (NaCl). Salinity is reported in concentration at the parts-per-thousand (ppt) level and can be seen in various sources of water including well water, rivers, streams and canals.
Sulfate: Sulfate is a naturally occurring compound that is found through mineralization and oxidation of natural landscapes. It can also be found in organic matter decomposition in environmental systems. Sulfates are nutrients for many organisms and can stimulate plant growth. It is critical to understand the sources of sulfate to better understand the impact and mitigation techniques to be applied.
Temperature: Temperature is the thermal energy concentrated in a water source. This energy has a warming or cooling effect on the water. The overall temperature of a water body will influence the metabolic rates and behavior of aquatic organisms playing a critical role in the environmental ecosystems.
Total Dissolved Solids: Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a measure of the combined dissolved content, including inorganic and organic substances in water that are smaller than 2 microns. This can include compounds such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, manganese, sulfur and iron. These compounds are introduced to environmental systems through natural settings and can be present without visible confirmation.
Total Suspended Solids: Total suspended solids (TSS) are the concentration of solids in the water column. This concentration includes soil particles (clay, silt and organic matter), algae and microscopic organisms. Water samples are filtered and dried to determine the mass of particulates. Particle size can affect both the overall mass and the settling behavior, which influences water quality.
Turbidity: Turbidity is an optical measure of the clarity of water impacted by the presence of suspended particles, such as silt, clay, organic matter and microorganisms. It is typically associated with the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by the presence of suspended particles or microorganisms.