Human Activity Impact on Waterways
5. Human activity also impacts on waterways. Chemical monitoring and management assists in providing safe water for human use and to protect the habitats of other organisms
Identify that water quality can be determined by considering: * concentrations of common ions * total dissolved solids * hardness * turbidity * acidity * dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand
Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy environment is one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health.
Water quality is monitored to protect natural ecosystems, for aesthetic reasons, and to guarantee quality of food derived from water sources.
Water quality can be determined by a number of factors, all of which are important in monitoring polluted water, and determining whether a water source is potable.
CONCENTRATION OF COMMON IONS * Potable water typically has low concentrations of common ions, whereas sea water has high ion concentrations * The table below shows the typical and maximum concentrations of common ions: Ions | Concentration (Sydney water supply) (ppm) | Recommended maximum (ppm) | Chloride | 20 | 400 | Sulfate | 8 | 400 | Nitrate | 0.4 | 10 | Fluoride | 1 | 1.7 | Sodium | 10 | 300 | Calcium | 9 | 200 | Aluminium | 0.2 | 0.2 | * The concentration of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions are important indicators of the salinity of a water system, and also affect the taste of water * Magnesium and calcium ions are indicators of water hardness * Phosphate and nitrate ions need to be monitored to prevent eutrophication of a water system * Cations * Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) is the preferred technique used to identify concentration of metal ions * Sodium [Na+], magnesium [Mg2+], calcium [Ca2+], potassium [K+], iron (III) [Fe3+] *
Identify that water quality can be determined by considering: * concentrations of common ions * total dissolved solids * hardness * turbidity * acidity * dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand
Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy environment is one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health.
Water quality is monitored to protect natural ecosystems, for aesthetic reasons, and to guarantee quality of food derived from water sources.
Water quality can be determined by a number of factors, all of which are important in monitoring polluted water, and determining whether a water source is potable.
CONCENTRATION OF COMMON IONS * Potable water typically has low concentrations of common ions, whereas sea water has high ion concentrations * The table below shows the typical and maximum concentrations of common ions: Ions | Concentration (Sydney water supply) (ppm) | Recommended maximum (ppm) | Chloride | 20 | 400 | Sulfate | 8 | 400 | Nitrate | 0.4 | 10 | Fluoride | 1 | 1.7 | Sodium | 10 | 300 | Calcium | 9 | 200 | Aluminium | 0.2 | 0.2 | * The concentration of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions are important indicators of the salinity of a water system, and also affect the taste of water * Magnesium and calcium ions are indicators of water hardness * Phosphate and nitrate ions need to be monitored to prevent eutrophication of a water system * Cations * Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) is the preferred technique used to identify concentration of metal ions * Sodium [Na+], magnesium [Mg2+], calcium [Ca2+], potassium [K+], iron (III) [Fe3+] *