PH Levels of Watersheds

All liquids contain some level of pH, which measures how acidic they are. A watershed is an area where several sources of water, including rainfall, drain into a single outlet. The pH level of a watershed is one of the most important factors in its ability to support life. Humans are often the root cause of drastic pH changes that can negatively affect watershed quality and life, according to Utah State University's Water Quality division.

Identification

• The pH scale is used to measure the acidity of a watershed, USU says. The scale goes from zero to 14, and the lower the pH number, the more acidic a watershed is.

Features

• Pure water has a neutral pH balance of 7. However, most watersheds contain a pH level between 6.5 and 9 because of natural variations, such as the type and amount of minerals found in the soil and pollution, USU says.

Effects

• Marine wildlife and plants are used to a certain pH level in a watershed, USU says. However, a pH level lower than 4 or higher than 10 kills most life.

Prevention

• Some minerals called "buffers," such as calcium carbonate, make the pH of watersheds more neutral, USU says. Watersheds in the western part of the United States tend to contain buffers, while those in the northeast usually do not.

Acid Rain

• Acid rain causes water to become too acidic for some amphibious life to exist, USU says. Acid rain may partly explain the lower levels of amphibious fish observed by scientists in recent years.