Water Quality

Water Quality is an event for 2011-2012. Important components of the event include identifying aquatic invertebrates and understanding the indicators of water quality.

First, what is water quality? Water quality includes the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. In countries around the world, especially in the U.S. under the direction of the EPA, standards are set to determine which water is potable.

Let's first discuss the four types of water. The types of water are based on salt concentration, usually measured in ppt (parts per thousand). Fresh water is usually considered to have a ppt of <0.5. Brackish water is between 0.5 and 30 ppt. Saline water has a ppt of 30 to 50, and Brine is >50 ppt. The only water safe for human consumption is fresh water.

In this event you may bring in one two-sided page of resource notes and 2 non-programmable/graphing calculators as well as Z87 splash goggles.

The test will cover areas such as aquatic ecology, the water cycle, nutrient cycling, aquatic chemistry, potable water treatment, waste water treatment, aquatic food chains and webs, community interactions, population dynamics, watershed resource management issues, sedimentation pollution, and harmful species.

Aquatic Ecology: