Pollution

Turbidity refers to how clear the water is. The greater the amount of total suspended solids (TSS) in the water, the murkier it appears and the higher the measured turbidity.

Water

Turbidity

The major source of turbidity in the open water zone of most lakes is typically phytoplankton, but closer to shore, particulates may also be clays and silts from shoreline erosion, resuspended bottom sediments High concentrations of particulate matter can modify light penetration

**http://www.waterontheweb.org/under/waterquality/turbidity.html

http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Turbidity&video_id=204099

Salinization

Salinization refers to a build up of salts in soil, eventually to toxic levels for plants Salinization is especially likely to become a problem on poorly drained soils when the groundwater is within 3 m or less of the surface (depending on the soil type). In such cases, water rises to the surface by capillary action

BOD-Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is one of the most common measures of pollutant organic material in water.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is consumed by bacteria when large amounts of organic matter from sewage or other discharges are present in the water

In a healthy stream, oxygen is replenished faster than it is used by aquatic organisms. In some streams, aerobic bacteria decompose such a large volume of organic material that oxygen is depleted from the stream faster than it can be replaced.
The resulting decrease in dissolved oxygen is known as the

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Therefore, a low BOD is an indicator of good quality water, while a high BOD indicates polluted water.

Eutrophication

Fertilisers are often used in farming, sometimes these fertilisers run-off into nearby water causing an increase in nutrient levels. This causes phytoplankton to grow and reproduce more rapidly, resulting in algal blooms. This bloom of algae disrupts normal ecosystem functioning and causes many problems. The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life. This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish, which need the oxygen in the water to live. The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface.
http://www.wellcomemat.com/video/NJ/Lavallette/community/050A678061/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJZtKnRo9w&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_ mode=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDhmtQUWS8I&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1