pH in waterpH in water

By: Sarah EgglestonBy: Sarah Eggleston

pH is determined and recorded as a pH is determined and recorded as a number between 0 and 14.number between 0 and 14.

To determine the pH the amount of HTo determine the pH the amount of H+ ions found in the substance being + ions found in the substance being tested must be measured.tested must be measured.

pH ScalepH Scale An acid is when the pH level is below 7.An acid is when the pH level is below 7. The measurement for an acid is The measurement for an acid is

between 0 and 7.between 0 and 7. A base is when the pH level is above 7.A base is when the pH level is above 7. The measurement for a base is The measurement for a base is

anywhere between 7 and 14.anywhere between 7 and 14. A neutral is when the pH level is 7.A neutral is when the pH level is 7. Neutral means the H+ and OH- ions Neutral means the H+ and OH- ions

are equal.are equal.

Many organisms are able to handle a wide range of Many organisms are able to handle a wide range of pH.pH.

pH: 3.0-3.5 unlikely for fish to survive more then a pH: 3.0-3.5 unlikely for fish to survive more then a few hours.few hours.

3.5-4.0 lethal to salmonids3.5-4.0 lethal to salmonids 4.0-4.5 lethal to all fish, most frogs, insects absent4.0-4.5 lethal to all fish, most frogs, insects absent 4.5-5.0 lethal to Mayfly and many insects.4.5-5.0 lethal to Mayfly and many insects. 5.0-5.5 bottom dwelling bacteria die5.0-5.5 bottom dwelling bacteria die 6.0-6.5 not likely lethal to fish6.0-6.5 not likely lethal to fish 6.5-8.2 optimal to most organisms6.5-8.2 optimal to most organisms 8.2-9.0 may not directly hurt fish but indirectly 8.2-9.0 may not directly hurt fish but indirectly

begin tobegin to 9.0-10.5 harmful to salmonids, lethal if present long9.0-10.5 harmful to salmonids, lethal if present long 10.5-11.0 lethal to salmonids10.5-11.0 lethal to salmonids 11.0-14.0 lethal to all fish or organisms11.0-14.0 lethal to all fish or organisms

Sources of pHSources of pH

Strong acid sources with pH of 4-5: leaves and Strong acid sources with pH of 4-5: leaves and leaf-mold of oak, beech, chestnut, blueberry, leaf-mold of oak, beech, chestnut, blueberry, huckleberry, laurel, azalea, and rhododendron. huckleberry, laurel, azalea, and rhododendron. Needles of hemlock, spruce, fir, and pine. Needles of hemlock, spruce, fir, and pine. Cottonseed meal and apple pomace. Cottonseed meal and apple pomace.

Moderate acid sources with pH of 5-6: leaves and Moderate acid sources with pH of 5-6: leaves and leaf-mold of red maple and most birches. leaf-mold of red maple and most birches.

Slight acid or neutral sources with pH of 6-7: lawn Slight acid or neutral sources with pH of 6-7: lawn clippings, garden plants, hay, ground corncobs. clippings, garden plants, hay, ground corncobs. Leaves of hickory, butternut, ash, most maples, Leaves of hickory, butternut, ash, most maples, elm, dogwood, poplar, basswood, willow, tulip-elm, dogwood, poplar, basswood, willow, tulip-tree. Various animal manurestree. Various animal manures

pH levels around the USpH levels around the US

These are pH levels reported for natural water These are pH levels reported for natural water sources in the US.sources in the US.

Rivers Rivers U.S. Potomac (MD, PA, WV) 7.8-8.4U.S. Potomac (MD, PA, WV) 7.8-8.4 Ohio (OH, IN, KY) 7.0-9.0 Ohio (OH, IN, KY) 7.0-9.0 Delaware (PA, NJ) 7.4-7.6 Delaware (PA, NJ) 7.4-7.6 Colorado (CA, AZ) 7.7-8.5 Colorado (CA, AZ) 7.7-8.5 Hillsborough (FL) 7.1-8.2 Hillsborough (FL) 7.1-8.2 Snake (ID) 7.6-8.4 Snake (ID) 7.6-8.4 Little (MA) 6.2-6.5 Little (MA) 6.2-6.5 Rio Grande (CO, NM, TX)Rio Grande (CO, NM, TX) Arkansas (AR, OK, KS, CO) 7.4-8.6Arkansas (AR, OK, KS, CO) 7.4-8.6 Missouri (NE, KS, MO) 7.8-8.5Missouri (NE, KS, MO) 7.8-8.5 Brazos, Trinity, Colorado, Guadalupe Brazos, Trinity, Colorado, Guadalupe

(TX) 7.2-8.5(TX) 7.2-8.5 Mississippi( MN, WI, IL, MO) 7.6-8.9Mississippi( MN, WI, IL, MO) 7.6-8.9 Great LakesGreat Lakes Lake Michigan (MI, IN, IL, WI) 7.5-Lake Michigan (MI, IN, IL, WI) 7.5-

8.58.5 Lake Ontario (NY) 7.9-8.3Lake Ontario (NY) 7.9-8.3

ReferencesReferences

http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htmhttp://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen-peapp-ph.htmlgen-peapp-ph.html

http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htmhttp://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm