Stream Name
__________________ Watershed____________Station # ____ Date ________ Time _______
Group Members’ Names
____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Water Chemistry Analysis Report Form
Temperature ___________ °C Copper
___________ mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen __________ ppm Turbidity ___________ NTUs or JTUs
Nitrates __________ ppm Phosphates ___________
ppm
Ph __________
pH Iron ___________ ppm
Temperature Temperature determines the rate of chemical and
metabolic reactions. Warm water speeds
up reactions, therefore, warm water usually contains more fish that grow bigger
and faster. Cooler water contains more
dissolved oxygen than warm water.
pH Fish, frogs, and most other aquatic life tolerate a
pH of 5 to 8.5 (neutral pH = 7.0; pH
< 7.0 is acidic and pH > 7.0 is alkaline or basic.) The pH of rain is naturally 5.5 Causes of increased acidity of water
include: acid rain and industrial wastes.
Depending upon the geology of the area, some soils will better buffer a
lower pH. Alkaline industrial wastes
are the primary cause for high pH values.
Dissolved
Oxygen Oxygen is essential for
aquatic organisms. Lack of oxygen in the water can cause many stream insects
and fish to die. Organic materials in
water (dead plants and animals or human wastes) require oxygen to decompose. Too much organic materials from wastewater
treatment plant discharges, industrial discharges, runoff of livestock wastes
and septic systems may use up all of the oxygen dissolved in the water. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations should
not be less than 4.0 mg/l (ppm) for warm water fish and not less than 5.0 mg/l
(ppm) for cold water fish. Cold water contains more dissolved oxygen than warm
water.
Phosphates Phosphorus is an important nutrient that promotes
the growth of plants. The amount found
in water is generally not more than 0.1 ppm, unless the water has become
polluted. Sources of phosphates in
water are: human wastes and detergents
from wastewater treatment plants or septic systems, or fertilizer runoff from
golf courses, lawns, and farming areas.
Nitrates Nitrogen is essential for plant
growth, but excessive amounts in water accelerates plant and algae growth. Nitrogen compounds may enter water
from: fertilizer runoff from lawns,
golf courses, or farm fields; sewage from septic systems or municipal
wastewater treatment plants: industrial discharges; dairies; food-packing plant
wastes; and livestock wastes. Nitrates
should not exceed 10 ppm for drinking water, but finding any nitrate in the
water is cause for concern.
Copper Copper in water is from
stamp sands or waste rock from copper mines.
The national standard for aquatic life is .018 mg/l and for drinking
water is 1.3 mg/l. (mg/l = ppm)
Iron Iron in water stains
fixtures and may have an odor or taste. Values of 0-0.5 are acceptable. High
values in streams may indicate contamination from landfills.
Turbidity Turbidity, or cloudiness in
the water, is caused by eroded soil (sediment) or high concentrations of
microscopic plankton due to excess nutrients (P & N) in the water. Sediment buries fish eggs and stream macroinvertebrates
on the stream bottom, damages gills, and interferes with ability of fish to
find food. Drinking water < 0.5 NTU;
groundwater < 1.0 NTU.
\\SEVERN\joan\Joan\Adopt-A-Stream\Stream
monitoring\Water Chemistry Data Form.doc
Wetland/Stream Name
_____________________ Station # ____
Date ________ Time _______
Group
Members’ Names
_________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Dissolved Oxygen ____________
ppm Turbidity ___________
NTUs or JTUs
Nitrates ____________
ppm Phosphates ___________ ppm
Temperature Temperature determines the rate of chemical and metabolic reactions. Warm water speeds up reactions, therefore, warm water usually contains more fish that grow bigger and faster. Cooler water contains more dissolved oxygen than warm water.
pH Fish, frogs, and most other aquatic life can tolerate a pH of 5 to 8.5 (neutral pH = 7.0;
pH < 7.0 is acidic and pH > 7.0 is alkaline or basic.) The pH of rain is naturally 5.5 Causes of increased acidity of water include: mine drainage, acid rain, and industrial wastes. Depending upon the geology of the area, some soils will better buffer a lower pH. Alkaline industrial wastes are the primary cause for high pH values.
Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen is essential for aquatic organisms. Lack of oxygen in the water can cause many stream insects and fish to die. Organic materials in water (dead plants and animals or human wastes) require oxygen to decompose. Too much organic materials from wastewater treatment plant discharges, industrial discharges, runoff of livestock wastes and septic systems, etc. may use up all of the oxygen dissolved in the water. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations should not be less than 4.0 mg/l (ppm) for warm water fish and not less than 5.0 mg/l (ppm) for cold water fish. Colder water can contain more DO than warmer water.
Phosphates Phosphorus is an important nutrient that promotes the growth of plants. The amount found in water is generally not more than 0.1 ppm unless the water has become polluted. Sources of phosphates in water are: human wastes and detergents discharged by wastewater treatment plants or septic systems, or fertilizer runoff from golf courses, lawns, and farming areas.
Nitrates Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but excessive amounts in water accelerates plant and algae growth. Nitrogen compounds may enter water from: fertilizer runoff from lawns, golf courses, or farm fields; sewage from septic systems or municipal wastewater treatment plants: industrial discharges; dairies; food-packing plant wastes; and livestock wastes. Nitrates should not exceed 10 ppm for drinking water, but finding any nitrate in the water is cause for concern.
Turbidity Turbidity, or cloudiness in the water, is caused by eroded soil (sediment) or high concentrations of microscopic plankton due to excess nutrients (P & N) in the water. Sediment buries fish eggs and stream macroinvertebrates on the stream bottom, damages gills, and interferes with ability of fish to find food. Drinking water < 0.5 NTU; groundwater < 1.0 NTU.