WATER QUALITY—WATER TESTING
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of
water. It is a measure of the condition of the water relative to the requirements of
one or more biotic species and/or to any human need or purpose. It is a term
most frequently used in reference to a set of standards against which compliance
can be assessed. The most common standards used to assess water quality relate
to the health of ecosystems, the safety of human contact, and drinking water
quality.
Water testing is a broad description for various procedures that are used to
analyze water quality. Testing may be performed to evaluate:
■ The ability of a surface water body to support aquatic life as an ecosystem
■ The characteristics of polluted water (domestic sewage or industrial
waste) before treatment or after treatment
■ The characteristics of a water source before treatment for drinking water
■ The water treated at a municipal water purification plant
■ The suitability of water for industrial uses, such as in a laboratory, in a
manufacturing facility, or for equipment cooling.Water Quality TestsTest Impact
Alkalinity Alkalinity measures the sum of the bicarbonate,
carbonate, and hydroxide ions in the water that
elevate the pH. It represents the ability to resist
changes in the pH (buffering capacity) which can
increase egg and fry survival rates and is
characteristic of the water source.Ammonia (NH 3 ) A product of microbiological activity, ammonia,
when found in natural water, is regarded as an
indicator of pollution. Ammonia is rapidly
oxidized by certain bacteria in natural water
systems into nitrite and nitrate—a process that
requires the presence of dissolved oxygen.
Ammonia, being a source of nitrogen, is also a
nutrient for algae and other forms of plant life