WATER QUALITY

Water quality is a group of characteristics that are used to determine if water is suitable for an intended use. Depending on they way the water will be used there may be different standards to classify a body of water as “good”.The most common water quality measurements include salinity, temperature, turbidity and nutrient levels. These characteristics all interact with each other, change seasonally and impact the biodiversity of the ecosystem.Humans can have a large influence on quality by altering landscapes and pollution. One example of the impact humans can have on water quality is the dead zone found at the mouth of the Mississippi River.