Water Quality
Water is essential to human life and the health of the environment. Good water quality is essential for irrigation, drinking and recreation and also sustains ecological processes that support native fish populations, vegetation and bird life. We expect that our water supply will not only be safe, but will taste good, and look crystal clear.
Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. Water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health is referred to a healthy environment.
The following methods are used to determine water quality;
Concentrations of common ions
Total dissolved solids
Total dissolved solids (TDS) measures water purity. TDS are the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water, the …show more content…
Oxygen is measured in its dissolved form; it is dissolved into water by transfer from the air and water surface, plants carrying out photosynthesis and through water disturbance. Warm water and high altitudes hold less oxygen.
To maintain a healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystem, dissolved oxygen must be maintained at high levels, if more oxygen is consumed than is produced, levels decline and more sensitive animals may move away, or die. Dissolved oxygen is vital for the survival of aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is used as an indirect measure of the amount of organic matter in water, for example, plant material made of cellulose (a natural polymer of glucose). Aerobic bacteria require oxygen to break down organic matter from which they feed. The bacteria which break up organic matter in water consume large amounts of oxygen, reducing the amount available for other aquatic
Water is essential to human life and the health of the environment. Good water quality is essential for irrigation, drinking and recreation and also sustains ecological processes that support native fish populations, vegetation and bird life. We expect that our water supply will not only be safe, but will taste good, and look crystal clear.
Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. Water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health is referred to a healthy environment.
The following methods are used to determine water quality;
Concentrations of common ions
Total dissolved solids
Total dissolved solids (TDS) measures water purity. TDS are the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water, the …show more content…
Oxygen is measured in its dissolved form; it is dissolved into water by transfer from the air and water surface, plants carrying out photosynthesis and through water disturbance. Warm water and high altitudes hold less oxygen.
To maintain a healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystem, dissolved oxygen must be maintained at high levels, if more oxygen is consumed than is produced, levels decline and more sensitive animals may move away, or die. Dissolved oxygen is vital for the survival of aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is used as an indirect measure of the amount of organic matter in water, for example, plant material made of cellulose (a natural polymer of glucose). Aerobic bacteria require oxygen to break down organic matter from which they feed. The bacteria which break up organic matter in water consume large amounts of oxygen, reducing the amount available for other aquatic