Author: Kiersten Garside

What are nitrites? Nitrites are a form of Nitrogen in a specific form during the nitrogen life-cycle. Nitrogen compounds dissolved in water are an important class of plant nutrients. Nitrite […]

What is it? Chloride is a negatively charged ion that is formed when chlorine gains an additional electron. It is often found in the form of sodium and potassium salts, which are very […]

What are total dissolved solids? Total dissolved solids (TDS) are made up of inorganic salts (magnesium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonates, sodium, chlorides, and sulfates) and some small amounts of organic matter […]

What is stream flow? Stream flow is driven by gravity, with water always moving from a high place to a low place. Flow is an indicator of the amount of […]

What is calcium? Calcium is a mineral that is often found naturally in freshwater environments. Under natural conditions, rocks wear down and calcium is dissolved into the water, but this […]

What is water depth? Water depth is simply the depth of the water at a specific point. In certain areas, water levels have huge effects on ecosystem health. For example, […]

What is turbidity? Water turbidity measures how cloudy a sample of water is due to suspended particles like sediment and plankton. Turbidity can be an indicator of the health of […]

What are Phosphates? Phosphates are the most common form of phosphorus. Phosphorus is an element and critical nutrient required by all life. While phosphate plays a very important role as […]

What are nitrates? Nitrates are a specific form of nitrogen that are formed after nitrites have been exposed to nitrifying bacteria. Nitrates (NO3) are bioavailable, meaning that they are an important source of […]

What is water temperature? Water temperature is simply how warm or cold the water is. Why is water temperature important? Water temperature impacts the results of many other water tests […]