Aquatic Impact and Tolerable Limits
Test Aquatic Impact
Aquatic plant and animal life rely on oxygen for respiration.
Dissolved
Plants produce oxygen by photosynthesis. Oxygen dissolves in
Oxygen
water until the water becomes saturated.
Ability to neutralize acids, critical to maintain pH levels. Loss
Alkalinity
of buffering capacity can be deadly to fish.
Source of nitrogen, an important growth nutrient for aquatic
Ammonia
plants.
Major anion found in water/sewage. Increases salinity of
Chloride
water.
Not present in natural water, typically a product of municipal
Chlorine water supply disinfection. High levels can be harmful/fatal to
plants and fish.
Found naturally in low concentrations. Toxic, can be
Chromium concentrated in shellfish and other animals, posing a threat to
all who may consume it.
Found naturally in low concentrations. Elevated amounts may
Copper be due to industrial effluents or corroded plumbing. Causes
bitter taste, discoloration, and staining.
Important nutrient, naturally occuring. Typically from water
Iron
picking it up as it travels through soil/rock.
Acts as fertilizer for aquatic plants. High nitrate levels can
Nitrate cause excessive plant/algae growth which creates water
qualtiy problems.
Acts as fertilizer for aquatic plants.High phosphate levels can
Phosphate cause excessive plant/algae growth which creates water
qualtiy problems.
Measurement of Ca and Mg. Ca is imporatant for plant cell
Hardness
walls. Mg is essential and a part of chlorophyll.
Ability to carry an electrical current. Measures the dissolved
Conductivity
salts in water (more salts, higher conductivity)
Rapidly growing plants/algae remove CO2 from the water
pH during photosynthesis, this can result in the significant
increase in pH.
Table 2
Aquatic Impact and Tolerable Limits
Tolerable Limits
40 ppm unsafe for drinking
> 0.03 ppm contribute to
increased plant/algae growth
Ca 10
Mg 5
N/A
= 5-8.5 (natural waters)
Table 2
Sample Location *D.O. Alk *NH3 *ClO *Cl *Cr
Culvert into Cherry Creek 4.0 80 0.00 0 0 0
Puddle Cherry Creek 3.0 80 0.00 0 0 0
Cherry Creek Main 4.0 120 0.00 60 0 0
Puddle by Science Bldg 8.0 240 0.00 20 0 0
South platte (above confluence) 2.0 120 0.00 60 0 0
* Reported as ppm
Term Abbreviation
Dissolved Oxygen D.O.
Alkalinity Alk
Ammonia NH3
Chloride ClO
Chlorine Cl
Chromium Cr
Copper Cu
Iron Fe
Nitrate NO4
Phosphate PO4
Hardness-Calcium Hrd (Ca)
Hardness-Magnesium Hrd (Mg)
Conductivity Cnd
pH pH
*Cu *Fe *NO4 *PO4 *Hrd (Ca) *Hrd (Mg) Cnd pH
0 1 0 0 16 10 55 8
0 0 1 2 960 576 55 9
0 1 5 1 880 528 230 8
0 2 13 4 32 19 270 4
0 1 0 0 48 28.8 355 8
For Next week:
1) Water Quailty Lab Write-Up
2) Additional Lit Review articles
3) Meeting place/time for ROMO