World+Water+Monitoring+Project

Welcome to the Water Monitoring Project page! // Think a moment about your results: // ||
 * Thank you for participating in World Water Monitoring Day! ** ||
 * Thank you for participating in World Water Monitoring Day! ** ||
 * ** Turbidity ** ||
 * ** 48.570 JTU ** In general, the clearer (or less turbid) the water, the better. If your water tested high for turbidity, that implies that there are solid particles suspended in the water that are making it hazy. These particles can be bad for water quality because they could clog fish gills, block light from aquatic plants, and absorb heat.
 * ** 48.570 JTU ** In general, the clearer (or less turbid) the water, the better. If your water tested high for turbidity, that implies that there are solid particles suspended in the water that are making it hazy. These particles can be bad for water quality because they could clog fish gills, block light from aquatic plants, and absorb heat.

Turbid water is caused by things like clay, silt, organic and inorganic matter, and microscopic organisms. Turbid water might be the result of soil erosion, urban runoff, algae, and the stirring up of bottom sediment (often caused by boats or too many bottom feeding fish). Turbidity is not the same thing as color, since darkly colored water can still be clear and not turbid. ||
 * ** Dissolved Oxygen ** ||
 * ** 5.140 ppm ** The key to understanding this figure is to make sure you’ve determined the saturation percentage of DO for your waterbody. There is a chart included in the WWMD instruction manual that will help you do this. Living organisms require oxygen to survive (even fish), so in general, natural waters with consistently high dissolved oxygen levels (not exceeding 100% saturation) likely provide healthy and stable environments for supporting a variety of aquatic organisms.
 * ** 5.140 ppm ** The key to understanding this figure is to make sure you’ve determined the saturation percentage of DO for your waterbody. There is a chart included in the WWMD instruction manual that will help you do this. Living organisms require oxygen to survive (even fish), so in general, natural waters with consistently high dissolved oxygen levels (not exceeding 100% saturation) likely provide healthy and stable environments for supporting a variety of aquatic organisms.

DO levels fluctuate seasonally and over a 24-hour period. They vary with water temperature, altitude, and time of day. Cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water. For example, water at 28°C will be 100% saturated with 8 ppm dissolved oxygen. However, water at 8°C can hold up to 12 ppm of oxygen before it is 100% saturated. Water also holds less oxygen at higher altitudes. DO levels tend to be lower in the early morning because aquatic plants have been “resting” all night without sunlight for photosythesis (and oxygen generation).

When the temperature of a water body increases, it is likely that its DO levels will diminish (see causes under “Temperature”). Additionally, high levels of bacteria and/or large amounts of rotting matter can cause DO levels to decrease because bacteria require oxygen to decompose organic waste. ||
 * ** pH ** ||
 * ** 7.570 ** Again, to truly determine whether your reading is acceptable, you should do a little research about the needs of the species native to your region. In general, the majority of freshwater organisms live in a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 on a 14-point scale with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. (For comparison, a lemon is 2 to 3 on the pH scale, while laundry detergents tend to fall anywhere from 7.5-10.5). Most aquatic animals prefer a range of 6.5 to 8.0 and will stop reproducing at pH levels around 4. If levels drop to around 3 on the pH scale, adult fish will die unless they are able to move away.
 * ** 7.570 ** Again, to truly determine whether your reading is acceptable, you should do a little research about the needs of the species native to your region. In general, the majority of freshwater organisms live in a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 on a 14-point scale with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. (For comparison, a lemon is 2 to 3 on the pH scale, while laundry detergents tend to fall anywhere from 7.5-10.5). Most aquatic animals prefer a range of 6.5 to 8.0 and will stop reproducing at pH levels around 4. If levels drop to around 3 on the pH scale, adult fish will die unless they are able to move away.

pH can be affected by acid rain, wastewater discharges, drainage from mines, and the type of rock naturally found in the area. ||
 * ** Temperature ** ||
 * ** 16.570 °C ** To determine whether or not this temperature reading is optimum, you must learn more about the aquatic organisms that are native to your region. All aquatic organisms (e.g. stream insects, fish, plants, etc.) need a certain temperature range to survive and thrive. For example, Chinook Salmon prefer temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, but tropical Altum Angelfish prefer temperatures from 26°C to 29°C. If the temperature of a waterbody rises or falls significantly for a prolonged period of time, aquatic organisms will become stressed and die.
 * ** 16.570 °C ** To determine whether or not this temperature reading is optimum, you must learn more about the aquatic organisms that are native to your region. All aquatic organisms (e.g. stream insects, fish, plants, etc.) need a certain temperature range to survive and thrive. For example, Chinook Salmon prefer temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, but tropical Altum Angelfish prefer temperatures from 26°C to 29°C. If the temperature of a waterbody rises or falls significantly for a prolonged period of time, aquatic organisms will become stressed and die.

Temperature also affects the amount of oxygen water can hold (cold water holds more oxygen than warm water) and affects the rate of photosynthesis by aquatic plants. Warm water discharged from factories, the removal of trees and vegetation that shade streams, and water that runs off city streets can cause temperature changes that threaten the balance of aquatic systems. ||
 * ** Macroinvertebrates ** ||
 * No data was entered. ||
 * No data was entered. ||

Please add information you have learned while working on this project.

http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/

http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/Resources/Fact_Sheets.html