Water Quality

Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water in relationship to a set of standards. In the United States, Water Quality Standards are created by state agencies for different types of water bodies and water body locations per desired uses (Clean Water Act). The primary uses considered for such characterization are parameters which relate to drinking water, safety of human contact, and for health of ecosystems. The methods of hydrometry are used to quantify water characteristics. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_quality)

 To determine water quality, the physical and chemical measurement of the levels of dissolved oxygen, suspended sediments, nutrients, metals, oils, and pesticides in water. It also includes assessments of temperature, flow, water color, the conditions of stream banks and lake shores and the examination of aquatic wildlife. (http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watewaterqualitymonitoring.html)