Water Quality is a measure of the suitability of water for a

particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and

biological characteristics.
Water Quality Indicators
1. Turbidity - measure of the degree to which water loses
its transparency due to the presence of suspended
particulates
2. pH numeric scale used to specify the acidity or
alkalinity of an aqueous solution
3. Dissolved oxygen (DO) - is the amount of oxygen (O2)
dissolved in the water.
4. Temperature measurement of hotness or coldness
5. Nitrates - compound that contains the nitrogen based
polyatomic ion commonly found in fertilizers
6. Bio-indicators - macroinvertibrates found living in
water (they tend to remain in one place) that are
sensitive to pollution
Common Water Pollutants
1. Acid rain
2. Bacteria in Water
3. Nitrogen and Phosphorus 4. Pesticides
5. Runoff
6. Sewage Overflows
Importance Water Quality Assessment
1. Results are used to pinpoint any changes or trends
that appear in water bodies over a period of time.
2. Regularly monitoring water quality is a crucial part of
identifying any existing problems, or any issues that
could emerge in the future.
3. When designing and developing pollution prevention
and management strategies data collected from water
quality monitoring efforts is hugely helpful.
4. Governments, communities and businesses are
required to meet a range of water quality goals.
Monitoring data is used to determine whether or not
pollution regulations are being complied with.

Water Quality Standards

Drinking Water:
1. Primary set limit on the amount of each contaminant
that can be present in the drinking water supplied by a
public water system.
2. Secondary - secondary standards regulate
contaminants that are a nuisance but do not harm
your health.
Surface Water:
1. Designated Uses of the water body
Typical designated uses include:
Protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and
wildlife
Recreation
Public drinking water supply
Agricultural, industrial, navigational and other
purposes.
2. Criteria to protect designated uses
States, territories and authorized tribes adopt water
quality criteria to protect the designated uses of a water
body. Water quality criteria can be numeric (e.g., the
maximum pollutant concentration levels permitted in a
water body) or narrative (e.g., a criteria that describes the
desired conditions of a water body being free from
certain negative conditions).
3. Antidegradation Requirements to protect existing uses
and high quality waters
Antidegradation requirements provide a framework
for maintaining and protecting water quality that has
already been achieved for its designated uses.
4. General Policies to address implementation issues.
States, territories and authorized tribes may adopt
policies and provisions regarding water quality standards
implementation, such as mixing zone, variance, and lowflow policies. Such policies are subject to EPA review and
approval.