| Term |
Meaning |
| Bacteria |
Bacteria are single celled micro-organisms. Most are harmless
and actually very important in the environment. We look for
a few kinds of bacteria, such as enterococci which are commonly
found in faeces, to determine whether water has been polluted
by humans and animals. >>
More |
| Chlorophyll |
the pigment of photosynthesising plants and algae, indicative
of the total mass of algae in waters. >>
More |
| Condition |
Our assessment of water quality is summed up in terms of
its condition. We describe or classify condition as being
in good, moderate or poor condition. This classification system
is used to evaluate whether or not a water body is meeting
its environmental values. |
| Ecological health |
The measurement of the macroinvertebrate community structure
in a stream. >> More |
| Environmental values |
These are what we would like our water resources to be like.
Some water bodies have an ecosystem value, which means we
would like those waters to be protected so that they can function
as healthy ecosystems. We may consider other water bodies
to be valued for recreational purposes and we need to protect
them accordingly. >> More |
| Estuaries |
Estuaries are regions where freshwater meets the sea. This
most commonly occurs at a river mouth; however estuaries can
also occur from fresh groundwater seeping into the sea. >>
More |
| Groundwater |
Groundwater is water that percolates down the soil profile.
It is basically rainfall that falls on the surface and then
infiltrates through the soil until it reaches a saturated
and permeable zone known as an aquifer. >>
More |
| Heavy metals |
These are elements such as copper, lead, zinc and mercury.
They are found everywhere in the environment because they
are naturally part of the earth's crust. Heavy metals can
become concentrated in urban environments (and end up in stormwater)
because our society is based on many industrial activities
which use them. They can also be found in at elevated levels
in rural catchments where mining activities have occurred
or because of unusual geology. >>
More |
| Lakes |
Inland water bodies that have little or no flow. Lakes usually
occur at the end of large river systems (eg Lake Alexandrina),
although some exist as a result of groundwater breaking the
surface (eg the Blue Lake). |
| Macroinvertebrates |
Macroinvertebrates are aquatic animals without backbones
that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They
include insects, crustaceans, snails, worms, mites and sponges.
>>
More |
| Marine waters |
Marine waters include coastal environments such as beaches
and bays. >> More |
| National water quality guidelines |
These are the water quality "trigger" levels that
have been set to protect the environmental values we place
on waters. If water quality data at a monitoring site exceed
these guidelines, there is a need to conduct further monitoring
and/or consider other investigations and management strategies.
>>
More |
| Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
Natural Resources Management (NRM) is a framework to help
us look after the environment with a balance between caring
for our land, water, plants and animals and the needs of farmers
and landowners. >>
More |
| Nutrients |
Nutrients include several naturally occurring chemicals
that animals and plants need to grow. In water quality, we
usually refer to plant nutrients and these are different forms
of nitrogen (eg oxidized
nitrogen, ammonia)
and phosphorus.
They can cause excessive growth of algae, which can clog water
ways and occasionally blue-green algae, which can be toxic.
|
| Rivers and streams |
Rivers and streams in South Australia include all flowing
surface waters. They can also be called creeks. >>
More |
| Salinity |
A measure of how much dissolved salt is in water. >>
More |
| Seagrass |
Seagrasses are the 'grass meadows' of coastal waters. >>
More |
| Turbidity |
A measure of water clarity. Low turbidity means the water
is clear. >>
More |
| Water chemistry |
The range of chemical measurements that are used as water
quality indicators. >>
More |
| Water pollution |
An unusually high amount of a chemical in a water body that
has the potential to cause an environmental impact. |
| Water quality |
How water is described or characterized. Water quality is
a measure of how good the water is in terms of meeting its
environmental values. |
| Water quality indicator |
These are the different types of measurements that can be
performed to describe water quality. Examples are nutrients,
heavy metals, turbidity, bacteria and chlorophyll. |
| Water quality indicators |
The measurements that are used to decide if the water quality
is in good condition or not. |
| Water sample |
A portion of a water body collected for the purpose of measuring
water quality indicators. |
