DissolvedOxygenandWaterQuality

I
ntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

DissolvedOxygen
Youcanttellbylookingatwaterthatthereisoxygengasinit,butthereis.Theoxygengasdissolvedin
lakes,rivers,andoceansiscrucialfortheorganismsandcreatureslivinginit.Astheamountofdissolved
oxygendropsbelownormallevelsinwaterbodies,thewaterqualityisharmedandcreaturesbegintodieoff.
Indeed,awaterbodycan"die",aprocesscalled

eutrophication
.

Althoughwatermoleculescontainanoxygenatom,thisoxygenisnotwhatisneededbyaquatic
organismslivinginnaturalwaters.
Dissolvedoxygen
referstothesmallamountofoxygengas(O
),uptoabout
2
tenmoleculesofoxygenpermillionofwater,thatisactuallydissolvedinwater.Oxygenentersastreamby
diffusionfromtheatmosphereand,inareaswheregroundwaterdischargeintostreamsisalargeportionof
streamflow,fromgroundwaterdischarge.Thisdissolvedoxygenisbreathedbyfishandmacroinvertebratesand
isneededbythemtosurvive.
Dissolvedoxygenandwaterquality
Rapidlymovingwater,suchasamountainstreamorlargeriver,tendstocontainalotofdissolved
oxygen,whereasstagnantwatercontainsless.Themovementofwaterincreasestherateofdiffusionofoxygen
fromtheatmosphereintothewater.Bacteriainwatercanconsumeoxygenasorganicmatterdecays.Thus,
excessorganicmaterial,suchasalgae,inlakesandriverscancauseeutrophicconditions,whichisan
oxygendeficientsituationthatcancauseawaterbody"todie."Aquaticlifecanhaveahardtimeinstagnant
waterthathasalotofrotting,organicmaterialinit,especiallyinsummer(theconcentrationofdissolved
oxygenisinverselyrelatedtowatertemperature),whendissolvedoxygenlevelsareataseasonallow.Water
nearthesurfaceofthelakeistoowarmforthem,whilewaternearthebottomhastoolittleoxygen.Conditions
maybecomeespeciallyseriousduringaperiodofhot,calmweather,resultinginthelossofmanyfish.You
mayhaveheardaboutsummertimefishkillsinlocallakesthatlikelyresultfromthisproblem.


Dissolvedoxygen,temperature,andaquaticlife

Asthischartshows,theconcentrationofdissolvedoxygeninsurfacewateriscontrolledbytemperature
andhasbothaseasonalandadailycycle.Coldwatercanholdmoredissolvedoxygenthanwarmwater.In
winterandearlyspring,whenthewatertemperatureislow,thedissolvedoxygenconcentrationishigh.In
summerandfall,whenthewatertemperatureishigh,thedissolvedoxygenconcentrationislow.

Photosynthesisistheprocessbywhichplantsmakefoodfromthesun.Duringthisprocess,plants
releaseoxygen.Therefore,thepresenceofaquaticplantscanincreasedissolvedoxygenlevelsandbebeneficial
forthehealthofthewater.However,excessiveplantgrowth,particularlyalgae,candecreasedissolvedoxygen
levels.Thisisbecamethealgaetendtogrowrapidlyaphenomenonknownasan
algalbloom
andthendie
offquickly.Whenthealgaedie,thebacteriathatbreakitdownconsumeoxygen,loweringdissolvedoxygen
levelsanddecreasingwaterquality.

MeasuringDissolvedOxygen
Dissolvedoxygenismeasuredusinganelectronicprobe.Theunitsaremg/L.Areadingof02
indicatesthereareverylow,andpossiblydeadlylevelsofdissolvedoxygen.Areadingof35meanslevelsare
somewhatlow,andmaybestressfultosomeaquaticorganisms.Areadingof6oraboveindicatesanormal,
healthylevelofdissolvedoxygen.

pHandWaterQuality
IntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

pH
pH
isameasureoftheacidicorbasic(alkaline)natureofasolution.Itisthe
hydrogenion
(H+)
concentrationthatdeterminespHofasolution.Awatermoleculeismadeupofhydrogenion(H+)anda

hydroxideion
(OH
):
+

H
+OH
=H
0.
2

pHisdeterminedandrecordedasanumberbetween0and14.
Distilled
(pure)waterhasapHof7which
+
isneutral.ThismeansthatthelevelofH
andOHionsinpurewaterareequal.IfthelevelofH+ions
increases,thesubstanceisconsideredanacidandthepHnumberisbelow7.IfthelevelofOHionsincreases,
thesubstanceisconsideredtobealkalineorbaseandthepHnumberisabove7.

Anacidhasarangeof0toanynumericalvaluebelow7.Forexample,6.9wouldbeaweakacid,anda
pHof2wouldbeastrongacid.Abasehasarangeofanynumericalvalueabove7to14,with7beinganeutral
value.AoneunitchangeinthepH,from4to3,isatenfoldchangeinhowacidicthesubstancehasbecome.
ThismeansthatapHof3istentimesmoreacidicthanapHof4.

pHandwaterquality
ThepHofdistilled(pure)waterisexactly7(neutral).IntheUnitedStates,thepHofmosthealthy
streamsrangesfrom6.58.5,butwidevariationscanoccurduetoincreasesintheatmosphereofnitrogenoxides
andsulfurdioxidesfromautomobileandcoalfiredpowerplantemissions.Theseoxidesareconvertedtonitric
andsulfuricacidsintheatmosphereandfalltoearthasacidrainorsnow.Thisacidicprecipitationcan
adverselylowerthepHofaquaticecosystems.Indeadzones,wherethecarbondioxidelevelsarehighand
dissolvedoxygenlevelsareverylow,carbonicacidformscausingpHtobecomeacidic.


ExcessivelyhighandlowpHscanbedetrimentalfortheuseofwater.Certainchemicals,likelaundry
detergents(ammonia),cancausethepHofwatertoincrease.HighpHcausesabittertaste,waterpipesand
waterusingappliancesbecomeencrustedwithdeposits,anditdepressestheeffectivenessofthedisinfectant
chlorine,therebycausingtheneedforadditionalchlorinewhenpHishigh.LowpHwaterwillhaveasour
taste,andcancorrodeordissolvemetalsandothersubstances.HighandlowpHwatercanbedeadlytoaquatic
life.MostlifeformsrequireapHthatisclosetoneutral.

Pollutioncanchangeawater'spH,whichinturncanharmanimalsandplantslivinginthewater.For
instance,watercomingoutofanabandonedcoalminecanhaveapHof2,whichisveryacidicandwould
definitelyaffectanyfishcrazyenoughtotrytoliveinit!ByusingthepHscale,thisminedrainagewaterwould
be100,000timesmoreacidicthanneutralwatersostayoutofabandonedmines!

ThepHscale:

MeasuringpH
pHismeasuredusinganelectronicpHprobe.DrinkingwatermusthaveapHbetween6.5and8.5.
Animalsandplantscansurviveinarangeof5to9.Beyondthisrange,thediversityoforganismswilldecrease,
andcanstressorevenkillaquaticlife.

Nitrates/PhosphatesandWaterQuality
IntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

Nitrates/Phosphates(Nutrients)
Bothnitrogenandphosphorousareelementsthatlivingthingsneedtogrowandsurvive.Thesenutrients
arebeneficialwhentheyarepresentintherightamount,butcanpollutewateriftheyareinexcess(toomuch).

Nitratesandphosphates
arethechemicalformsofnitrogenandphsophorousfoundinwater.Normally
onlysmallamountsarefoundnaturally.Whennitrateandphosphatelevelsarelow,thestreamecosystemis
healthythereisnotalotofalgaeinthewater,thereisnotalotofbacteriainthewater,anddissolvedoxygen
levelsarehigh.Anincreaseinnitrateandphosphatelevelscancomefrommanymanmadesourcessuchas
septic(sewer)systems,fertilizerrunoff,andimproperlytreatedwastewater.Whennitrateandphosphatelevels
arehigh,theycauseanextremeincreaseinalgaegrowth.Asthealgaediesanddecomposes,thebacteriathat
breaksdownthealgaeusesuplotsofoxygen.Asaresult,dissolvedoxygendecreases,whichcanhurtfishand
otheraquaticlife.

Nitrateconcentrationismeasuredusingachemicaltest.Anindicatorchemicalisplacedinthewater,
andchangescolordependingontheconcentrationofnitrates.TheEPAsuggestthatunpollutedwaters\have
lessthan0.1mg/Lofphosphatesandcontainlessthan1mg/Lofnitrates.Levelsabove10mg/Lofnitratescan
causebluebabysyndromethenitratesinterferewithhemoglobin(amoleculethatcarriesoxygenthroughout
thebloodstream),socellsdonotreceivetheirrequiredoxygen.Thislackofoxygencausesveinsandskinto
appearblue.

TemperatureandWaterQuality
IntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

Temperature
Temperature
ishowhotorcoldthewateris.Theoptimal(best)temperatureforthewaterisalittlebitcold.
Thetemperatureofanaquaticecosystemisveryimportant.

IfthetemperatureofwateristooHOT/high...

IfthetemperatureofthewaterisCOLD/
low...

DissolvedOxygen(O
)islowbecause
2
warmwatercannotholdasmuch
dissolvedoxygenascolderwater

DissolvedOxygen(O
)levelsare
2
higherbecausecoolwatercanhold
moredissolvedoxygen

CarbonDioxide(CO
)ishigh
2
Morealgaegrows

Aquaticorganismsarepronetomore
diseases

CarbonDioxide(CO
)willbelower
2
Moreaquaticorganisms

Coldwatercanholdmoredissolvedoxygenthanwarmwater.Livingthingsinthewaterneeddissolved
oxygentosurvive.Onethingthatcanmakewatertoowarmislotsofrunoff.Whenwaterthathasbeen
warmedonstreets,parkinglotsandsidewalksentersthestreamasrunoff,itmakesthewatertemperaturetoo
high.

Inaddition,deforestation,humanscuttingdowntreesandplants,canincreasethewatertemperature.
Thiscauses
erosion
(whensoiliswashedawaybymovingwater)whichmakessediments(dirt)gointhewater.
Thewaterbecomes
turbid,
orcloudy.Cloudywaterabsorbsmoreofthesun'sheat,whichmakesthewaterhot.

Changesintemperaturecanchangewhichplantsgrowinthewater.Ifthewateristoowarm,thenthere
isonetypeofplantthatgrowsalot
algae
!Algaecangrowsothickthatitblocksoutthesun,andkillsallthe
otherplants.Thisiscalledan
algalbloom
.Whenthealgaedie,bacteriabreakthemdown.Thebacteriauseup
alltheoxygeninthewater.Thiscauseslowoxygenlevelsandpoorwaterquality.Whenthewaterisalittlebit
cold,goodplantsgrowinthewaterandmakelotsofoxygenforthefishandotheranimals.

Runoffandwaterquality
IntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

Runoff
Runoff
isthewaterthatflowsoverthegroundafteraheavyrain.

Mostoftherainfallinforestedareasissoakedintosoils,isstoredasgroundwater,andslowlymakesits
waytostreamsthroughsprings.Floodingislesscommoninthesemorenaturalconditionsbecausewatersoaks
intotheground,whichlessenstheamountofrunoffintoastreamduringthestorm.

Asareasoflandthatdrainintosmallriversareurbanized(builtupwithhousesandroads),muchofthe
vegetation(plants)isreplacedbymanmadesurfaces.Thesearesometimescalled
impervioussurfaces
,which
meanstheyarenotpermeabletowaterwatercannotsoakintothem.Impervioussurfacesreducetheamountof
waterreturningtothegroundwater.Infact,theycausemorestormwaterrunofftooccur.Thisrunoffiscollected
bydrainagesystemssuchasstormsewers(asshowninthispicture),andditches,whichcarryrunoffdirectlyto
streams.Inareasinwhichpeoplehavebuilttownsandcity,waterarrivesmuchmorequicklyintostreams,
causingmoreflooding.


Runofffromagriculturalland(andevenourownyards)cancarryexcessmanureorfertilizerinto
streams,lakes,andgroundwatersupplies.Thesesubstancescontainnitrogenandphosphorus,nutrientsthat
havethepotentialtodegrade(lower)waterquality.
Whyisstormwaterrunoffaproblem?
Asitflowsoverthelandsurface,stormwaterpicksuppollutantsthatmayincludesediment,nutrients
(fromlawnfertilizers),bacteria(fromanimalandhumanwaste),pesticides(fromlawnandgardenchemicals),
metals(fromrooftopsandroadways),andpetroleumbyproducts(fromleakingvehicles).Pollutionoriginating
overalargelandareawithoutasinglepointoforiginandgenerallycarriedbystormwaterisconsidered
nonpointsourcepollution
.Incontrast,
pointsourcepollution
ispollutionthatoriginatesfromasingle
source,suchasafactoryorlandfill.Pollutedstormwaterrunoffcanbeharmfultoplants,animals,andpeople.

BioindicatorsandWaterQuality
I
ntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

Bioindicators
Biomeanslife.A
bioindicator
isalivingorganismsthatindicates(shows)ifabodyofwaterisclean
orpolluted.Onetypeofbioindicatorare
aquaticmacroinvertebrates.
Aquaticmeanstheyliveinthewater.
Macromeanstheyarebigenoughtoseewithoutamicroscope.Invertebratemeanstheydonthavea
backbonethisincludesthingslikeinsectsandcrayfish.Theseorganismsoftenliveinthewateraslarva
(babies),andthenturnintoadultsandleavethewater.Ifthereisalotofdiversity(differenttypes)of
macroinvertebratesitusuallymeansthewaterishealthy.Ifthereisnotalotofdiversityofmacroinvertebrates,
itmaymeanthewaterispolluted.Anoptimal(best)valueforbioindicatorsisascoreof22orhigher.This
meansyouhaveexcellentwaterquality.Ifyourscoreis1722,youhavegoodwaterquality.Ifyourscoreis
1116,youhavefairwaterquality.Ifyougetascorelessthan1,youprobablyhavepoorwaterquality.

Wheretofindbioindicators
Youcanfindaquaticmacroinvertebratesinalotofdifferentplaceslakes,ponds,streams,andrivers.
Whenlookingatastream,youwanttolookinawidevarietyofplacesbytheedgeofthestreamandinthe
middle,wherethewaterismovingfastandwhereitformspoolsanddoesnotmovealot.Oneofthebest
placestolookisin
riffle
areathisiswherethewaterismovingquickly,usuallyoverrocks.Youcanfindthe
macroinvertebratesbypickinguprocks,orbyscrapinganetalongtherocksorthebottomofthestream.

TypesofMacroinvertebrates
Therearethreegroupsofmacroinvertebrates.Ifyougetahighmacroinvertebratescore,itmeansyou
havealotof
pollutionintolerant(highquality)
organisms.Theseareworth
3points
.Theycannottolerate
(livewith)pollution.Thismeansifthereisanypollution,theywilldie.Ifyougetahighscore,youknowyour
streammustbehealthythereislotsofoxygen,aneutralpH,coolwater,andnopollution.Herearesome
examplesofthesemacroinvertebrates:

Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies

Thesecondgroupofmacroinvertebratesare
somewhatpollutiontolerant(middlequality)
.Theseare
worth
2points
eachtowardsthestreamsbioindicatorscore.Theycantoleratesomepollution,butnottoo
much.Ifthereisalotofpollution,theywilldie.Herearesomeexamplesofthesemacroinvertebrates:

Dragonflies
Damselflies

Ifyougetalowmacroinvertebratescore,itmeansyouhavealotofthethirdgroupof
macroinvertebrates,whichare
pollutiontolerant(lowquality)
.Theseareworthonly
1point
eachtowardsthe
streamsbioindicatorscore.Theycantoleratelotsofpollution.Ifyougetalowscoreitmeansyourstreamis
unhealthyverylittleoxygen,loworhighpHs,andwarmwater.Ifyouonlyfindthesemacroinvertebrates,
thereisagoodchanceyourwaterispolluted.Herearesomeexamplesofthesemacroinvertebrates:

Mosquitoes
Midges

TurbidityandWaterQuality
I
ntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

Turbidity
Turbidity
isthemeasureofrelativeclarity(clearness)ofaliquid.Materialthatcauseswatertobe
turbid(unclear)includeclay,silt,deadleaves,algae,solublecoloredcompounds,andplanktonandother
microscopicorganisms.

Highturbiditymakeswatercloudyoropaque.Turbidityisreportedinnephelometricturbidityunits
(NTU).Duringperiodsoflowwaterflow(baseflow),manyriversareacleargreencolor,andturbidityis
optimal,usuallylessthan10NTU.Duringarainstorm,sediments(dirt)fromthesurroundinglandarewashed
intotherivermakingthewateramuddybrowncolor,indicatingwaterthathasahighturbidity.Also,during
highflows,waterismovingfaster,whichcanstirupmaterialfromthestreambed(thebottomofthestream),
causinghigherturbidites.
Turbidityandwaterquality
Lowturbiditymeansthewaterisclear.Lowlevelsofturbidityindicatethereisnotalotoferosionor
runoffnearby.Waterthatiscleartendstohavelessbacteria,andhigherlevelsofdissolvedoxygenforfishand
otheraquaticlife.Highturbiditylevels,ontheotherhand,stoplightfrompenetrating(goingthrough)thewater.
Thiscankillaquaticplants,andtheorganismsthatrelyonthoseplantsforfood.Instreams,highturbiditycan
beasignthatthereisalotoferosionandrunoffnearby,carryingsediments,pollutants,andbacteriaintothe
water.Forthisreason,turbidityreadingscanbeusedasanindicatorthatpollutantsareinawaterbody.

Turbidityandhumanhealth
Excessiveturbidity,orcloudiness,indrinkingwatermayalsorepresentahealthconcern.Turbiditycan
providefoodandshelterfor
pathogens
(bacteriaandvirusesthatcausediseases).Turbidityneedstobe
removedfromdrinkingwaterinordertostopthegrowthofpathogensinthedistributionsystem,leadingto
waterbornediseaseoutbreaks.

MeasuringTurbidity
Turbidityismeasuredusinganelectronicprobecalledaturbidimeter.ItisusuallymeasuredinNTUs
(nephelometricturbidityunits).


DissolvedCarbonDioxideandWaterQuality
I
ntroductiontoWaterQuality
Isitsafefordrinking?Canfishandotheraquaticlifethriveinstreamsandlakesthatareaffectedby
humanactivities?Whatisthewaterquality?Toanswerthesequestions,itishelpfultounderstandwhat"water
quality"means,howitisdetermined,andthenaturalprocessesandhumanactivitiesthataffectwaterquality.

Waterquality
isameasureoftheusefulnessofwaterforaparticularpurposebasedoncertainphysical,
chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristics.Todeterminewaterquality,scientistsfirstmeasureandanalyze
characteristicsofthewatersuchastemperature,dissolvedmineralcontent,andnumberofbacteria.Selected
characteristicsarethencomparedtostandardsandguidelinestodecideifthewaterissuitableforaparticular
use.

CarbonDioxide
Carbondioxideisanodorless,colorlessgasproducedduringthe
respirationcycleofanimals,plantsandbacteria.Allanimalsandmanybacteria
useoxygenandreleasecarbondioxide.Greenplants,inturn,absorbthecarbon
dioxideand,bytheprocessofphotosynthesis,produceoxygenandcarbonrich
foods.

Greenplantscarryoutphotosynthesisonlyinthepresenceoflight.Atnight,theyrespireandburnthe
foodtheymadeduringtheday.Therefore,moreoxygenisusedandmorecarbondioxideenterswaterwaysat
nightthanduringthedaytime.Whencarbondioxidelevelsarehighandoxygenlevelsarelow,fishhavetrouble
respiring(takingupoxygen),andtheirproblemsbecomeworseaswatertemperaturesrise.Itsluckyforfish
that"free"carbondioxide(by"free"wemeanitisnotcombinedwithanything)levelsrarelyexceed30mg/L
(milligramsperliter),becausemostfishareabletotoleratethiscarbondioxidelevelwithoutbadeffects.

Whenseveraldaysofheavycloudcoveroccur,plantsabilitytophotosynthesizeisreduced.Whenthat
happensinapondcontaininglotsofplantlife,fishcanbehurtintwoways:bylowdissolvedoxygenandby
highcarbondioxidelevels.

Whenhighlevelsofcarbondioxidearepresentinwater,itquicklycombinesinwatertoformcarbonic
acid,aweakacid.Forwaterqualitytestinginstreamsandrivers,thepresenceofcarbonicacidisusuallybad
becauseitmeansthepHofthewaterisacidic(low).AlowpHcanbeharmfultoaquaticplantsandanimals.

Onereasontherecouldbehighlevelsofcarbondioxideareifan
algalbloom
occursthisiswhenlots
ofalgaegrowreallyfastinthestream.Thealgaeallbegintodie,andthebacteriathatdecompose(eat)the
algaeuseupthedissolvedoxygen,andreleasecarbondioxide.Thedissolvedcarbondioxidelevelsincrease,
andcanleadtoa
deadzone
wherefishandotheraquaticlifecannotsurvive.

MeasuringDissolvedCarbonDioxide
Wemeasuredissolvedcarbondioxideinpartspermillion(howmanycarbondioxidemoleculesthere
areforeverymillionwatermolecules).Weuseachemicaltesttomeasurethedissolvedcarbondioxide.Levels
higherthan30ppm(partspermillion)areharmfultoMOSTorganisms.Levelsgreaterthan35ppm(partsper
million)areharmfultoALLallaquaticanimals.