Water Quality Parameters
The following parameters are analyzed to determine the quality of a waterbody. If a parameter meets criteria, then its concentration has been determined to not contribute to poor water quality. It should be noted that not all parameters have the same trend data due to data collection limitations.
- Total Nitrogen
- Total Phosphorus
- Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
- Total Suspended Solids (Turbidity)
- Bacteria
- Red Tide
- Temperature
- Salinity
- pH
Total Nitrogen
Part of the “nutrient” group that provides food for plants and microorganisms. Too little is not good and too much can kill a system by causing algal blooms that use a large amount of the oxygen in the water suffocating the fish population. Algal blooms can also cause submerged grass kills by decreasing the amount of sunlight reaching the plants.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults, Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Total Phosphorus
The other part of the “nutrient” group, key water quality parameters in waterbodies. Like nitrogen, phosphorus is essential for growth of aquatic plants, however, too much causes excessive algal blooms, which use up oxygen supplies. Both nitrogen and phosphorus can come from natural sources such as geological formations rich in phosphate or nitrate, decomposing organic matter, wildlife waste, and nitrogen gas from the atmosphere. Over-fertilizing is another source of nitrogen and phosphorus, as runoff carries the nutrients from yards and farmlands.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults, Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
DO concentrations indicate how much oxygen is in the water. These concentrations are dependent on the time of year, time of day, temperature and salinity of the waterbody. For example, salt water holds less oxygen than fresh water, and warm water holds less oxygen than cold water. The level of oxygen in an estuary is one of the best indicators of its health, because the estuary cannot support animal or plant life without the correct amount of oxygen. The effects of a rapid decline in oxygen levels set in quickly, and animals either move to areas with higher oxygen levels or die. Because of the rapid impact of this change, dissolved oxygen is an important means of monitoring the health of a waterbody.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults:
Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Total Suspended Solids (Turbidity)
A measure of how clear the water is. Total solids refer to the particles that are suspended or dissolved in the water. These suspended solids decrease the amount of light that passes through the water, thus decreasing its clarity. Turbidity and total suspended solids are generally indicators of the effects of stormwater runoff, construction, agricultural practices, erosion, discharges, or other activities such as boating, jet skiing, or bottom-feeding animals. In developed watersheds with high proportions of impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots and roads, turbidity and total suspended solids often increase sharply during a rainfall.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults:
Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Bacteria
Coliform and Enterococci bacteria are monitored in area waterways to help determine water quality by identifying areas with fecal contamination. Clicking on the links to the right will bring you to the Department’s water quality website where area bacteria sampling data is posted weekly and a Pensacola Bay Watershed Report.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults, Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Red Tide
Red Tide is an algal bloom that can kill fish and has the potential to harm human health as well. Although the exact cause of red tide is unknown, it is believed that environmental factors such as salinity, wind direction and nutrients all play a part in its formation and movement. The link to the right will bring you to the Florida Marine Research Institute’s red tide update page.
For further information:
Children, Adults Media and Elected officials:Data links: - FMRI Red Tide Status Page
- NOAA Harmful Algal bloom forecasting page
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Temperature
A critical factor influencing several aspects of the estuarine ecosystem. It influences biological activity and many chemical variables in the estuary. As water temperature increases, the capacity of water to hold dissolved oxygen decreases. Water temperature also influences the rate of plant photosynthesis, the metabolic rates of aquatic organisms, and the sensitivity of organisms to toxic wastes, parasites, and diseases. Temperature changes can also impact nutrient levels in the water. As air temperatures cool through the autumn, the surface water becomes increasingly cold and increases in density. The surface water mass ultimately sinks when its density becomes greater than that of the underlying water mass. As the surface water moves down, mixing occurs and nutrients from the bottom are redistributed toward the surface. This introduction of nutrients to surface waters fuels phytoplankton growth.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults:
Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
Salinity
A measure of the amount of salts dissolved in water, is important to monitor since changes in the levels of salt concentration can impact the ability of salt sensitive species to survive. An estuary usually exhibits a gradual change in salinity throughout its length, as fresh water entering the estuary from tributaries mixes with seawater moving in from the ocean. Salinity levels control, to a large degree, the types of plants and animals that can live in different zones of the estuary. Freshwater species may be restricted to the upper reaches of the estuary, while marine species inhabit the estuarine mouth. Some species tolerate only intermediate levels of salinity while broadly adapted species can acclimate to any salinity ranging from fresh water to seawater.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults:
Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
pH
The pH of water is critical to the survival of most aquatic plants and animals. Testing water samples for total alkalinity measures the capacity of the water to neutralize acids. This test is important in determining the estuary’s ability to neutralize acidic pollution from rainfall or wastewater. Unanticipated decreases in pH could be indications of acid rain, runoff from acidic soils, or contamination by agricultural chemicals. Values of pH outside the expected range of 5.0 to 10.0 should be considered as indications of industrial pollution or some cataclysmic event.
For further information:
Children (USGS Water Science for Schools):Adults:
Media and Elected officials:
Data links: - Northwest FDEP Water Quality Outlook
- Surf your watershed
- Real Time Water Quality Monitoring (Under Construction)
The pollutants listed above can reach a waterbody through one or more of three major pathways. These pathways are stormwater runoff, point source emissions and air deposition. A more complete discussion of these sources, as well as a set of measures which track our success of reducing the impact from these sources, can be found HERE. For more information on Beach Water Quality in Escambia County, click here.
FEEDBACK
This Web site is YOUR community environmental Web site and your input is invaluable. If there is information that you would like and cannot find here, if a topic is confusing and you would like more detailed information or if you have any suggestions or comments on how to make this site more valuable, please let us know
