Water Quality Indicators

Cooler water temperatures are better because

• Cold water holds more dissolved oxygen
• Cold water makes it harder for bacteria to grow
• Both are reasons why cool water is beneficial

The amount of flowing dirt in the water is 

• pH
• suspended sediment
• biodiversity
• dissolved oxygen

Water with high turbidity 

• is cloudy and hard to see through
• is clear

High turbidity indicates poor water quality because

• it clogs the gills of aquatic animals and makes it difficult to breathe
• it makes it hard for sun to get to the aquatic plants
• it makes it hard for aquatic animals to find their food
• all are reasons high turbidity indicates poor water quality

Temperature, turbidity, and suspended sediment are all 

• chemical indicators of water quality
• physical indicators of water quality
• biological indicators of water quality
• not indicators of water quality

Organisms too small to see with the naked eye that are tested to determine water quality are 

• microorganisms
• macroinvertebrates
• dissolved oxygen
• phosphates

If water has e.coli, fecal coliform bacteria, and/or cryptosporidium in it

• its ok to drink the water as long as the levels are low
• its totally fine to drink the water
• the water is not drinkable since these microorganisms make you really sick
• you should give the water to kids

If all other indicators are good, but there is giardia or fecal cloiform bacteria like e. coli in the water, 

• the water isn't high enough quality to drink
• the water is high enough quality to drink

The presence of pollution intolerant macroinvertebrates like stonefly and caddisfly indicates

• good quality water
• poor quality water

If you find aquatic worms, maggots, and leeches, 

• the water could be good or poor since these organisms can live in polluted or clean water
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