Changes in Water Quality
Water quality changes can be the result of naturally
occurring events or as a result of human activity. When water
vapour in the air condenses to form rain, it may pick up tiny air-borne
impurities that become part of the rain drop. As rainwater seeps
through rocks or soil, it may dissolve minerals or other water soluble
substances that give the water some of its chemical
characteristics. Flowing water picks up many objects and carries sediments. Water quality also changes with the seasons as
temperature, volume of flow, turbidity and biological activity respond
to the seasonal differences.
Apart from the natural
changes, Humans are responsible for a great many changes to the quality
of water. These changes can be a result of industrial,
agricultural, municipal or recreational activities.
Reprinted from Focus On
Water Quality (1993) with permission of Alberta
Environment.
[Biological
Properties][Chemical
Properties][Physical
Properties]
[Changing Quality][Conservation
Need][How
to Conserve]
[Effects on Organisms][Pollution][Quality][What
Can You Do?}
|