Water Quality is a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on

selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics.

Water Quality Indicators
1. Turbidity - measure of the degree to which water loses its transparency due
to the presence of suspended particulates
Results of high turbidity:
High turbidity increases the absorption of sunlight thus making the water
warmer. Warmer water has lower levels of dissolved oxygen causing fish and
larvae to die
2. pH numeric scale used to specify the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous
solution
3. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen (O2) dissolved in the water.
Dissolved oxygen is one of the best indicators of water quality. People need
oxygen in the atmosphere to survive and animals that live in the ocean, like
fish, need dissolved oxygen in the water to survive.
Common Water Pollutants
1. Acid rain - Some fish and animals, such as frogs, have a hard time adapting
to and reproducing in an acidic environment. Many plants, such as evergreen
trees, are damaged by acid rain and acid fog. I've seen some of the acid-rain
damage to the evergreen forests in the Black Forest of Germany. Much of the
Black Forest was indeed black because so much of the green pine needles
had been destroyed, leaving only the black trunks and limbs! You also might
notice how acid rain has eaten away the stone in some cities' buildings and
stone artwork.
2. Bacteria in Water - Bacteria are common single-celled organisms and are a
natural component of lakes, rivers, and streams. Most of these bacteria are
harmless to humans; however, certain bacteria, some of which normally
inhabit the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, have the potential to
cause sickness and disease in humans. High numbers of these harmless
bacteria often indicate high numbers of harmful bacteria as well as other
disease-causing organisms such as viruses and protozoans.
Total coliform
Total coliforms are gram-negative, aerobic or faculative anaerobic, nonspore forming
rods. These bacteria were originally believed to indicate the presence of fecal
contamination, however total coliforms have been found to be widely distributed in
nature and not always associated with the gastrointestinal tract of warm blooded
animals. The number of total coliform bacteria in the environment is still widely
used as an indicator for potable water in the U.S.

Fecal coliform

Fecal coliform bacteria are a subgroup of coliform bacteria that were used to
establish the first microbial water quality criteria. The ability to grow at an elevated
temperature (44.5 C) separate this bacteria from the total coliforms and make it a
more accurate indicator of fecal contamination by warm-blooded animals. Fecalcoliform bacteria are detected by counting the dark-blue to blue-grey colonies that
grow on a 0.65 micron filters placed on mFC agar incubated in a 44.5 C oven for 2224 hours. The presence of fecal coliforms in water indicates that fecal contamination
of the water by a warm-blooded animal has occurred, however, recent studies have
found no statistical relationship between fecal coliform concentrations and
swimmer-associated sickness.

E. coli
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a rod-shaped bacteria commonly found in the
gastrointestinal tract and feces of warm-blooded animals. It is a member of the fecal
coliform group of bacteria and is distinguished by its inability to break down urease.
E. coli numbers in freshwater are determined by counting the number of yellow and
yellow brown colonies growing on a 0.45 micron filter placed on m-TEC media and
incubated at 35.0 C for 22-24 hours. The addition of urea substrate confirms that
colonies are E. coli. This bacteria is a preferred indicator for freshwater recreation
and its presence provides direct evidence of fecal contamination from warmblooded animals. Although usually harmless, E. coli can cause illnesses such as
meningitis, septicemia, urinary tract, and intestinal infections. A recently discovered
strain of E. coli (E. coli 0157:H7) can cause severe disease and may be fatal in small
children and the elderly.
3. Nitrogen and Phosphorus - Excess nitrogen can cause overstimulation of
growth of aquatic plants and algae. Excessive growth of these organisms, in
turn, can clog water intakes, use up dissolved oxygen as they decompose,
and block light to deeper waters. Lake and reservoir eutrophication can occur,
(EFFLUENT = LIQUID WASTE)
4. Pesticides
5. Runoff - As it flows over the land surface, stormwater picks up potential
pollutants that may include sediment, nutrients (from lawn fertilizers),
bacteria (from animal and human waste), pesticides (from lawn and garden
chemicals), metals (from rooftops and roadways), and petroleum by-products
(from leaking vehicles). Pollution originating over a large land area without a
single point of origin and generally carried by stormwater is considered nonpoint pollution. In contrast, point sources of pollution originate from a single
point, such as a municipal or industrial discharge pipe. Polluted stormwater
runoff can be harmful to plants, animals, and people.
6. Sewage Overflows
Storm sewers carry storm runoff from streets, parking lots, and roofs through pipes
and ditches, and eventually into streams.

Sanitary sewers carry raw sewage from homes and businesses to wastewatertreatment facilities.
Combined sewers carry a combination of raw sewage and stormwater runoff.

Importance Water Quality Assessment

When we turn on the tap and fill up a glass, go for a dip in the ocean or fry up a
freshly caught fish from the local lake, most of us take it for granted that these are
all safe actions. The reality is that behind the scenes, scientists work tirelessly to
ensure that the quality of the worlds most valuable resource is as high as possible.
From lakes and streams to coastal waters and estuaries, water quality monitoring is
a critical practice carried out in countries across the globe.

So why is monitoring the quality of water so important? With the World Water
Assessment Programme reporting that every day a staggering two million tons of
human waste is disposed into water courses, keeping tabs on quality is critical! At
its core, the practice serves five major purposes.

Results are used to pinpoint any changes or trends that appear in water bodies over
a period of time. These can be short of long term developments.
Regularly monitoring water quality is a crucial part of identifying any existing
problems, or any issues that could emerge in the future. For example, data has
been used to reveal that over the past few years, increases in fertilisers used for
food production had increased global nitrogen pollution in rivers by up to 20%.
When designing and developing pollution prevention and management strategies
data collected from water quality monitoring efforts is hugely helpful. With 70% of
untreated industrial waste dumped straight into water systems, pollution
management is a must.
Today governments, communities and businesses are required to meet a range of
water quality goals. Monitoring data is used to determine whether or not pollution
regulations are being complied with.
From oil spills and radiation leaks to floods and mass erosion, water quality
monitoring data is a must when developing emergency strategies.

Water Quality Standards

Drinking Water

Primary set limit on the amount of each contaminant that can be present in the
drinking water supplied by a public water system. This limit is called the maximum
contaminant level (MCL). and it is usually measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Secondary - Secondary standards regulate contaminants that are a nuisance but do
not harm your health. These standards regulate contaminants that cause offensive
taste, odor, color, corrosion, foaming or staining. The standard is called the
secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL).
Surface water
1. Designated Uses of the water body
The Water Quality Standards Regulation requires states, territories and authorized
tribes to specify goals and expectations for how each water body is used. Typical
designated uses include:

2.

Protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife

Recreation
Public drinking water supply
Agricultural, industrial, navigational and other purposes.
Criteria to protect designated uses

States, territories and authorized tribes adopt water quality criteria to protect the
designated uses of a water body. Water quality criteria can be numeric (e.g., the
maximum pollutant concentration levels permitted in a water body) or narrative
(e.g., a criteria that describes the desired conditions of a water body being free
from certain negative conditions). States, territories and authorized tribes typically
adopt both numeric and narrative criteria.
3. Antidegradation Requirements to protect existing uses and high quality
waters
One of the principal objectives of the Clean Water Act is to maintain the chemical,
physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters. Antidegradation
requirements provide a framework for maintaining and protecting water quality that
has already been achieved.
Designated uses and water quality criteria are the primary tools states and
authorized tribes use to achieve the objectives and goals of the Clean Water Act,
and antidegradation requirements complement these tools by providing a
framework for maintaining existing uses, for protecting waters that are of a higher
quality than necessary to support the Clean Water Act goals, and for protecting
waters identified by states and authorized tribes as Outstanding National Resource
Waters (ONRWs)
4. General Policies to address implementation issues.
States, territories and authorized tribes may adopt policies and provisions regarding
water quality standards implementation, such as mixing zone, variance, and lowflow policies. Such policies are subject to EPA review and approval.