Water Analysis

Parameters
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Alkalinity
• Reactive Nitrate
• Reactive phosphorus
 Dissolved Oxygen
• Comes from atmospheric oxygen dissolved
into water (via diffusion) and photosynthesis
of phytoplanktons/algae
• Key test for the condition of water (in a
pond/river/sea)
• Dependent on the physical, chemical and
biological activities
• DO > 4ppm: water is suitable to support life,
absence of pollution and primary productivity
 Alkalinity
• Capacity of water to accept protons
• Quantity and quality of compounds present that collectively shift the pH
to the alkaline side of the pH meter
• Due to salts of weak acids or strong bases (which forms buffer systems:
resist a drop in pH resulting from acid addition). Hence, alkalinity is a
measure of buffer capacity of the water.
“The higher the alkalinity the more stable the environment”.
• In natural waters, major portion of alkalinity is due to (ranked in order of
their association w/ high pH values):
– Hydroxide (-OH)
– Carbonates (-COx)
– Bicarbonates (-HCOx)
• Acidic element entering the water in sufficient quantity may disturb the
carbonate-bicarbonate-carbon dioxide equilibrium
CO32- + H+ ↔ HCO3-
HCO3- + H+ ↔ + H2O + CO2
 Reactive Nitrate
• The most commonly oxidized form of nitrogen
• Nitrate
– oxidized by Nitrobacter into nitrite;
– most abundant form of combined inorganic nitrogen
in natural waters
– Utilized by phytoplankton/algae to be converted to
protein
• Sample analysis shall be done w/in 12 hrs from
time of sampling (chilled and in dark); greater
delays (freeze sample at -20C for many weeks)
 Reactive Phosphorus
• Occurrence in water (forms): soluble orthophosphate (considered
ionization products of orthophosphoric acid)
H3PO4 ↔ H+ + H2PO4-
H2PO4- ↔ H+ + HPO42-
HPO42- ↔ H+ + PO43-

• Highly Acidic sol’n: only H2PO4- is present

Increased pH: HPO42- and PO43- dominate
• Availability of P: determined by the ionic form of P (which is
dependent on the pH of the solution)
• Important role in biological metabolism: KEY nutrient in the fertility
of a fishpond
• Least abundant in water and limits biological activities
 Things to Consider
• Mechanisms of the device to measure (e.g.
DO, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, TDS, etc)
• Chemical principle behind the analysis
• Standard amount (based on DAO
Classification)