MEASURES OF WATER QUALITY CE 131 Reviewer _______________ Caused by suspended solids in the water which scatter light/measured in NTU

or JTU (Turbidity) _______________ Intensity of acidity or alkalinity of a solution (pH) _______________ Represents the total amount of minerals in the water (Dissolved Solids) _______________ Measure of ability to carry an electrical current, which is actually carried by ions/expressed in Siemens (S)/can be used to measure dissolved solids content (Conductivity) _______________ The amount of oxygen gas dissolved in a given volume of water at a particular temperature and pressure (Dissolved Oxygen) _______________ Amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in a sample of water (Biochemical Oxygen Demand/BOD) _______________ Amount of oxygen needed to chemically oxidize organic compounds present in wastewater (Chemical Oxygen Demand/COD) _______________ Determined by oxidation at high temperature and use of suitable catalyst/oxides ammonium and ammonia (Total Oxygen Demand) Four categories used in describing drinking water quality 1. Physical temperature, color, turbidity, odor, density, taste, conductivity 2. Chemical pH, acidity, alkalinity, salinity, hardness, chlorides 3. Microbiological bacteria, viruses, algae, protozoa, rotifers 4. Radiological Notes: Drinking Water Quality (Physical) Color aesthetic purpose measured in Pt-Co or Tcu, also in absorbance at specific wavelength (nm) using a calorimeter or spectrophotometer Taste & Odor o Inorganic chemicals can affect taste but not odor (salt, minerals, metals) o Inorganic chemicals can cause both taste and odor problems (ammonia, chlorine) o Organic chemicals usually affect both taste and odor (pesticides, petroleum products) Temperature should be measured in situ Turbidity o NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Units o JTU Jackson Turbidity Units (using Turbidimeter)

Total Solids (TS) According to chemical property o Organic o Inorganic According to size o Suspended > 1mm o Colloidal between 1mm and .001mm o Dissolved < .001mm Total Suspended Solids (TSS) TSS below 20mg/L is considered to be clear TSS between 40-80mg/L appears cloudy TSS above 150mg/L is considered to be dirty (Chemical) pH o Surface water 6.5 to 8 pH o Groundwater 5.5 to 7.5 pH o Acid rain as low as 3 pH o Lakes damaged by acid rain can have a pH of 4 or less Hardness o Presence of multi-valent cations o 2 types: Calcium & Magnesium Hardness Carbonate & Noncarbonate Hardness o Expressed usually in mg/L o Degrees (measure mg/L) Degree of Hardness Soft Moderately Hard Hard Very Hard Davis and Cornwell 0-75 75-150 150-300 >300 USGS 0-60 61-120 121-180 >180

(Biological) Pathogens Expressed in Most Probable Number (MPN) or colonies per 100mL Present in low concentration