5.

2 Detection and Monitoring of

Pollution

Pollution Measurement
Direct measurement is performed by
monitoring the level of the pollutant itself,
e.g. nitrates in a lake or temperature levels
in a lake or stream.
An indirect method would monitor the
effects of the pollutants on other factors,
e.g. to measuring dissolved oxygen, B.O.D.,
presence or absence of indicator species to
indicate nitrate levels.

Some direct measurements might include:

measuring temperature in several
locations along the length of a river, or at
different times during the year with
thermometers as an indication of thermal
pollution. Take baseline measurements
and then monitor in a systematic manner
to determine changes.
measuring nitrate levels/ammonia
levels/chloride levels as an indication of
nutrient overload. Use the same process
as above
measuring TSS (Total Suspended Solids) or

TSS (Total Suspended Solids) or TDS

(Total Dissolved Solids)

BOD
BOD (biological oxygen demamd) is the
measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen that
is used by aerobic bacteria to break down the
organic matter in a specific volume of water.
Therefore the greater the amount of organic
matter (sewage, agricultural run-off, fertilizer
etc.) in the body of water, the higher the BOD
will be. The less organic matter, the lower the
BOD. It is not uncommon for the BOD of
incoming water to a sewage treatment plant to
be in the range of 120. After treatment the BOD
of the same water is around 5.

The standard technique for measuring

the BOD of body of water is the 5-Day
BOD test or BOD5.
This is done by measuring the DO
(dissolved oxygen) on day 1 and again
on day 5 while keeping the samples at
20 C in the dark during that time.
This ensures that only respiration is
going on and not photosynthesis. Refer
to Topic 2 under Gross and Net primary
productivity

 Factors Controlling BOD and DO

A major source for DO comes from the
atmosphere
When the surface of the water is disturbed as
in rapids or water falls, then a greater the
amount of oxygen will become dissolved in it.

Temperature is a major factor. An increase in

temperature a decrease in DO. i.e the
colder the water the greater the
concentration of dissolved oxygen in the
water.
Low DO from man-made source of heating
bodies of water (effluent from nuclear power
plants used to cool the reactors)
BOD is affected by respiration or lack of
respiration by microorganisms and by the
increase in organic matter (plant and animal)

BOD Level
BOD Level
(in ppm)

Water Quality

1-2

Very Good
There will not be much organic waste present in
the water supply.

3-5

Fair: Moderately Clean

6-9

Poor: Somewhat Polluted

Usually indicates organic matter is present and
bacteria are decomposing this waste.

100 or greater

Very Poor: Very Polluted

Contains organic waste.

Indirect measurement
Indirect measurement involves the
monitoring and measurement of
organisms in the ecosystem and
more specifically indicator species or
index species. These are species that
by virtue of their abundance or
absence will indicate the level of
pollution in that ecosystem.

Biotic Index (Indicator

Species)
Some common indicators are:
fish
bottom fauna
algae
bacteria

Stonefly Adult

Sludge Worm

 Comparison of diatoms to blue-green

algae provides similar information
Measuring the coliform levels can
also indicate the presence of sewage
dumping in the ecosystem.

Diatoms

Fecal Coliform

Blue-green algae

Overall the diversity of the whole system

is often the best indicator while a general
rule to follow is that presence is better
evidence than absence.