Water Water Monitoring Monitoring & Testing& Testing

Why test our natural Why test our natural waters?waters?

Monitor the health of our rivers, streams Monitor the health of our rivers, streams and pondsand ponds

Gives us a better way to understand the Gives us a better way to understand the natural world and how we impact it.natural world and how we impact it.

Provides real-world data to scientist and Provides real-world data to scientist and land managersland managers

Four ways to survey:Four ways to survey: Visual SurveyVisual Survey Biological InventoryBiological Inventory Water Quality testsWater Quality tests Flow rate (not included)Flow rate (not included)

Visual SurveyVisual Survey

1.1. LOCATION OF SITE.LOCATION OF SITE.2.2. DATE and TIMEDATE and TIME 3.3. WEATHERWEATHER4.4. LAND USELAND USE5.5. STREAM BANK CONDITIONSSTREAM BANK CONDITIONS6.6. BOTTOM DEPOSITS/ COVERBOTTOM DEPOSITS/ COVER 7.7. WATER COLORWATER COLOR8.8. WATER ODORWATER ODOR9.9. SIGNS OF HUMAN USESIGNS OF HUMAN USE10.10.OTHER COMMENTSOTHER COMMENTS

Biological InventoryBiological Inventory Benthic Macro-invertebrate: Bottom-Benthic Macro-invertebrate: Bottom-

dwelling aquatic larval form of insects.dwelling aquatic larval form of insects. Benthic macro-invertebrates can help us Benthic macro-invertebrates can help us

test for polluted waters, either by their:test for polluted waters, either by their: PresencePresence AbsenceAbsence DiversityDiversity AbundanceAbundance

Healthy water body: HIGH DIVERSITY of Healthy water body: HIGH DIVERSITY of organisms, presence of indicator species.organisms, presence of indicator species.

Unhealthy water: HIGH ABUNDANCE of Unhealthy water: HIGH ABUNDANCE of pollution-tolerant species. Absence of pollution-tolerant species. Absence of indicator species.indicator species.

Types of Macro-Types of Macro-invertebratesinvertebrates

Pollution Intolerant Pollution Intolerant (INDICATOR) (INDICATOR) speciesspecies StoneflyStonefly MayflyMayfly CaddisflyCaddisfly Water PennyWater Penny DobsonflyDobsonfly CrayfishCrayfish DragonlyDragonly DamselflyDamselfly

Pollution Tolerant Pollution Tolerant speciesspecies Aquatic WormAquatic Worm Midge FlyMidge Fly LeechLeech Lunged SnailLunged Snail Black FlyBlack Fly

EquipmentEquipment

TraysTrays NetsNets Magnifying glassesMagnifying glasses ID cardsID cards Observation sheetsObservation sheets

Water Quality Tests Water Quality Tests (chemical)(chemical)

pHpH TemperatureTemperature NitratesNitrates PhosphatesPhosphates Turbidity Turbidity Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform

pHpH

Measures the acidity of water in ponds Measures the acidity of water in ponds and streamsand streams

Most organisms are Most organisms are sensitivesensitive to pH to pH changes and prefer water near neutral changes and prefer water near neutral conditions (pH 7)conditions (pH 7)

pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. Water Water aboveabove 7 is Alkaline (or Basic). 7 is Alkaline (or Basic). Water Water belowbelow 7 is Acidic. 7 is Acidic.

pH in Healthy ponds range from 6.5 to 8.5pH in Healthy ponds range from 6.5 to 8.5 Serious problems occur in lakes with a pH Serious problems occur in lakes with a pH

lower than 5 or higher than 9.5.lower than 5 or higher than 9.5.

pH ScalepH Scale

Human impact on pHHuman impact on pH

Acid Rain (Coal & Automobile Ind. Plants)Acid Rain (Coal & Automobile Ind. Plants) Can cause chemicals and metals in soil Can cause chemicals and metals in soil

to become to become more toxicmore toxic than normal. than normal. Can cause the release of heavy metals Can cause the release of heavy metals

(ex. Copper & Aluminum) into bodies of (ex. Copper & Aluminum) into bodies of water, effecting or even killing aquatic water, effecting or even killing aquatic life.life.

Immature organisms most affected by Immature organisms most affected by low pH.low pH.

TemperatureTemperature

A change in temperature can change A change in temperature can change the physical, chemical, and the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water biological characteristics of water bodiesbodies

Organisms in ponds are Organisms in ponds are sensitivesensitive to to temperature change temperature change

Most organisms can not tolerate Most organisms can not tolerate extreme temperatures.extreme temperatures.

Affects of TemperatureAffects of Temperature Cold water holds Cold water holds more oxygenmore oxygen than warm than warm

water and can support more life.water and can support more life. Warmer water leads to increased plant Warmer water leads to increased plant

growth, which leads to faster plant death, growth, which leads to faster plant death, which leads to which leads to higher demand of oxygenhigher demand of oxygen by by decomposers.decomposers.

Warmer water increases the metabolic rate Warmer water increases the metabolic rate in organisms, leading to in organisms, leading to higher higher consumptionconsumption and the release of and the release of more wastemore waste..

Bacteria and Bacteria and disease-causing organismsdisease-causing organisms grow faster in warm water.grow faster in warm water.

Human impact on Human impact on TemperatureTemperature

Thermal PollutionThermal Pollution Releasing heated water used in Industrial PlantsReleasing heated water used in Industrial Plants Run-off from warm urban surfaces (streets, Run-off from warm urban surfaces (streets,

sidewalks).sidewalks). Clearing banks (Cutting trees & vegetation)Clearing banks (Cutting trees & vegetation)

Un-shaded water can be 20°F warmer than Un-shaded water can be 20°F warmer than shaded water.shaded water.

Suspended solids from run-off (increased Suspended solids from run-off (increased turbidity) absorbs more sun’s rays.turbidity) absorbs more sun’s rays.

NitratesNitrates

Essential nutrient in ponds & aquatic Essential nutrient in ponds & aquatic environments.environments.

Nitrates are a building block for animals and Nitrates are a building block for animals and plants, helping them grow and reproduceplants, helping them grow and reproduce

Nitrates are found in human and animal waste.Nitrates are found in human and animal waste. Also a major ingredient in fertilizersAlso a major ingredient in fertilizers Excessive amounts of nitrates Excessive amounts of nitrates can be harmfulcan be harmful

to both humans and fish. In humans, affect the to both humans and fish. In humans, affect the ability for cells to carry oxygen to the blood.ability for cells to carry oxygen to the blood.

Human impact on Human impact on Nitrate levelsNitrate levels

Water contaminated byWater contaminated by Run-off from agriculture fieldsRun-off from agriculture fields Feed lotsFeed lots Sewage and septic systemsSewage and septic systems Ponds overpopulated of geese and ducksPonds overpopulated of geese and ducks

Infants consuming high loads of Infants consuming high loads of nitrates in water can suffer from nitrates in water can suffer from Methemoglobinemia or "blue baby" Methemoglobinemia or "blue baby" disease. disease.

PhosphatesPhosphates Essential nutrient for plant and animal Essential nutrient for plant and animal

growth.growth. Animals use phosphate for bone growth Animals use phosphate for bone growth

and metabolic processes.and metabolic processes. Low levels of phosphate found naturally in Low levels of phosphate found naturally in

the environment.the environment. Phosphates also found in human and Phosphates also found in human and

animal waste, detergents, industrial waste animal waste, detergents, industrial waste and run-off.and run-off.

Excessive phosphate leads to increase Excessive phosphate leads to increase plant growth, especially algae bloomsplant growth, especially algae blooms

Algae BloomsAlgae Blooms Thick layer of green slime Thick layer of green slime

covering water surface.covering water surface. Rapidly leads to Rapidly leads to decreasedecrease in in

Dissolved Oxygen levels by:Dissolved Oxygen levels by: Increasing temperatureIncreasing temperature Increasing plant death rateIncreasing plant death rate Decreasing surface to air Decreasing surface to air

contact.contact. Increasing metabolic rate.Increasing metabolic rate.

Algae blooms can lead to Algae blooms can lead to fish kills & death of many fish kills & death of many organisms.organisms.

Human impact on Human impact on Phosphate levelsPhosphate levels

Increased phosphate levels can be Increased phosphate levels can be caused by run-off from:caused by run-off from: Agriculture fieldsAgriculture fields Golf coursesGolf courses LawnsLawns Sewage & Septic tanksSewage & Septic tanks DetergentsDetergents Recently disturbed groundRecently disturbed ground

TurbidityTurbidity

Refers to the clarity of water. The Refers to the clarity of water. The murkier the water, the greater turbiditymurkier the water, the greater turbidity

Turbidity increase when suspended Turbidity increase when suspended solids are added into the water, such solids are added into the water, such as:as: ClayClay SiltSilt PlanktonPlankton Industrial wasteIndustrial waste Sewage wasteSewage waste

Human impact on Human impact on TurbidityTurbidity

High turbidity may be caused byHigh turbidity may be caused by Soil erosion & runoffSoil erosion & runoff Waste dischargeWaste discharge Flooding & increased flow ratesFlooding & increased flow rates Dredging & channelizationDredging & channelization Algae growthAlgae growth

Turbid water leads to increased temperatures Turbid water leads to increased temperatures & decreased oxygen levels.& decreased oxygen levels.

Can also clog gills and suffocate hatchlings.Can also clog gills and suffocate hatchlings. Turbid water does not support a wide variety Turbid water does not support a wide variety

of life.of life.

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Amount of life-sustaining oxygen Amount of life-sustaining oxygen dissolved in waterdissolved in water

Most aquatic animals need oxygen to Most aquatic animals need oxygen to survive.survive.

Mixes in from the atmosphereMixes in from the atmosphere RainRain WindWind Ripples & RapidsRipples & Rapids

Also added in from plants & algaeAlso added in from plants & algae Higher levels of DO in cooler water.Higher levels of DO in cooler water.

Human impact on DO Human impact on DO levelslevels

Build up of organic waste causes drop in DOBuild up of organic waste causes drop in DO Leaves, grass clippings, sewage, dead plants & Leaves, grass clippings, sewage, dead plants &

animals.animals. Increase in temperature can decrease DO Increase in temperature can decrease DO

levelslevels Decreased flow rates can decrease DO levelsDecreased flow rates can decrease DO levels Levels of 3 or lower can lead to a Levels of 3 or lower can lead to a

fish killfish kill. Levels of 2 or lower will . Levels of 2 or lower will not support most aquatic life.not support most aquatic life.

Most fish prefer DO levels of 5 or more.Most fish prefer DO levels of 5 or more.

Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform Found in human and animal wasteFound in human and animal waste Indicator of presence of pathogenic Indicator of presence of pathogenic

bacteria that can cause sickness or bacteria that can cause sickness or disease, such as: typhoid fever, hepatitis, disease, such as: typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and ear gastroenteritis, dysentery, and ear infections. infections.

Can enter rivers & streams through:Can enter rivers & streams through: direct discharge of waste from mammals and direct discharge of waste from mammals and

birdsbirds from agricultural and storm runofffrom agricultural and storm runoff from untreated human sewage. from untreated human sewage.

Healthy Pond or RiverHealthy Pond or River

In a healthy pond everything is in In a healthy pond everything is in balance.balance. DO levels of 5 or greaterDO levels of 5 or greater pH levels between 6.5 and 8.5pH levels between 6.5 and 8.5 Low nitrate levelsLow nitrate levels Low phosphate levelsLow phosphate levels Low turbidityLow turbidity Average Temperature (for the season, area)Average Temperature (for the season, area) Low Fecal Coliform ratesLow Fecal Coliform rates Lots of organismsLots of organisms

Un-healthy Pond or RiverUn-healthy Pond or River

In an un-healthy pond everything is out of In an un-healthy pond everything is out of balance.balance. DO levels of 3 or lowerDO levels of 3 or lower pH levels below 5 or above 9.5pH levels below 5 or above 9.5 High nitrate levelsHigh nitrate levels High phosphate levelsHigh phosphate levels High turbidityHigh turbidity Above-Average Temperatures (for the season, area)Above-Average Temperatures (for the season, area) High Fecal Coliform ratesHigh Fecal Coliform rates Algae BloomsAlgae Blooms Few organisms. High abundance of blood worms Few organisms. High abundance of blood worms

and other pollution-tolerant species.and other pollution-tolerant species.

Ready?Ready?