North Carolina State University - BIO 101Water Quality Index (1)

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Water Quality Index Lab Water Quality Index (WQI) is a set of standard test parameters used to compare water quality all around the country. A numerical WQI is assigned based on the results of nine... (9) separate parameters:  Dissolved Oxygen (DO)  pH  Temperature Change (ΔT)  Fecal Coliform  Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)  Nitrates  Total Phosphates  Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)  Turbidity or Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Measurements of each parameter are taken and recorded and then are converted into a “Q value”. Dissolved Oxygen: Oxygen is not very soluble in water. Most of the Oxygen in a water way gets there through interaction with the atmosphere. As water splashes over rocks and waterfalls, Oxygen from the atmosphere is trapped. Temperature affects the solubility of Oxygen. As the temperature rises, the solubility of the Oxygen gas goes down. A water system that is considered hypoxic, or Oxygen deficient, has a concentration of Oxygen between 1 and 30%. Above 80% is an ideal concentration of DO to sustain aquatic life Additional information can be found at: http://www.sugar.jcu.edu.au/images/publications/info_sheets/14.%20How%20do %20Aquatic%20Plants%20....pdf Procedures: 1. Collect a sample of water. Readings a [Show More]

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