Natural Natural WaterWater

Chemistry Chemistry

Water Quality ParametersWater Quality ParametersTemperature - Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - pH

Alkalinity - HardnessNitrates and Phosphates - Turbidity

Conductivity-

TemperatureTemperature

Affects:Water densityGas solubilityChemical reaction ratesOrganism growth ratesConductivitypHDissolved Oxygen

… Changes in seasonal/diurnal air temperature

… Thermal stratification in lakes

… Size and temperature of inflows

… Residence time (lakes)

Temperature – naturally variesTemperature – naturally variesbecause of…because of…

… Heated industrial effluent

… Runoff from asphalt/pavement

… Deforestation

Temperature – artificially variesTemperature – artificially variesbecause of…because of…

Q10 rulecold-blooded aquatic organismspoikilothermic = cold blooded

Predicts that growth rate will double if temperature increases by 10˚C (18˚F) within their "preferred" range.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

DO is the measurement of oxygen dissolved in water and available for fish and other aquatic life.

Indicates health of an aquatic system.

Can range from 0-18 ppm.

Most natural water systems require 5-6 ppm to support a diverse population.

Varies with time of day, weather, temperature.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Increase in organic waste

Increase in algae/plant vegetation

Decrease in DO available to organisms

Leads to changes in ecosystem asorganisms needing lots of DO are replaced by organisms needing little.

Hood Canal, Wash. DOHood Canal, Wash. DO

HoodCanal

Part of Puget sound. Fed by snowmelt from Olympic Mountains.

Used for wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, fisheries, home to two tribal nations.

Health of water threatened by decrease in DO – work underway by member of Hood Canal DO Project to try to find out why.

Sill

“Sill” reduces flow. Inflow from main entrance salt water, runoff fresh.

The freshwater carries natural stuff: fall leaves, winter run-off, salmon carcasses

Non natural stuff:yard waste, storm-water toxins, herbicide residue, effluents from septic tanks and sewers

Increase in organics leads to decrease in DO – this changes the ecosystem, as anoxia-loving critters take over as the O2-loving animals become choked out.Affects bottom first – bottom feeders will rise to top if they can (eg: rockfish, deep-sea shrimp), but others can’t (sea cucumbers, anemone, starfish)…so they perish.

Potential causesPotential causesNatural

• increased sunlight or other climate factors• increased nutrient availability• Changes in ocean properties• Changes in river input (e.g.: drought)• Changes in weather conditions

Artificial

• human loading of nutrients or organic material• Changes in river input (eg: diversion)

pHpH - - p(otential of) H(ydrogen)

Determines the solubility of nutrients (PO4-3, NO3

-, C) and heavy metals (Fe, Cu, etc)

Determines availability of these chemicals for use by aquatic life.

In natural water systems, determined largely by geology and soils.

pH of natural waterspH of natural waters

Modified from www.waterwatch.orghttp://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/fortheteacher/manual/sect4f.htm

due to humic acid

Limestone, marble, CO3 richPure rain, snow

Sea water

Factors that affect pHFactors that affect pH• Algal blooms • Bacterial activity • Water turbulence • Chemicals flowing into the water body • Sewage overflows • Pollution

How pH affects aquatic lifeHow pH affects aquatic life

Decreasing pH (e.g.: via acid rain)

▼Liberation of Al, metals

▼Toxic conditions

▼Chronic stress

▼Smaller, weaker fish

AlkalinityAlkalinityAlkalinity refers to the capability of water to neutralize acid.

Buffering capacity – resistance to pH changes.

Common natural buffer: CO3 (carbonates – like limestone).

Protects aquatic life.

Commonly linked to water hardness.

In natural systems: 50 – 150 mg/L as CaCO3.Limestone outcrop

HardnessHardness

Reflects dissolved carbonate minerals.

Mostly of concern for drinking water standards.

Metals precipitate out of solution.

Create scale/hard water deposits

High alkalinity Hard water

From USGShttp://water.usgs.gov/owq/news.html

andand

Nitrate (NO3-)

naturally-occurring form of nitrogen found in soil.

Forms by microbial decomposition of fertilizers, plants, manures or other organic residues

Plants uptake nitrates (Spinach a good source).

Phosphate (PO4-3)

naturally occurs in rocks and minerals.

Plants uptake weathered-outelements and compounds.

Animals ingest plants.

Water soluble.

Redfield Ratio: 106:16:1

NitratesNitrates

The U.S. EPA has set a maximum contaminant level for NO3

- in drinking water of 10 parts per million (ppm)

Artificial sources:• Livestock manure/urine• Failing septic systems• Synthetic fertilizers

Can lead to:eutrophication of natural water systems (overproduction of vegetation)

Blue baby syndromne

Artificial sources:• Sewage• Laundry, cleaning fluids• Synthetic fertilizers

Can also lead to eutrophication of natural water systems (overproduction of vegetation)

PhosphatesPhosphates

Blue green algae

1990 and 1999 comparison 1990 and 1999 comparison of Nitrates in Great Lakesof Nitrates in Great Lakes

From US EPAhttp://www.epa.gov/glnpo/monitoring/limnology/SprNOx.html

Hypoxia in the Gulf of MexicoHypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

Mississippi River drainage basin – 41% of US landmass.

Hypoxia – decreased oxygen

Colored areas are Key Farming States = The Corn Belt.

Many have drained 80% of Wetlands

Increased Fertilization flows from Mississippi River to the Gulf

Hypoxia in the Gulf of MexicoHypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

Hypoxic waters

Image from Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC, January 2003

1.6 million tons Of nitrogen now enter the Gulf from the Mississippi basin

Hypoxia in the Gulf of MexicoHypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

From NCAT (Nat’l Center for Appropriate Technology)http://www.ncat.org/nutrients/hypoxia/hypoxia.html

Particularly bad for fish because coastal areas is spawning grounds before moving to deeper waters.

Global distribution of oxygen-depleted coastal zones.

The 146 zones shown are associated with either major population concentrations or with watersheds that deliver large quantities of nutrients to coastal waters.

Source: Patrick Heffer, Short Term Prospects for World Agriculture and Fertilizer Demand 2002/03 - 2003/04 (Paris: International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), December 2003); IFA Secretariat and IFA Fertilizer Demand Working Group, Fertilizer Consumption Report (Brussels: December 2001); historical data from Worldwatch Institute, Signposts 2002, CD-ROM, compiled from IFA and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Fertilizer Yearbook (Rome: various years).

Solutions??Solutions??

Wetland restoration Reduce fertilizers

Reduce emissions – WWTP/industryReduce soil erosion

TurbidityTurbidity

Measures how “murky” the water is

Estimates:

Mineral fractionOrganicsInorganicsSoluble organic compoundsPlanktonMicroscopic organisms

MODIS Image from NASAhttp://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Causes of highly waters

• In open waters, phytoplankton• Closer to shore, Mining Resuspended bottom sediments (wind) • Organic debris from stream Increased flow rates• Floods• Too many bottom-feeding fish (such as carp)• Hippos

Effects of highly waters

• Modify light penetration• Increase sedimentation rate• Smother benthic habitats • Settling clay particles can suffocate newly hatched larvae • Fine particulate material also can damage sensitive gill structures • Decrease organism resistance to disease• Prevent proper egg and larval development• Macrophyte growth may be decreased• Reduced photosynthesis can lead to lower daytime release of oxygen

From waterontheweb.orghttp://waterontheweb.org/under/waterquality/turbidity.html

ConductivityConductivity

Ability of a substance to conduct an electrical current.

In water, conductivity determined by types and quantities of dissolvedsolids. (Commonly called Total Dissolved Solids = TDS)

Current carried by ions (negatively or positively charged particles).

Eg: NaCl(aq) = Na + + Cl –

Cl-Na+Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+ Cl-

Cl-

Cl-

Cl-

Na+Cl- Cl- Cl- Cl-

Na+Na+ Na+Na+ Na+Na+ Na+Na+

Cl- Cl- Cl- Cl-

Na+ Na+ Na+Na+

Cl- Cl- Cl- Cl-

Na+ Na+ Na+Na+

Cl- Cl- Cl- Cl-

Na+ Na+ Na+ Na+Na+

Na+Na+

Na+ Na+

Na+ Na+

ConductivityConductivity

Conductivity of natural waters depends upon:

Ion characteristics (mobility, valence, concentration)More ions = more conductive

Water temperatureGeology – soil Size of watershedEvaporation – such as in Salt Lakes

Some artificial factors that can affect conductivity:WastewaterUrban runoff (especially road salt)Agricultural runoff

EC TDS

(μS/cm) (mg/L)

Divide Lake 10 4.6

Lake Superior 97 63

Lake Tahoe 92 64

Grindstone Lake 95 65

Ice Lake 110 79

Lake Independence 316 213

Lake Mead 850 640

Atlantic Ocean 43,000 35,000

Great Salt Lake 158,000 230,000

Dead Sea ? ~330,000

Electrical Conductivity

and

TDS

From wateronthweb.orghttp://www.waterontheweb.org/under/waterquality/conductivity.htmlSalt present in 1L water