What is Water Quality?
(The following information was obtained by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
What do we mean by "water quality"?
Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. To determine water quality, scientists first measure and analyze characteristics of the water such as temperature, dissolved mineral content, and number of bacteria. Selected characteristics are then compared to numeric standards and guidelines to decide if the water is suitable for a particular use.
Why do we have water-quality standards and guidelines?
Standards and guidelines are established to protect water for designated uses such as drinking, recreation, agricultural irrigation, or protection and maintenance of aquatic life. Standards for drinking-water quality ensure that public drinking-water supplies are as safe as possible. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and individual States are responsible for establishing the standards for constituents in water that have been shown to pose a risk to human health. Other standards protect aquatic life, including fish, and fish-eating wildlife such as birds.
How do natural processes affect water quality?
Natural water quality varies from place to place, with the seasons, with climate, and with the types of soils and rocks through which water moves. When water from rain or snow moves over the land and through the ground, the water may dissolve minerals in rocks and soil, seep through organic material such as roots and leaves, and react with algae, bacteria, and other microscopic organisms. Water may also carry plant debris and sand, silt, and clay to rivers and streams making the water appear "muddy" or turbid. When water evaporates from lakes and streams, dissolved minerals are more concentrated in the water that remains. Each of these natural processes changes the water quality and potentially the water use.
How do human activities affect water quality?
Urban and industrial development, farming, mining, combustion of fossil fuels, stream-channel alteration, animal-feeding operations, and other human activities can change the quality of natural waters. As an example of the effects of human activities on water quality, consider nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers that are applied to crops and lawns. These plant nutrients can be dissolved easily in rainwater or snowmelt runoff. Excess nutrients carried to streams and lakes encourage abundant growth of algae, which leads to low oxygen in the water and the possibility of fish kills. Chemicals such as pharmaceutical drugs, dry-cleaning solvents, and gasoline that are used in urban and industrial activities have been found in streams and ground water. After decades of use, pesticides are now widespread in streams and ground water, though they rarely exceed the existing standards and guidelines established to protect human health. Some pesticides have not been used for 20 to 30 years, but they are still detected in fish and stream-bed sediment at levels that pose a potential risk to human health, aquatic life, and fish-eating wildlife. There are so many chemicals in use today that determining the risk to human health and aquatic life is a complex task. In addition, mixtures of chemicals typically are found in water, but health-based standards and guidelines have not been established for chemical mixtures.
What are the current conditions of our streams?
A Stream Asset Inventory (SAI) was conducted during the spring, summer, and fall 2005 as part of the KC-One Stormwater Management Plan process. The objective of the SAI was to assess and classify the relative condition of all streams within the city, and provide baseline natural resource conditions for sustainable stormwater management and land use planning recommendations. Stream segments were categorized Type I (highest quality) through V (lowest quality) based on the statistical distribution of all study data. To view the results of the report, please click here.
What are the water quality standards in Kansas City?
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources classifies water quality standards for the State of Missouri. The water quality regulations list the classified bodies of water in the state and identifies them by how the water is used. These uses are called beneficial uses. Associated with each use is a set of water quality criteria or standards that must be met to ensure the water can safely be used as designated. Therefore, the water quality is protected appropriately for the specific uses of each water body. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources classifies water quality standards in the following ways: - Whole Body Contact Class A: swimming
- Whole Body Contact Class B: wading
- Secondary Contact Recreation: secondary contact where water is splashed on you (no immersion)
In Kansas City:
The Blue River is classified as Whole Body Contact Class B, except for the reach between Bannister Road and 59th Street which is classified as Whole Body Contact Class A. Indian Creek is also classified as Whole Body Contact Class A. If a river or stream is classified as Whole Body Contact it is also classified as Secondary Contact Recreation, therefore the entire Blue River is classified for Secondary Contact as well. The Missouri River is classified as Whole Body Contact Class B and Secondary Contact. |
