Water Quality Analysis
May 8, 2019
Ipswich River Watershed Association
- pH: 7.50
- Ammonia: 0.15
- Salinity: 0.00
- Phosphate: 0.25
- Nitrate:
- Nitrite:
May 15, 2019
Site A: Town Boat Landing County road, Ipswich
- pH: 6.00
- Ammonia: 0.00
- Salinity: 0.00
- Phosphate: 0.25
- Nitrate: 1.00
- Nitrite: 0.00
- pH: 9.00
- Ammonia: 0.25
- Salinity: 0.25
- Phosphate: 0.25
- Nitrate:1.00
- Nitrite: 0.15
Ammonia
When ammonia is present at high levels in water, it is difficult for animals to dispose of the toxic chemical leading to buildup, thus causing harmful levels of ammonia in the tissues and blood, which could eventually cause death.
Nitrite
Nitrite toxicity happens when fish or other animals are exposed to high levels of nitrite. When the nitrite enters the bloodstream through the gills, it changes the oxygen carrying hemoglobin to a non-oxygen carrying methemoglobin, which hurts the tissues and cells of the fish. Methemoglobin has a brown color, turning the gills a pale and sickened tan/brown.
Nitrate
Nitrate doesn't directly effect animals, but instead feeds other organisms, such as algae and other plants, which soak up nutrients, making it hard for fish to thrive.
Phosphate
Phosphate is the man ingredient in many nutrients, thus phosphate controls the amount of nutrients that different plants and animals obtain. When there is an overload of chemicals in an area it is called eutrophication (algae bloom).
pH
Harmful pH levels such as too low (acidic) or too high (basic) can be harmful; low levels can burn fish skin, and younger fish are mores sensitive to acidity than adults.
