SOMEBODY CALL THE
DOCTOR!
AN INTRODUCTION TO
WATER HEALTH
WARM-UP
• Write a homework reminder!
• Update your Table of Contents for today!
• Tape your quiz onto page 6, and your Webquest onto
page 7 when you get them back!
• What were some water quality indicators from the
Wonderville Water Webquest?
Date Session
#
12/8
&
12/9
4
Activity
Page
#
Water Quality Indicator Note Guide
8
Water Diagnosis Chart
9
HOW DO WE KNOW IF OUR
WATER IS HEALTHY?
There are PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL &
BIOLOGICAL indicators that work together to
determine the health of the water
TEMPERATURE
• Definition: How hot or cold the water is
• Healthy/Unhealthy Levels: Correct
temperature to support the
organisms/ecosystem
• Minimum = 32o
• Maximum = 97o
TEMPERATURE
Causes of Temperature Change:
• loss or gain of shade
• heat pollution
• seasonal/global changes
Effects of Temperature Change:
• decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO)
• increased bacteria
• increased algae growth
TURBIDITY
• Definition: A measure of how cloudy water is
due to “stuff” in it.
• Healthy/Unhealthy Levels:
• Drinking water = at or below 1 NTU
• Salt water = below 25 NTU
• Fresh water = below 50 NTU
TURBIDITY
Causes of Turbidity Change:
• erosion/run-off
• disturbance of water
• algae growth
Effects of Turbidity:
• increased temperature
• decrease in DO
• clogs gills in organisms
• blocks sunlight for photosynthesis
PH
• Definition: Measure of how acidic or
basic the water is
• Healthy/Unhealthy Levels:
• Drinking Water: 7
• Salt Water: 7.5  8.5
• Fresh Water: 6.0  8.0
PH
Causes of pH level change:
• acid rain or other chemicals
• minerals washing into water
Effects of pH level change:
• death to sensitive plants and animals
PH MINI LAB
Levels:
06 is acidic
7 is neutral
814 is basic (alkaline)
PH MINI LAB
• To demonstrate the idea of pH, you tested 4
things and recorded their pH level. What
were the pH levels, and based on the reading,
were they an acid, base or neutral?
Lemon
Juice
pH Value
Acid, Base or
Neutral?
Windex
Tap
Water
Your
Mouth
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
• Definition: Oxygen gas dissolved in the water
• Healthy/Unhealthy Levels: Correct amount of
dissolved oxygen = lots of life
• 4-5 ppm is optimal
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Causes of Change in DO Levels:
• increased temperature
• decaying plant matter
Effects of Change of DO Levels:
• less diversity of species
• fish kills
NUTRIENTS
• Definition: Substances that are usually good, but
can become toxic if they are not the correct level
• Healthy/Unhealthy Levels: Correct amount of
nitrates, phosphates, sunlight, minerals like salt =
lots of life
• nitrates = 1 ppm or below is optimal
• phosphates = .03 or below ppm is optimal
NUTRIENTS
Causes of Nutrient Level Changes:
• fertilizer run-off
• animal waste run-off
Effects of Nutrient Level Changes:
• EUTROPHICATION
• low DO
EUTROPHICATION FLOW CHART
EXCESS NUTRIENTS  ALGAE BLOOM (POND SCUM)  DARKNESS BELOW
SURFACE  PHOTOSYNTHESIS STOPS DECOMPOSERS & OTHER ORGANISMS
USE UP OXYGEN DEATH OF ORGANISMS
BIO-INDICATORS
• Definition: Macro-invertebrates that live in
the water and are sensitive to pollution
• Healthy/Unhealthy Levels:
• Lots of bio-indicators = healthy water
• Little or no bio-indicators = unhealthy water
BIO-INDICATORS
Causes of Change in Bio-Indicator Levels:
• increased levels of pollution
Effects of Change in Bio-Indicator Levels:
• damages food chain
• loss of organisms
HARDNESS
• What are you testing for when you are testing the
hardness of water?
• Minerals, specifically…Calcium & Magnesium
• “Hard” Water = contains Calcium & Magnesium
• “Soft” Water = softened with salt
“GAME CHANGERS”
MERCURY
• Natural toxic element –
dumped in water from
industries
• Usually affects people
through eating fish
from mercury
contaminated water
• Causes kidney damage
& brain/neurological
disorders
“GAME CHANGERS”
COLIFORM BACTERIA
• Bacteria commonly
found in water, soil
and vegetation
• Some forms are
harmless, but can
indicate the presence
of fecal matter
VOCABULARY
SPLASH
• All of the vocabulary words will be on the
slide.
• Study the words for 30 seconds.
• Next slide will be missing 1 of the words from
the original slide.
• Write down the word that is missing and its
definition as quickly as possible.
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Hardness
pH
Nutrients
Nutrients
pH
YOU BE THE DOCTOR!
• Use the notes you just took to:
1) Diagnose the possible cause of the water
issues on the Water Quality Checklist
2) Decide if the water is healthy or unhealthy
HOMEWORK
• Bring rain boots/shoes & clothes you
can get dirty in 2 classes from today
because we are going to the creek!