Nitrates: All aspects of nitrates for our sites, were discovered to be fair.

All samples taken

were recorded 5 ppms and less. Nitrate is a nutrient for aquatic plant and animals to help
build protein. It is the decomposition of dead plants and animals that release the nitrate
into the aquatic system. Unpolluted water usually has nitrates below four ppm. Nitrate
levels above 40 ppm are considered unsafe for drinking water.
Nitrate is one of the main ingredients of fertilizer to help with the production of green
grass and plants. Too much nitrate can make algae grow out of control.
Phosphates: Phosphates levels higher than 0.03 ppm contribute to increased plant
growth. It natural enters water from plant and animal bi-products and remains.
Phosphate is a nutrient that acts as a fertilizer for aquatic plants. When levels are too
high plant and algae grow out of control decreasing the dissolved oxygen levels in the
system. 1 ppm is excellent, 2 ppm is good, and 4ppm is poor in a sample. The sites that
were excessive in Phosphates are the Elkhorn River, Platte River, Harma creek, Monkes
stream, Bell Creek, 5th and Garden City drainage ditch, power plant drainage ditch,
Monke pond, Midland beach, Monke Pivot, Wilkins farm well.
pH: Acceptable pH for water ranges from 6.5 to 8.2. pH is measured between 0-14, 0
being more acidic and 14 being more basic. Water with low pH causes corrosion, Normal
rain, sleet, and snow can have a pH as low as 6. Areas hardest hit by acid rain are those
downwind of urban and industrial areas. Sites discovered with a high pH are the Platte
River, Elkhorn River, Deerfield, Lake 20. Sites with a low pH were Bell Creek, Power
plant drainage ditch.
Turbidity: Is the measurement of the related clarity of water. It is measured by the
Jackson Turbidity Unit. Read with a Secchi disk. Turbid water is caused by suspended
and colloidal matter, such as clay, silt, organic and inorganic matter, and microscopic
organisms. Turbidity maybe the result of soil erosion, urban runoff, algea blooms, and
bottom sediment distrubances which can be due to boat traffic, and abundant bottom
feeders. 0-40 JTUs is good, 40-100 JTUs is fair, 100 JTUs and above is poor. Sites
with 100 and above were the Elkhorn River, Herman Creek, Bell Creek, Monke Pond,
Deerfield Inlet and finger, not middle.
Dissolved Oxygen: The presence of oxygen in water is a healthy sign. Absence of
oxygen can be a sign of severe pollution. Most dissolved oxygen enters water from the
atmosphere. In nature waves and wind wipe up water and mixes it with oxygen in the air.
Levels of 5 ppm are usually required for the growth and activity of aquatic organisms.
Dissolved oxygen levels below 3 ppm are stressful to aquatic organisms. Our sites with
low ppm was the Monkes pond and the Wilkins farm well with a 4 ppm.
Bacteria: Coliform bacteria are generally harmless that live naturally in the intestines of
warm blooded animals, that help the body function. It's abundant in human and animal
feces but do not usually occur elsewhere. Bacteria can enter water supplies through
sewer lines, rainwater runoff, and can be introduced to all water sources by wildlife
waste. The bacteria was measured in RLUs, relative light units, as the unit of measure
for ATP in bacteria. Drinking water should have no bacteria, non-drinking water should
have less than 200 RLU, with water being above 1000 RLU, it is of poor quality. Sites
with high bacteria were the Platte River, Elkhorn River, Harman Creek, Monke Pond, all
of Deerfield Lake, and all of Lake 20. Wilkins well that provides their drinking water was
a surprising 530 RLU.