Wartburg, Tennessee
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Wartburg, Tennessee
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Alkalinity refers to the ability of water to neutralize acids as they are added to or created in the aquatic ecosystem. This neutralization process is called buffering, and is critical to maintaining proper pH levels. A healthy, productive freshwater lake has a pH of about 8. Natural pH buffers, primarily carbonates and bicarbonates, help to maintain the pH at this level and to prevent drastic pH fluctuations. A temporary loss of buffering capacity can permit the pH to drop to levels that are harmful to aquatic life. For example, an entire season of acidic precipitation can be stored in the form of snow and ice, so areas which receive a lot of snow melt in the spring are especially susceptible to seasonal loss of buffering capacity. Buffering material in the water are produced by leaching of the rocks, soil, and minerals through which the water flows. Alkalinity is usually expressed as parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Alkalinity levels of 100 to 200 ppm will stabilize the pH level in a body of water. Levels between 20 to 200 are typically found in freshwater, while seawater generally has alkalinity levels from 100 to 125 ppm. Ammonia is present in variable amounts in many surface and ground waters. The primary sources of ammonia in water are bacterial decomposition of organic waste, and the excretions of aquatic animals. Ammonia serves as a source of nitrogen, which is used as a nutrient for the growth of aquatic plants. Ammonia exists in two forms in water, un-ionized (NH3) and ionized (NH4). Un-ionized ammonia is toxic to fish, while the ionized form is non-toxic, except at extremely high levels. The relative proportions of each form present are regulated by pH and temperature. Ammonia is usually present in low quantities (less that 1 ppm) in non-polluted, well-oxygenated water, but may reach levels of 5 to 10 ppm in areas with low dissolved oxygen and large amounts of decaying organic material. Conductivity (EC) estimates the amount of total dissolved salts (TDS), or the total amount of dissolved ions in the water. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - Aquatic animals need dissolved oxygen to live. Fish, invertebrates, plants and aerobic bacteria all require oxygen for respiration. Oxygen dissolves readily into water from the atmosphere until the water is saturated. Once dissolved in water, the oxygen diffuses very slowly, and distribution deepens on the movement of the aerated water. Oxygen is also produced by aquatic plants, algae and phytoplankton as a by-product of photosynthesis. Aquatic organisms require different amounts of dissolved oxygen. Dissolved Oxygen levels below 3 ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms
Fecal Coliform bacteria are found in the feces of humans and other warm-blooded animals. These bacteria can enter rivers through direct discharge from mammals and birds, from agricultural and storm runoff carrying wastes from birds and mammals, and from human sewage discharge into the water. Fecal coliform by themselves are not pathogenic. Pathogenic organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause diseases and illnesses. Fecal coliform bacteria naturally occur in the human digestive tract, and aid in the digestion of food. In infected individuals, pathogenic organisms are found along with fecal coliform bacteria. If fecal coliform counts are high (over 200 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in the river, there is greater chance that pathogenic organisms are also present. A person swimming in such waste has greater chance of getting sick from swallowing disease-causing organisms, or from pathogens entering the body through cuts in the skin, the nose, mouth, or the ears. Disease and illness such as typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and ear infections can be contracted in waters with high fecal coliform counts. Pathogens are relatively scarce in water, making them difficult and time-consuming to monitor directly. Instead, fecal coliform levels are monitored, because of the correlation between fecal coliform counts and the probability of contracting a disease from the water. Coliform Standards ( in colonies/100ml ) Drinking
water........................................................................1FC Non-Fecal Coliform is bacteria that generally occurs in the streams. pH test is one of the most common analyses in water testing. pH is a measurement of the activity of hydrogen ions in a water sample. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Water samples with a pH below 7.0 are considered acidic, those above 7.0 are basic, with 7.0 considered neutral. A pH range of 6.5 to 8.2 is optimal for most organisms. Rapidly growing algae and vegetation remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the water during photosynthesis. This can result in a significant increase in pH. Most natural waters have pH values form 5.0 to 8.5. Acidic, freshly fallen rain water may have a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Alkaline soils and minerals can raise the pH to 8.0 to 8.5. Seawater usually has a pH value close to 8.0. Phosphates is a nutrient that acts as a fertilizer for aquatic plants. When nutrient levels are high, excessive plant and algae growth creates water quality problems. Phosphorus occurs in natural waters in the form of phosphates (PO4). Over half of the phosphates in lakes, streams and rivers come from detergents. Phosphate levels higher than 0.003 ppm contribute to increased plant growth. Turbidity simply answers the question, "How cloudy is the water?" Light's ability to pass through water depends on how much suspended material is present. Turbidity may be caused by large amounts of silt, microorganisms, plant fibers, sawdust, wood ashes, chemicals and coal dust. Any substance that makes water cloudy will cause turbidity. The most frequent causes of turbidity in lakes and rivers are plankton and soil erosion from logging, miming, and dredging operations.
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