NAME: ……………………..………………………………….. (
TASK 2B: METHODS TO GATHER WATER QUALITY DATA
Water Why is this indicator important?
quality
indicator
Temperature Temperature affects aquatic organisms.
The body temperature of most aquatic
animals fluctuates with the water
temperature.
Most aquatic organisms are adapted to
live in a narrow temperature
range and they die when the temperature
is too low or too high.
Temperature also affects the rate of
photosynthesis of aquatic plants, the base
of the aquatic food web.
The amount of dissolved oxygen becomes
lower as the water becomes warmer.
Dissolved The dissolved oxygen is the amount of
Oxygen oxygen dissolved in a given volume of
water, at a given temperature and
atmospheric pressure.
This can be measured in milligrams per
litre (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm).
Importance:
The minimum amount of dissolved oxygen
needed to sustain fish life is about 4 mg/l
or 4 ppm.
) CLASS: ……………….
Method used (Steps taken to measure this
indicator)
1. Fill the white container such that the
water covers the temperature strip.
2. Read the temperature where the colour
of the strip turns dark green.
1. Fill the vial with the water collected.
2. Ensure no bubbles visible
3. Insert 2 tablets for dissolved oxygen
testing
4. Close the cover
5. Shake continuously for 10 mins
6. Observe colour change and compare
colour against the dissolved oxygen
chart.
1
DATE: ……………………..
Precautions (for accuracy)
The water sample should not be
collected too near to the water
surface.
[Water should be collected about
20 cm below the surface.]
Ensure that the test is done
immediately after water sample is
collected so that the actual water
temperature is recorded.
Vial must be submerged into the
white container while filling the vial
with collected water. This is to
avoid introducing bubbles in the
vial.
Always place the vial or test tube
against the white background
when comparing collected water
with the given chart.
Water Why is this indicator important?
quality
indicator
pH Most aquatic animals prefer a range of pH
6.5 to 8.5. pH can be affected by acid rain
or wastewater discharges
If the living conditions have a pH value
away from this range, these aquatic
animals will either flee or die.
Turbidity Turbidity is the measure of the relative
clarity of water.
Murkiness can give some clues to what
may be in the water. There may
be dissolved pollutants or bacteria.
However, murky water
does NOT necessarily mean there
is pollution.
Method used (Steps taken to measure this
indicator)
1. Fill the test tube up to the 10 ml mark
2. Insert a PH tablet into the test tube.
3. Observe colour change and compare
colour against the PH chart.
1. Pour the collected sample water into the
white container.
2. Compare the appearance of Secchi disk
icon in the container to the chart.
3. Record the result as turbidity in JTU.
2
Precautions (for accuracy)
Always place the test tube against
the white background when
comparing collected water with the
given chart.
Fill up the container to the turbidity
line located on the label.
Wash the jar after use and allow it
to dry thoroughly before replacing
kit contents for storage.
Water Why is this indicator important?
quality
indicator
Nitrate Nitrate is a nutrient needed by all aquatic
(wide range) plants and animals to build protein.
Excess nutrients like nitrate increase plant
growth and decay, promote bacterial
decomposition, and therefore, decrease
the amount of oxygen available in the
water.
Drinking water containing high nitrate
levels can affect the ability of our blood to
carry oxygen.
The health concern is with levels of
nitrate over 10 ppm Nitrate.
Phosphate Phosphate is a nutrient needed for plant
and animal growth. High levels of this
nutrient can lead to overgrowth of plants,
increased bacterial activity, and
decreased dissolved oxygen levels.
For natural reservoirs used by the drinking
water industry, the level of total
phosphates must be 40 ppm (parts per
million) or less.
Method used (Steps taken to measure this Precautions (for accuracy)
indicator)
1. Fill the test tube to the 5 mL line with the Nitrate Wide Range CTA TesTabs
water sample. are sensitive to UV light. The
2. Add one *Nitrate Wide Range CTA Protective Sleeve will protect the
TesTab. reaction from UV light.
3. Immediately slide the test tube into the If testing indoors, there is no need
Protective Sleeve (or wrap with to use the Protective Sleeve in this
aluminium foil). procedure.
4. Cap and mix by inverting for two
minutes to disintegrate the tablet.
5. Wait 5 minutes for the red colour to
develop.
6. Remove the tube from the Protective
Sleeve.
7. Compare the colour of the sample to the
Nitrate colour chart. Record the result
as ppm Nitrate.
1. Fill the test tube to the 10 mL line with Always place the test tube against
the water sample. the white background when
2. Add one Phosphorus TesTab. comparing collected water with the
3. Cap and mix by inverting until the tablet given chart.
has disintegrated.
4. Wait 5 minutes for the blue colour to
develop. NOTE: If the sample does not
develop a blue colour (sample is
colourless), record the result as 0 ppm.
5. Compare the colour of the sample to
the Phosphate colour chart.
8. Record the result as ppm Phosphate.