Water Quality
Many different physical, chemical, and biological parameters can be used to measure water quality. Good indicators of specific issues relevant to water quality, and the most consistently reported on a global basis are eutrophication, nutrient pollution, acidification, and salinization.
Common quality parameters include dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus.
- Dissolved oxygen is the measure of free (i.e., not chemically combined) oxygen dissolved in water. It is essential to the metabolism of all aerobic aquatic organisms and at reduced levels has been shown to cause both lethal and sublethal effects.
- pH, which is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a water body, is an important parameter of water quality in inland waters in that it can affect aquatic organisms both directly through impairing respiration, growth and development of fish, and indirectly, through increasing the bioavailability of certain metals such as aluminum and nickel.
- Conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to carry an electric current, which is dependent on the presence of ions. Increases in conductivity can lead to changes that reduce biodiversity and alter community composition.
- Nitrogen and phosphorus are naturally-occurring elements essential for all living organisms and are often found in growth-limiting concentrations in aquatic environments. Increases in nitrogen and/or phosphorus in natural waters, largely as a result of human activities in the drainage basin (e.g., from agricultural runoff from manure and synthetic fertilizers and from municipal and industrial wastewater discharge), can result in increased biological productivity of a water body.
A
very important aspect of water management process is a better
understanding of the water quality. However, a management policy can
not be developed or improved without the availability of water quality
data. Therefore, water quality data forms the basis for developing any
water management policy. Recognising this, H2oAlliance partners have developed a
real-time Water Quality Management Platform called WQMP. This online platform was designed to help the private
sector and the public sector to monitor and measure water quality in real-time; to enhance water quality, optimize
resource efficiency, and minimize risks.
Click here: WQMP
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