BLESS 2006 Water Quality Monitoring Program Report
Big Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program Big Lake Environment Support Society 2006 Sponsored by a Grant from Alberta Ecotrust Carried Out in Conjunction with the Alberta Lake Monitoring Society ALMS Water Sampling: Amanda Krowski BLESS Volunteers Biologist: Miles Constable Water Sampling/Testing: Stuart Loomis, Dave Burkhart, Lilo Engler, Warren Minchau, Elke Blodgett May 2007 BLESS Water Quality Monitoring Program Description The BLESS water quality monitoring program involves in-field measurements of physical parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, salinity, and electrical conductance) and on-shore analyses of chemical parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ortho- phosphate, total alkalinity, sulphate, silica and potassium). The physical parameters are measured with a hand-held LaMotte Tracer Pocketester Model 1766 and an Oakton Dissolved Oxygen meter. The chemical parameters are analysed with the LaMotte Smart2 Colorimeter system. The Tracer Pocketester is an electronic instrument that uses an electrode to measure five different physical parameters (temperature, pH, TDS, salinity, and electrical conductance). An electrode is immersed into a sample. A small current or voltage is produced that is amplified electronically and translated into a digital readout for each parameter. Parameters are individually selected on the instrument by cycling the Mode button. The Oakton meter measures dissolved oxygen in mg/L, ppm or % saturation along with water temperature in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Up to 50 measurements may be stored in the metre's internal memory. The metre's probe uses a galvanic measuring element that enables measurements to be taken immediately when immersed in the sample and incorporates a replaceable membrane. Because the metre consumes oxygen when measuring, the probe must be moved continuously when taking readings.
[Show full text]