Post on 28-Dec-2015
Testing Water Quality around the Lynnhaven River
WatershedKiersten Honig
Lynnhaven River WatershedComprises approximately 64
square miles of land and water, with nearly 150 miles of shoreline
Used to be a prime oyster harvesting area
Minor tributary to Chesapeake Bay, one of the largest estuarine systems and most important natural resources in the United States
The shoreline that surrounds the watershed includes 4,478 private waterfront homes, public access areas, marinas, boat launch facilities, waterside restaurants, and the First Landing State park.
What is water quality?Water quality uses the chemical, physical, and biological
characteristics of the water to asses its conditionIt is difficult to say whether the water is good or bad, so it
depends on the purpose it is used forCan be measured by several factors:
Dissolved oxygen Bacteria levels Nitrogen and phosphate levels Salinity Turbidity Quantities of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other
contaminants
Tests and Locations3 Locations
Crystal Lake Linkhorn Bay/Broad Bay Lynnhaven Inlet
Tests Nitrate Dissolved Oxygen Temperature Acidity Salinity
NitrateNO3-An inorganic compound that can be a contaminant in waterNitrate ions are found in trace amounts in surface water
and higher amounts in some groundwaterSmall levels of nitrate do not have a direct impact on
aquatic lifeAlgae and other aquatic vegetation use nitrates as a source
of foodNitrogen is essential for all living thingsNo visual levels were present in the locations tested
Dissolved OxygenThe level of free, non-compound oxygen that is present in
waterLevels that are too low of too high can be harmful to
aquatic lifeFish, invertebrates, bacteria, and plants use oxygen in
respirationThe amount of dissolved oxygen varies for different
creatures Bottom feeders, crabs, oysters, and worms need about 1-6 mg/L of
oxygen Shallow water fish need about 4-15 mg/L of oxygen
Dissolved OxygenSince data was collected on the surface of the water, the
amount of dissolved oxygen present makes it very suitable for aquatic life
TemperatureTemperature is very unreliable for measuring
water quality because it is effected by the climate
Slight changes in temperature do not really effect the environment
SalinitySalinity is the amount of salt content in a body of
water Measured by PPT (parts per thousand)Over millions of years, water has washed over
rocks that contain sodium chloride and carried it into the sea
The average ocean salinity is 35 pptBrackish water is between 0.5 ppt and 17 pptMarine creatures keep the about the same
concentration of salinity in their bodies as in the water around them so they are balanced
Salinity Salinity levels fluctuated due to various
amounts of rainfall
Acidity (pH)pH indicates the water’s acidity Most aquatic organisms adapt to the pH of
the water around them and can be effected if it changes
Pure water has a pH of 7Sea water should have a pH of 7-8If the pH is 4 or below or 9 or above, all fish
will die
Acidity (pH)
Chesapeake BayDissolved Oxygen: Bay’s creatures need
dissolved oxygen concentrations of 5.0 mg/L Salinity: ranges from fresh water (less than
0.5 parts per thousand) to salt water (25-30 ppt)
Environmental EffectsWater pollution is a big deal, ways to improve
water quality are: Use environmentally safe fertilizer Reduce storm water runoff on your property Properly dispose hazardous waste Reduce litter
Sourceshttp://
www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/Water/TMDL/NDZ/lynnhavenndz.pdf
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/images/lynnhaven_watershed.gif
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ocean/waterquality.htmlhttp://hannainst.com/usa/http://www.wheatleyriver.ca/current-projects/wrig-pilot-nitrate-s
tudy/nitrates-and-their-effect-on-water-quality-a-quick-study/
http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/dissolved-oxygen/#1
http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/water/salinity1.htmhttp://www.water-research.net/index.php/ph-in-the-environmenthttp://
extension.usu.edu/waterquality/htm/whats-in-your-water/phhttp://www.chesapeakebay.net/