JULY 2015

Water Quality Monitoring

in Clarke County
Water quality is one of Iowas top environmental priorities. - Iowa DNR

Water quality monitoring in Clarke County is primarily done in areas What is Water Testing?
surrounding the West Lake Watershed. Our objective is to monitor
what exactly is going into our drinking water and if necessary, take Clarke County SWCD
primarily uses physical and
steps to fix any issues that arise. chemical testing done
through habitat, physical and
Currently, there are four sites being tested in the West Lake chemical assessments.
Watershed. Right now those are surrounding tributaries, and there
Habitat Assessments track
may be some direct testing of the lake waters later in the season. the changes within the
With the amount of rainfall Clarke County has had this year, actual stream over time and are
testing has been difficult but should pick up as the rainfall generally measured and
decreases. recorded once a year.

Water quality is fundamental for good river Chemical Assessments

and lake health. Water quality sustains include the testing of:
pH
ecological processes that support native Dissolved Oxygen
fish populations, vegetation, wetlands and Nitrate-N
birdlife. Nitrite-N
Phosphate
Chloride
Similarly, many of our own uses depend
on water quality that is suitable for Physical Assessments
irrigation, watering stock, drinking, fishing include:
Weather
and recreation, and to meet cultural and Water Color/Odor/Temp
spiritual needs. Stream
Flow/Width/Depth
Transparency
DNR Water Quality Programs
Biological, fish tissue and
fish kill monitoring are also
Lake Restoration available.
Using a science-based-approach, analyzes and implements
improvements on Iowa lakes. If you are interested in water
Watershed Improvement quality testing on your land,
Through partnerships, identifies and assists private landowners with please contact the Clarke
improvement to watersheds. County SWCD for more
Water Monitoring information.
Surveys and analyzes water quality for numerous Iowa lakes and
rivers, including popular public swimming/recreation areas. Clarke County SWCD
709 Furnas Drive, Suite 3
State Revolving Fund Osceola, IA 50213
Provides low-interest financing for a wide variety of practices that (641) 342-2917
protect or improve water quality. If you have a project, we have a loan www.clarkecountyia.wix.com/swcd
for you.
Equal Opportunity Employer, Provider & Lender
What is Water Quality? How is Water Quality
Measured?
Water is essential to human life and the health of the environment.
The presence of contaminants and the
As a valuable natural resource, it comprises marine, freshwater characteristics of water are used to
(river and lakes) and groundwater environments that stretch indicate the quality of water. These
water quality indicators can be
across coastal and inland areas. Water has two dimensions that categorized as:
are closely linked: quantity and quality. Water quality is commonly
defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic Biological: bacteria, algae
Physical: temperature, turbidity and
(appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy environment is clarity, color, salinity, suspended
one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied
solids, dissolved solids
Chemical: pH, dissolved oxygen,
community of organisms and protects public health. biological oxygen demand, nutrients
(including nitrogen and phosphorus),
organic and inorganic compounds
Water quality in a body of water influences the way in which (including toxicants)
Aesthetic: Odors, taints, color,
communities use the water for activities such as drinking, floating matter
swimming or commercial purposes. More specifically, the water Radioactive: alpha, beta and
gamma radiation emitters.
may be used by the community for:
Measurements of these indicators can
be used to determine, and monitor
supplying drinking water changes in, water quality, and
recreation (swimming, boating) determine whether it is suitable for the
health of the natural environment and
irrigating crops and watering stock the uses for which the water is required.
industrial processes
navigation and shipping The design of water quality monitoring
programs is a complex and specialized
production of edible fish, shellfish and crustaceans field. The range of indicators that can be
protection of aquatic ecosystems measured is wide and other indicators
may be adopted in the future. The cost
wildlife habitats of a monitoring program to assess them
scientific study and education all would be prohibitive, so resources
are usually directed towards assessing
contaminants that are important for the
Why is water quality important? local environment or for a specific use
of the water.

Our water resources are of major environmental, social and This water quality information can then
economic value and if water quality becomes degraded this be used to develop management
programs and action plans to ensure
resource will lose its value. Water quality is important not only to that water quality is protected.
protect public health: water provides ecosystem habitats, is used
for farming, fishing and mining, and contributes to recreation and DNR IOWATER
tourism.
Iowa Rural Water
If water quality is not maintained, it is not just the environment that Association (IRWA)
will suffer - the commercial and recreational value of our water
resources will also diminish. Iowa Partnership for Clean
Water

Iowa Water Environment

Association (IAWEA)

Iowa Agriculture Water

Alliance (IAWA)

Clean Water Iowa

Iowa Water Center @ ISU

Equal Opportunity Employer, Provider & Lender