Water Quality Factors2014 SCIENCE CLASS

pH – Water (7)Water temperature affects the pHAmount of light can affect the pHAlgae and plants affect the pHTypes of rocks can affect the pHpH level affect the biosphere and what can live

in that water.

Macro-invertebratesUse them to test water quality3 Groups: Each group can live in different water

conditionsPolluted water, Somewhat polluted water, Clean

waterPlay role in food web

Water ClarityClear water usually means limited nutrientsMeasured by light penetration and transparency

(turbidity or cloudiness)Soil, mud, sand, plankton, algae are common

items that cause water clarity to decreaseHeavy rainfall speeds up soil erosionAnimals can stir up sediments on the bottomWind helps add sediments to the waterHigh temperatures = more aquatic plants. When

plants die, they decompose and decrease water clarity.

Water Clarity continuedAquatic plants need sunlight. If the water is

cloudy they do not get the sunlight. That in turn does not allow more dissolved oxygen to be in the water which living organisms need to survive.

High turbidity is bad for drinking water supplies Clear water = people want to gather there (ex:

vacations) Which leads to more pollution

Water TemperatureWarmer water hold less dissolved oxygenShallow water is warmerThe amount of Trees that give shade affect the

water temperatureThermal pollution = hot water is being released

into rivers

Dissolved OxygenToo many plants in the water causes higher

dissolved oxygen ratesChanges in water temperature changes the

amount of dissolved oxygenWarm water has less dissolved oxygenOxygen levels are high at day and low at nightChanges in Dissolved Oxygen can put aquatic

life at risk

Weather ConditionsAffects temperature, wind speed/direction,

precipitation and cloudiness which affect water quality

Rain affects the pH levelAcid rain

Current SpeedFast flowing waters are cool which gives it more

dissolved oxygenMore water = faster movingFlows faster through narrow openingsCurrent speed changes during seasonsFast flow = more sediments movingStream bed affects how fast the water can go