Impact of temperature and pH of water on pollution

Why the Temperature of Water is Important:

Temperature is an important factor to consider when assessing water quality. In addition to its
own effects, temperature influences several other parameters and can alter the physical and
chemical properties of water. In this regard, water temperature should be accounted for when
determining;

Metabolic rates and photosynthesis production

Compound toxicity
Dissolved oxygen and other dissolved gas concentrations
Conductivity and salinity
Oxidation reduction potential (ORP)
pH
Water Density

Allowable temperature of water must be 40 0C or less. Some factors that are being effected by
water temperature are:

Water Temperature and Aquatic Life:

Studies have shown a direct relationship between metabolic rates and

water temperature. This occurs as many cellular enzymes are more
active at higher temperatures.

For most fishes, a 10C increase in water temperature will

approximately double the rate of physiological function 16. This
increase in metabolic rate can be handled by some species better than
others.

Increased metabolic function can be noticed in respiration rates and

digestive responses in most species. Increased respiration rates at
higher temperatures lead to increased oxygen consumption, which can
be detrimental if rates remain raised for an extended period of time.
Furthermore, temperatures above 35C can begin to denature, or
breakdown, enzymes, reducing metabolic function.
 Plants are also affected by water temperature. While some aquatic
plants tolerate cooler waters, most prefer warmer temperatures.
Tropical plants in particular will show restricted growth and dormancy
in water temperatures below 21C. While dormancy is appropriate for
surviving a cold winter, warmer temperatures are required for most
plants to flourish.

Compound Toxicity and Water Temperature:

In addition to its effects on aquatic organisms, high water

temperatures can increase the solubility and thus toxicity of certain
compounds. These elements include heavy metals such as cadmium,
zinc and lead as well as compounds like ammonia.

Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature:

The solubility of oxygen and other gases will decrease as temperature

increases 9. This means that colder lakes and streams can hold more
dissolved oxygen than warmer waters. If water is too warm, it will not
hold enough oxygen for aquatic organisms to survive.

Conductivity and Water Temperature:

Water temperature can affect conductivity in two ways. As conductivity

is measured by the electrical potential of ions in solution, it is affected
by the concentration, charge and mobility of those ions.

Ionic mobility is dependent on viscosity, which is in turn dependent on

temperature. A decrease in the viscosity of water increases the
mobility of ions in water. As such, an increase in temperature thus
increases conductivity.

Conductivity increases approximately 2-3% per 1C increase in

temperature, though in pure water it will increase approximately 5%
per 1C.

pH and Water Temperature:

 Water temperature can alter the number of ions present, changing the
pH of the solution without making it more acidic or basic.

pH is calculated by the number of hydrogen ions in solution. At a pH of

7, the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions have equal concentrations.
However, these concentrations only hold true at 25C. As the
temperature increases or decreases, the ion concentrations will also
shift, thus shifting the pH value

The pH of pure water varies with temperature while remaining perfectly neutral. Pure
water only has a pH of 7.0 at 25 degrees Celsius.

However, that does not mean that temperature changes will make a solution more acidic
or basic. Because the ratio of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions remains the same, the acidity
of water does not change with temperature. Instead, the entire pH range shifts, so that
neutral water will have a value other than 7. Pure water will remain neutral at 0C (pH is
7.47), 25C. (pH is 7.00) or 100C. (pH is 6.14).

Density and Water Temperature:

Water temperature and water density are directly related. As the

temperature of water increases or decreases, it will alter the density of
water. This is a unique relationship in that unlike most materials, the
density of pure water decreases approximately 9% when it freezes This
is why ice expands and floats on water.

The maximum density point is particularly important in freshwater. If

water was most dense at its freezing point (0 C) then it would sink to
the bottom, freezing a body of water from the bottom up, killing all of
the organisms living within it. Instead, this property ensures that the
bottom of a body of water will remain at least 4C, and thus unfrozen.
The temperature/density relationship thus creates a water convection
pattern as it cools. As surface water temperature approaches the
maximum density temperature, it sinks and is replaced by warmer,
lighter water. This process continues until the water is uniformly cool.
Any water that is colder than this point will float on top of the denser
water. This convection pattern allows water both warmer and colder
than 4C (and at potentially different dissolved oxygen concentrations)
to intermix.
 Factors that Influence Water Temperature:
Water temperature can be affected by many ambient conditions. These elements include
sunlight/solar radiation, heat transfer from the atmosphere and turbidity. Shallow and
surface waters are more easily influenced by these factors than deep water.

Sunlight:

The greatest source of heat transfer to water temperature is from sunlight. Sunlight, or
solar radiation, is a form of thermal energy. This energy is then transferred to a waters
surface as heat, increasing the temperature of the water.

Turbidity:

Increased turbidity will also increase water temperature. Turbidity is the amount of
suspended solids in water. These suspended particles absorb heat from solar radiation
more efficiently than water. The heat is then transferred from the particles to water
molecules, increasing the temperature of the surrounding water.

Man-made Influences:
Man-made influences on water temperature include thermal pollution, runoff,
deforestation and impoundments etc.

Thermal Pollution:

Thermal pollution is any discharge that will dramatically alter the temperature of a natural water
source 48. This pollution commonly comes from municipal or industrial effluents 1. If the
temperature of discharge is significantly warmer than the natural water, it can negatively affect
water quality. There are several significant consequences of thermal pollution, including
diminished dissolved oxygen levels, fish kills and influxes of invasive species
Runoff from parking lots and other impervious surfaces are another form of thermal pollution.
Water that flows off of these surfaces absorb much of their heat and transfer it to a nearby stream
or river, elevating the temperature.

Deforestation:
Water that is shaded by vegetation and other objects will not absorb as much heat as sunlit water.
When trees or riparian canopies are removed, a body of water can become unusually warm,
altering its natural cycle and habitats.

Impoundments:
 Impoundments such as dams can drastically affect water temperature cycles. While a dam does
not directly contribute heat to the water, it can affect the natural patterns of water temperature
warming and cooling

Effect of pH of water on pollution:

pH indicates the sample's acidity but is actually a measurement of the potential activity of
hydrogen ions (H+) in the sample. pH measurements run on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7.0
considered neutral. Solutions with a pH below 7.0 are considered acids. Solutions with a pH
above 7.0, up to 14.0 are considered bases. All organisms are subject to the amount of acidity
of stream water and function best within a given range.

What causes the pH of a stream to vary?

The pH of a body of water is affected by several factors. One of the most important
factors is the bedrock and soil composition through which the water moves, both in its
bed and as groundwater. Some rock types such as limestone can, to an extent, neutralize
the acid while others, such as granite, have virtually no effect on pH.
Another factor which affects the pH is the amount of plant growth and organic material
within a body of water. When this material decomposes carbon dioxide is released. The
carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid. Although this is a weak acid,
large amounts of it will lower the pH.
A third factor which determines the pH of a body of water is the dumping of chemicals
into the water by individuals, industries, and communities. Many industrial processes
require water of exact pH readings and thus add chemicals to change the pH to meet their
needs. After use, this altered pH water is discharged as an effluent, either directly into a
body of water or through the local sewage treatment plant.

How pH affects aquatic life:

Most organisms have adapted to life in water of a specific pH and may die if it changes
even slightly. This is especially true of aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish eggs.If the
pH of water is too high or too low, the aquatic organisms living within it will die. pH can
also affect the solubility and toxicity of chemicals and heavy metals in the water. The
majority of aquatic creatures prefer a pH range of 6.5-9.0, though some can live in water
with pH levels outside of this range.

As pH levels move away from this range (up or down) it can stress animal systems and
reduce hatching and survival rates.In addition to biological effects, extreme pH levels
usually increase the solubility of elements and compounds, making toxic chemicals more
mobile and increasing the risk of absorption by aquatic life

pH is one of the most common water quality tests performed. Acceptable pH

range is from 6-10.
References:
Effect of pH on water pollution: Fundamentals of environmental
measurements
Effect of water temperature, fundamentals of environmental
measurements.
EPA. (2014, February). Sediments. In Water: Pollution Prevention &
Control. Retrieved from http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/sediments.