Hi Armando,

I usually measure BOD5, COD, N-NH4, N-NO3, N-NO2, total N and P and also the concentration of Escherichia coli (a good indicator of sewage).

Good luck and regards

Daniele

Thanks Daniele, and do you know if this measurements could be done in lab with a sample taken from the water or should be done in the field directly?

Dissolved and particulate heavy metal concentrations or other contaminants depending on the type of possible sources nearby the target site.

Armando,

For the measurement of the aquatic pollution of any water body physical and chemical parameters played vital role. Each of these parameters has its own significance in the natural ecosystem. In order to assess the exact level of the pollution I suggest you to use the standard methods of the analysis provided by APHA, WHO. There are so many printed version of there methodology on web also. you go through these methods and then decide your own parameters to investigate. The literature will guide you to choose these parameters which are less time consuming and frequently carried out forth nightly.

Wish you all the best.

Best regards for your work

Howdy Armando,

Don't forget to measure the water speed profile of the river as well (or flow rate from gauging stations. When you multiply a pollutant concentration with the integral of the speed profile you get the pollution load of the river. You will need pollution loads to make comparisons between different seasons and the different flow rate regimes of the river. Typically in Western Europe rivers tend to have a high flow rate regime in spring and a low one during summer and early autumn (as a general rule).

Clearly the concentration of a pollutant is not only dependent on its emission rate in a river, but also on the flow rate of the river. The speed profile of the river allows you to estimate flow rate unless you have data from gauging stations. Then forget the speed profile approach, you can use the gauging station flow rates instead.

Hence it is not enough to measure the concentration of a pollutant, but also river mass flow rate, to get to pollution load (pollutant mass flow rate in g[pollutant]/m²/s square on the flow direction, with the boundary condition that the pollutant is perfectly dispersed in the river.Pollution load is the variable you need, pollutant concentration is only part of the picture.

Cheers,

Frank

Hi Armando,

every one had a very good contribution to your question. i may suggest the following manuals for you to check how to analyze your samples:

Stainton, M. P., Capel, M. J., & Armstrong, F. A. (1977). The Chemical Analysis of Fresh Water (2nd ed.). Winnipeg, CA: Miscellanous Special Publication No. 25.

Stein, J. R. (1975). Handbook of Phycological Methods: Culture Methods and Growth Measurements. London, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Strickland, J. D., & Parsons, T. R. (1968). Manual of sea water analysis: With Special Reference to the More Common Micronutrients and to Particulate Organic Material. Fisheries Research Bord of Canada.

Valderrama, J. C. (1981). The simultaneous analysis of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in natural waters. 10.

from my field work experience, i learned to have a check list of all the elements, parameters, equipments, ... that i need. the responses you have listed many physical, chemical, ecological parameters that usually ecologist need to sample in order to investigate the current status of a system. as you are working in a river, i agree with Frank Veroustraete that you need to collect viscosity and water discharge since you may need to find how far you pollutants transport. also you have to find the relevant water quality parameters you need to answer your hypothesis. for example if you want to test the suitability of your river water to be used for drinking purposes pH is not a vital parameter as BOD5, E. Coli, turbidity or color! on the other hand, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also have a long list of water quality guidelines just like WHO you may need to check. i wish you all the best

Hi Aramando,

Though you have quite a good feedback, I am just suggesting the points missed. That's biological contaminants

Please continue on screening for microbial population. The contaminants are from sewers & industrial effluents. Do not get scared with microbial methods to do tests. The tests are pretty straight forward and doable by any one. You may visit the sites of 3M. they make petrifilms for different purpose including food analysis and will be handy. You will get information on total microbial populations and number of various indicator organisms that will tell you about the type extent and quality of contaminants & the possible consequences of the use of the water. E. Coli is already suggested by

Daniele However, you need to update yourself on proper sampling and sample handling and storage procedures though.

Fortunately, you can find many test protocols of many countries, you can get reliable test procedures easily. You may review the one here from Govt. of Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/res-rech/analy-meth/microbio/volume1-eng.php

Hope this helps

don't forget dear Armando to check for pollution with heavy metals such as Cu, Pb, As, as those are industrial pollutants.

I usually run these analyses in lab but I think you can do some of them directly in the field if you have a field-photometer... but I think it is better to come back in lab.

Regards

Hi Armando,

another aspect of the possible measurements is a continuous or fast response contamination/water quality check. You can do many of the physical (temp, turbidity, conductivity, oxy-redox potential, dissolved O2, O2 concentration etc.) and also some biological and chemical properties (pH, Chloropyhll, Fycocyanin, BOD, PAR etc.) with one sonde, which can be submerged in the water continuously, down to 100m or more.

These multiparametric sondes are quite expensive, but can be loaned for long-time periods. Without any advertisements I quote some companies, then you can find an appropriate one: Amel, Hach, Ysi.

We use one in our lab and its really useful, you see the results in tabulated format already in the field, and export it later onto computer. You eliminate a lot of sampling and fixation, preparation and transfer of your samples, moreover the results are known and valid immediately. For further testing (not covered by your multiparametric probe) you can take more samples, then analyze them later at the lab, most of the lab aspects are mentioned above (try US EPA http://www.epa.gov/fem/methcollectns.htm, EU standards http://esearch.cen.eu/esearch/, national standards) for group of contaminants with different properties (HPLC, GC etc.) and for different purposes (drinking water, water for recreational use, animals or irrigation, protected areas).

I also include a sample video on the use of an MP sonde.

Regards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRWA628tH1A

If your aim is to investigate water quality and assess toxicants in waterways, you may be interested to measure spatial and temporal variations of high risk pollutants in rivers such as pesticides, metals, or endocrine disrupting chemicals using innovative technology called passive samplers. You may like to use a bio-monitor as well sample sediments to measure pollutants loadings. Furthermore, you may also like to determine the impact of pollutants on river biodiversity such as macro-invertebrates.

Many things could be investigate in water pollution, such as effect of one parameters to other parameters to measuring water pollution. Or you can try to determine impact of water pollution to environment or fish biodiversity, or fish breeding, or tryin to find new method to measuring water pollution

good luck ..

Hi Armando:

Please check the following papers, where water quality is assessed using different methodologies:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2006.03.009

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2012.11.007

if you need more help please contact me; environmental measuring is my expertise area.

Best regards!

José Juan.

Hi Armando:

Please check the following papers, where water quality is assessed using different methodologies:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2006.03.009

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2012.11.007

if you need more help please contact me; environmental measuring is my expertise area.

Best regards!

José Juan.