Percent Saturation of Dissolved Oxygen

1
2
3

Determine water temperature in degrees C and find the value on the temperature scale.
F to C conversion: [(F 32) x 5] 9
Determine dissolved oxygen (DO) and find the value on the lower scale (Note: you result can be in mg/L or ppm).
Using a straight edge (ruler, piece of paper etc.) draw a line from the temperature value to the dissolved oxygen value. The point
at which the line crosses the middle (saturation scale) is the percent saturation of oxygen.
Solubility: Amount of DO that distilled
water can hold at a given temperature

Example: Determine
thethe
percent
saturationsofofdissolved
dissolved oxygen
in in
a stream
givengiven
the following
Example:
Determine
% saturation
oxygen
a stream
the
C;
Dissolved
oxygen
7.6
mg/L
(Answer
~
72%)
information:
Temperature
13
following information: Temperature (13 C); DO (7.6 mg/L). Using the monogram
above your answer would be about 72 - 75 depending on your line. Another method is
pH and aquatic organisms
to divide 7.6 by 10.6, which is the 100% solubility at 13 C, then multiply by 100. Your
answer would be 71.7.

Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Crayfish
Snails, clams and mussels
Rainbow trout

5-8
5-8
4-8
5-8
6-9
5-9

Brown trout
Brook trout
Yellow perch
Smallmouth bass
Bluegill, Pumpkinseed etc.
Fathead minnow

5-9
4-8
4-8
5-8
5-8
6-8

Temp. (C)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
> 90
Excellent

89 - 75
Good

Carp
Catfish
Bullfrog
Wood frog
Toad
Spotted salamander

Information adapted from: Water, Water Everywhere: Water Quality Factors Reference Unit, HACH Inc.

Solubility (mg/L)
14.6
14.2
13.8
13.5
13.1
12.8
12.5
12.2
11.9
11.6
11.3
11.1
10.9
10.6
10.4
10.2
10.0
9.8
9.6
9.4
9.2
9.0
8.9
8.7
8.6
8.4
8.2
8.1
7.9
7.8
7.7
74 - 60
Fair

< 60
Poor

WVs aquatic
life standard
for pH is
6-9

5-9
5-9
5-8
4-8
4-8
5-8