Physicochemical & Biological

Water Quality Parameters

 Water Quality
• It is important part of environmental monitoring to test
the water quality
• Not only aquatic life but also the surrounding ecosystem
will be affected when water quality is poor.
• There are different parameters that can affect the water
quality in the environment.
• These properties can be physical, chemical or biological
factors.
• These parameters are relevant not only to surface of
water studies of ocean, lakes, and rivers, but to
groundwater and industrial processes as well.
Physical Properties of Water
Quality Parameters
 Water Temperature

• A physical property expressing how hot or cold water is.

• Plays a major role in the quality of aquatic life and

habitats. Heat flow and the fluctuation of temperature
determine what species will live and thrive in a body of
water.

• JR Brett define this parameter as “abiotic master factor”

due to its effect on aquatic organisms.
 Why it is important?
• Water temperature affects nearly every other water
quality parameter and can alter the physical and
chemical properties of water.
• It should be accounted for when determining :
 Metabolic rates and photosynthesis production
 Compound toxicity
 Dissolved oxygen and other dissolved gas
concentration
 Conductivity and salinity
 Oxidation reduction potential (ORP)
 pH
 Water density
• Metabolic rates of aquatic organisms increase as the
temperature increases
• Can play a role in the shift between ammonium and
ammonia in water.
• High temperature can increase the solubility and thus
toxicity of certain compounds.
• The warmer the water, the less oxygen that it can hold.
• Increase in temperature thus increases conductivity.
• Temperature is directly proportional to pH level of a
solution but inversely proportional to ionic concentration
• Water temperature and water density are directly related.
Water is most dense at 4 degrees Celsius and least dense in
its solid form as ice.
 Total Suspended Solids, Turbidity, & Clarity
Total suspended solids (TSS)
• particles that are larger than 2 microns found in the water
column. Most are made up of in organic materials though
bacteria and algae can also contribute to the total solids
concentration.
• The more solids present in the water, the less clear water
will be.
 Turbidity
• Is a measure of the degree to which the water loses its
transparency due to the presence of suspended solids.
• Optical determination of water clarity.
• Used an indicator of water quality based on clarity and
estimated total suspended solids

•Turbid water will appear

cloudy, murky, or otherwise
colored affecting the physical
look of the water

This river owes its muddy appearance to high turbidity

levels.
 Clarity
• Defined by how clear or
transparent water is.
• Determined by the depth
that the sunlight penetrates
in water.
• The further sunlight can reach, the higher the water clarity.
• Directly related to turbidity, since turbidity is a measure of
water clarity
• Is affected by the amount of sunlight available, suspended
particles in water column, dissolve organic material (CDOM)
present and salinity.
Why are Total Suspended Solids, Turbidity, &
Clarity is important?
Because:
• they are the most visible indicators of water quality.
• Clear water is usually considered an indicator of healthy
water.
• A sudden increase in turbidity in a previously clear body of
water is a cause for concern.
• Excessive suspended sediment can impair water quality for
aquatic and human life, navigation and increase flooding
risks.
•Suspend solids can increase water temperature as they absorb
additional heat from the sun. This can also cause dissolved
oxygen (DO) levels to drop, as the plants rely on respiration
(consuming oxygen) instead of photosynthesis.

In human concerns:
•these microbes and heavy metals can impact not only aquatic
organism, but drinking as well.
Chemical Characteristics of Water
Quality Parameters
 pH (Power of Hydrogen) of Water
• Is determined value based on a defined scale.
• It is a figure between 0 & 14 defining how acidic or basic a
body of water is along a logarithmic scale.
• The lower the number, the more acidic water is. The higher
the number, the more basic it is. But a pH of 7 is considered
neutral.
• The higher the H+ concentration, the lower
the pH, & the higher the OH- concentration,
the higher the pH.

Acid is a substance that will decrease pH when

added to pure water.
Base is a substance that will increase pH of water.
Why is pH important?
• If the pH of water is too high or too low, the aquatic
organisms living 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 its range.
• As pH levels move away from this range (up or down) it can
stress animal systems and reduce hatching and survival
rates
• While humans have a higher tolerance for pH levels
(drinkable levels range from 4-11 with minimal
gastrointestinal irritation).
Dissolved Oxygen

• Refers to the level of free, non-compound oxygen present

in water or other liquids.
• It is important parameter in assessing water quality
because of its influence on the organisms living within a
body of water.
• Dissolved oxygen level that is too high and too low can
harm aquatic life and affect water quality.
• Fish and other aquatic
organisms require at least
5 milligrams per liter of
dissolved oxygen to live.
Biological Indicators of Water
Quality Parameters
 • Biological parameters are important factor that
determine quality of drinking water. It is more important
than physical and chemical in terms of direct effect on
human health.

Bacteriological aspects of water pollution

• Some human beings & other animals discharge large

number of intestinal bacteria into stool and urine.
• These bacteria are only present in drinking water if
source of water is contaminated with feces.
• That’s why fecal coliform & total coliform are
routinely checked for quality of water.
Virological aspects of water pollution

• Drinking water must be free from viruses.

• Some viruses from tract of infected person get

access to water along with feces

• Fecal coliform & total coliform are the

indicator organism
Parasitological aspects of water pollution

• Drinking water should be free from disease

causing parasites.

• Many species of protozoa and helminthes

that causes water bone disease contaminates
water through stool of infected patients.
Algae
• Algae are aquatic, plant organisms.

• Can be found residing in oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, and even in

snow.

• Grow of algae in water affects the quality of water by various

ways.

• It can gives characteristic color, odor and taste to water.

• Prevent penetration of light to bottom of water system affecting

photosynthetic organisms.

• It can produce toxic compounds.

• Therefore, drinking water should be free from algae