Category: Water Sience

Color is an indication of the amounts of dissolved and suspended materials present in water. Total suspended solids (TSS) gives a measure of the turbidity of the water. Total dissolved solids gives a measure of the nutrient material dissolved in the water are indicators of productivity.

Water temperature must be taken in the field. Temperature should be sampled at various depths using a recording Celsius thermometer. Location of temperature reading also needs to be considered, edge, middle, inlet, etc.

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but the presence of excessive amounts in water supplies presents a major pollution problem.

Carbon Dioxide is present in water in the form of a dissolved gas. Surface waters normally contain less than 10 ppm free carbon dioxide, while some ground waters may easily exceed that concentration

Oxygen is vital to the life cycle common to water. It is essential to keep organisms living, to sustain species reproduction, and for the development of populations.

The pH test is an important preliminary test. Small changes in pH (0.3 units or even less) are usually associated with relatively large changes in other water qualities.