How we measure water quality

Summary

Jodi, an EPA officer in Victoria, demonstrates the process of water quality testing in response to pollution reports. Using a sample pole and bottle, water samples are collected without disturbing the creek bed, then sent to a lab for analysis of pollutants like oils, metals, and pesticides. On-site, a field meter measures dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH levels, providing immediate insights into the water's health. The lab results, when combined with field data, help identify any pollution issues requiring further investigation, showcasing EPA's commitment to a healthy environment for Victorians.

Takeaways

• 📍 The speaker is Jodi, an authorised officer with the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria (EPA).
• 🚨 EPA responds to public reports of water pollution by sending officers like Jodi to investigate.
• 🔬 EPA conducts ongoing environmental monitoring programs, including water quality testing by environmental scientists.
• 💧 Water sampling is performed using a sample pole and bottle to avoid disturbing the creek bed.
• ❄️ Samples are chilled and sent to an independent lab for various pollutant tests.
• 🧪 Lab tests include checking for oils, metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides in the water.
• 📊 EPA assesses lab results against guideline values to determine if any pollutants exceed safe levels.
• 🔍 Jodi uses a field meter to measure parameters like dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH directly in the waterway.
• 🌡️ Dissolved oxygen levels can indicate water quality issues, with very low levels suggesting pollution or other environmental stressors.
• 🧠 Salinity levels are expected to be below 1,500, and the current reading of 400 is favorable for a freshwater creek.
• 🌡️ pH levels between six and eight are normal, with the current reading at seven indicating a healthy waterway.
• 🔍 Field results are preliminary; final assessment awaits lab results to identify any pollution requiring further investigation.
• 🌿 EPA's efforts in water sampling across Victoria contribute to a healthy environment for all Victorians.

Q & A

What is the role of an authorised officer with the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria (EPA)?

An authorised officer with the EPA is responsible for investigating reports of water pollution, collecting water samples, and ensuring the quality of the environment in Victoria.

How does the EPA respond to reports of water pollution?

Upon receiving a report of water pollution, the EPA may send an authorised officer to the site to investigate further and collect water samples for testing.

What tools does an authorised officer use to collect water samples without disturbing the creek bed?

An authorised officer uses a sample pole and a sample bottle to collect water samples without disturbing the creek bed.

What happens to the collected water samples after they are taken from the creek?

The collected samples are placed on ice in an esky and sent to an independent laboratory for various tests to check for different types of pollutants.

What types of pollutants might be tested for in the water samples?

The laboratory tests for pollutants such as oils, metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides, depending on the creek or the environmental problem.

How are the laboratory results assessed by the EPA?

The EPA assesses the laboratory results against various guideline values to determine if any of the results are above levels considered safe.

What is a field meter and how is it used in the water quality assessment?

A field meter is a device used to measure various water parameters directly in the waterway. It provides real-time readings of parameters such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH.

Why is dissolved oxygen an important parameter to measure in water quality assessments?

Dissolved oxygen is crucial as very low levels can indicate poor water quality, which may be a result of pollutants, algal blooms, or droughts.

What does salinity measure in the water and what is the expected range for a freshwater creek?

Salinity measures the amount of salt in the water. For a freshwater creek like the one in the script, the expected range is below 1,500, with the current reading being around 400.

What is the significance of pH in water quality and what is the normal range for a waterway?

pH measures the acidity or basicity of the water. A normal range for a waterway is between about six and eight, with a reading of seven being ideal.

How does the EPA use the results from both field meters and laboratory tests to identify pollution?

The EPA uses the field results for immediate assessment and the laboratory results for a more detailed analysis. If any of the results indicate pollution above safe levels, further investigation is warranted.

What is the broader goal of the EPA's water sampling efforts across Victoria?

The broader goal of the EPA's water sampling efforts is to strive for a healthy environment for all Victorians by monitoring and maintaining water quality.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Water Quality Inspection by EPA Officer

Jodi, an authorised officer of the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria (EPA), introduces the process of checking water quality in a creek for potential pollution. This investigation is triggered by public reports of water pollution and involves collecting water samples using a sample pole and bottle to avoid disturbing the creek bed. The samples are then sent to an independent lab for testing against various pollutants such as oils, metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides. The EPA uses guideline values to assess the safety of the water quality.

Keywords

💡Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Authority, commonly known as EPA, is a government body responsible for regulating and enforcing environmental standards to protect natural resources and public health. In the video, the EPA is central to the theme as it sends an authorized officer to investigate water pollution in a creek, showcasing its role in environmental monitoring and protection.

💡Water Quality

Water quality refers to the condition of water regarding its suitability for various uses such as drinking, aquatic life support, and recreational activities. The script emphasizes the importance of water quality by describing the process of testing and monitoring it for pollutants, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy environment.

💡Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. In the context of the video, pollution is a key concern as the EPA officer is checking for it in the creek. The script mentions various types of pollutants that could affect water quality, such as oils, metals, hydrocarbons, or pesticides.

💡Sample Pole

A sample pole is a tool used to collect water samples without disturbing the sediment at the bottom of a body of water. In the script, the EPA officer uses a sample pole to collect water samples, which is a critical step in assessing water quality and identifying potential pollution.

💡Sample Bottle

A sample bottle is a container used to hold water samples for testing. The script describes the process of using a sample bottle in conjunction with a sample pole to collect water from the creek, highlighting the methodical approach to environmental sampling.

💡Independent Laboratory

An independent laboratory is a facility that conducts scientific tests and analyses without being influenced by parties that have a vested interest in the outcomes. In the video, the water samples are sent to such a laboratory for testing, ensuring unbiased and reliable results that help in the assessment of water quality.

💡Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen present in water that can be utilized by aquatic organisms. The script mentions using a field meter to measure dissolved oxygen levels, which is an important parameter for assessing water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems.

💡Salinity

Salinity refers to the salt concentration in water, measured in parts per thousand (ppt). The script provides an example of salinity measurement, noting that a salinity level of around 400 is good for a freshwater creek, indicating the water's suitability for aquatic life.

💡pH

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is, with a range from 0 to 14. The script discusses the pH of the waterway, mentioning that a pH of seven is neutral and expected for a healthy waterway, which is essential for the survival of aquatic organisms.

💡Field Meter

A field meter is a portable device used to measure various water quality parameters directly in the field. The script describes the use of a field meter to measure dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH, demonstrating the importance of real-time data in environmental monitoring.

💡Environmental Monitoring Programs

Environmental monitoring programs are systematic efforts to track and evaluate the condition of the environment over time. The script mentions that EPA's environmental scientists test water quality as part of ongoing programs, emphasizing the proactive approach to environmental health and conservation.

Highlights

Introduction of Jodi, an authorised officer with the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria (EPA).

Purpose of the visit is to check water quality in a creek for potential pollution.

EPA's response to public reports of water pollution includes sending authorised officers for investigation.

Ongoing environmental monitoring programs by EPA's environmental scientists to test water quality.

Use of a sample pole and bottle to collect water samples without disturbing the creek bed.

Samples are stored on ice and sent to an independent laboratory for testing.

Laboratory tests for various pollutants including oils, metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides.

Assessment of lab results against guideline values to determine safe levels of pollutants.

Use of a field meter to measure dissolved oxygen levels in the waterway.

Low dissolved oxygen levels may indicate poorer water quality due to pollutants or other factors.

Measurement of salinity in the water, with an expected value below 1,500.

Current salinity reading of 400, indicating good water quality for a freshwater creek.

pH measurement to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the waterway, with a normal range of 6 to 8.

Current pH reading of 7, which is within the expected range for the waterway.

Field results indicate normal water quality parameters.

Awaiting lab sample results to identify any pollution requiring further investigation.

EPA's efforts in water sampling across Victoria to ensure a healthy environment for all Victorians.

Transcripts

Hi there, I'm Jodi I'm an authorised officer with the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria

also known as EPA.

Today I'm going to check the quality of the water in this creek

to see if there's any pollution we need to investigate.

When EPA receives a report of water pollution from a member of the public

we may respond by sending someone like me an

authorised officer out to investigate further.

Our environmental scientists also test water quality around Victoria

as part of ongoing environmental  monitoring programs.

I need to collect a sample using this sample pole and the sample bottle.

The sample pole lets me grab a sample out of the creek without disturbing the bottom.

We just dip the bottle in and fill it up with the water.

The sample is put on ice in an esky and sent off  to an independent laboratory.

At the lab they do a number of different tests on the water to check for different types of pollutants

Depending on the creek or the environmental problem

this could include pollutants such as oils, metals, hydrocarbons or pesticides.

The lab will send us their sample results.

We'll assess those results against various guideline values that we report against.

This will let us know whether any of those results were above levels considered safe.

I also use a field meter to measure various parameters directly in the waterway.

I place the probe in the water

and move it around until the readings stabilise.

So this number here is the amount of dissolved oxygen in the waterway

and that can vary a lot over twenty four hours.

Really low levels of dissolved oxygen

can mean that the water quality is poorer than what it should be

and that could be the result of pollutants,

blue-green algal blooms or droughts.

So this number here is salinity which is a measure of how much salt is in the water.

We would normally expect something below 1,500 but currently rating around 400,

which is great for a little freshwater creek like this.

The reading at the bottom of the screen is pH.

It's a measure of how acidic or basic the waterway is.

We'd normally expect a result between about six and eight.

We're currently reading seven which is what we'd  expect for a waterway like this.

So all of the field results we got were normal

and when we get the samples back from the lab we'll have a look at them

and that will identify if there's any pollution we need to further investigate.

EPA's authorised officers and environmental scientists  undertake water sampling all across Victoria.

It's just one of the ways that EPA is striving  for a healthy environment for all Victorians.