Water Quality Tests
Biotic Testing
Biotic testing involves catching indicator species and the living factors of a creek. It can include studying the life cycle of the animals or insects and examining why they are living in the creek. Different animals are located at the creek during different seasons, so it is important to do several studies on a creek during different seasons. An example of this is how Mayfly lay their eggs in the creek, they hatch and are present as larvae in the spring, but they change into flies by fall. You may also intentify local vegetation within the riparian zone.
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Indicator Species |
Species that will only live in a certain quality of water of better |
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Riparian Zone |
Buffer around creek, the land that holds vegetation |
Abiotic Testing
Abiotic testing involves testing the non-living parts of the creek. These tests are typically done with chemicals and should not be perfomed without proper training. Such tests include disolved oxygen, pH test, temperature (water and air), electroconductivity, dissolved nitrates, etc. Such tests determine the health and ability to support life of the creek.
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Dissolved Oxygen |
Measure of the oxygen in the water that gilled animals breathe, measured in ppm (parts per million) |
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pH Test |
Amount of acid or base in the water |
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Water temperature |
Temperature of the water |
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Electroconductivity |
How well electricity flows through the water, the more particles then the more conductive |
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Dissolved nitrates |
Amount of nitrates in the water |
Image Sources
- Department of Primary Industries
- The Old Pueblo Chapter of Trout Unlimited
- Lab Safety Supply
- Septic Maintenance Online
- Everest Garden Supply
- Wikimedia Commons (multiple images)