What Are Water Monitoring Tests?

Water is an important part of many aspects of human, animal and plant life. Monitoring surface water is vital to ensure there is an ample supply of safe water for drinking, irrigating crops, fishing, operating factories and for recreational purposes. Water monitoring test kits measure the amount of various contaminants present in water and other factors that can affect water quality.

Principal Contaminants

• A primary source of water contamination measured by some water monitoring tests is the amount of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus present in the water. Large amounts of these nutrients can contaminant water, allowing uncontrolled growth of algae. Excessive amounts of algae consume vast amounts of oxygen in the water, making it difficult for fish and other organisms to survive. An over-abundance of algae also prevents sufficient amounts of sunlight from entering the water and supporting plant growth that is vital to fish and other organisms. Some water monitoring tests measure the amount of bacteria in a sample of water. Discovering harmful bacteria can indicate viruses and other contaminants that are dangerous if consumed by humans or animals.

Temperature

• Monitoring water temperature is important near power plants and other industrial areas that often use water to cool certain processes. Discharging water that is too warm into a local water supply can adversely affect fish and cause abnormal amounts of algae growth. Temperature is a factor in the amount of oxygen water can hold. Lower amounts of oxygen in water can affect fish and other aquatic life.

pH Levels

• The scale used to measure the acidic level of water is pH. Determining the pH level of water with a monitoring kit can give clues to the changing quantity of pollutants present because the pH of water fluctuates based on the amount of contamination present. This is useful in discovering a buildup of pollutants and determining the source of the contamination.

Conductance

• A test of conductance is a measure of water's ability to conduct electricity. Water containing a high amount of dissolved particles will have a higher conductance measurement compared to water with fewer particles. Conductance levels often determine if water is suitable for drinking, industrial use and agricultural applications. Drinking water with an unpleasant taste or odor often measures high in conductance due to numerous amounts of dissolved particles.

Turbidity

• The turbidity of water is a measurement of its cloudiness caused by fine particles. The turbidity level of water is influenced by clay, silt, organic and inorganic material, plankton and microscopic organisms. Turbidity measurements can vary widely in some bodies of water, such as rivers that experience high levels of particles washing into the water from the surrounding area during rainstorms.

Dissolved Oxygen

• Dissolved oxygen in water is vital to maintaining plant, fish and other aquatic life. Water monitoring tests are useful in determining the level of dissolved oxygen in water, which can vary depending on seasonal factors and the amount of decaying organic matter present. A body of water with insufficient amounts of dissolved oxygen cannot support aquatic life.