Nature has a regular cycle of temperature changes which impact water quality. Those changes literally stir things up and keeps the circle of life moving. Humans need to be careful with how they affect the cycle so they don't harm the water quality they depend on for their lives and hobbies. Temperature and water quality are closely linked and can be environmental problems.
Temperature and water quality are very closely linked. Temperature can affect the solubility and toxicity of the water. Water temperature can also determine what aquatic life can live in the water, the concentration of oxygen in the water, and it has an impact upon how some chemical and biological agents react, for starters.
Most organisms that live in the water are unable to regulate their core body temperature and when the temperature fluctuates above or below the normal, then these organisms are significantly affected. A large temperature fluctuation can entirely wipe out an organism in a water source, which can decrease the water quality. High temperatures can decrease the oxygen saturation in the water, which will directly affect aquatic life and can cause certain chemical reactions with organic matter. High water temperatures also encourage organisms to flourish quickly, again altering water quality.
What can impact water temperature?
- Seasons
- Physical conditions like shading from vegetation, land masses and buildings
- Thermal pollution
Seasons play a role in aquatic temperature changes. Air temperature changes, the solar angle and various weather conditions do their part in heating and cooling water. Those temperature changes are part of the cycle that keeps plant and animal life in balance.
Physical conditions play a role in water temperature and water quality. Cutting down trees and vegetation around a water source (rivers, streams, lakes or ponds) is one contributing cause of temperature fluctuation. This is not normally considered, but removing the shade from the water will cause it to get more sun than normal, which in turn can raise the temperature. Cutting trees down also removes fish habitats, altering the water's make up and chemistry. This loss of trees and vegetation can also increase the soil erosion around the water source, which can make the water more cloudy or turbid, again impacting fish and other aquatic life.
Canyon walls, stream banks, and hills and mountains also play a role in water temperature, a role that's less likely to change by interference from humans. People erect and raze buildings along bodies of water too, impacting the water's ecosystem. Attention needs to be paid to what our activities do to nature so we don't throw off the delicate balance that keeps plants and animals in check and flourishing.
Thermal pollution is the result of municipal or industrial wastes that runs off into the water source, it's water released by an electrical plant, and it's the runoff of water over hot pavement. Any of these sources can introduce pollutants into the water, which can be responsible for heating the water artificially as well. This can be a large problem in a cold water source that is home to fish or other organisms both from the unbalancing effect it has and the introduction of pollutants that can kill the aquatic life.
Water temperature can effect the water's ability to resist certain pollutants, decreasing water quality significantly. This can make the water an excellent breeding ground for toxic pollutants and biological organisms which can severely affect the health of anyone that uses this particular water source.
Most people don't think much about temperature and water quality, but it is a huge factor in how healthy water is. Think twice about removing trees and vegetation and make sure that you keep your water source as healthy as possible for you, your family, and the environment that depends upon the water.
Water quality is important to lots of people, both locally and downstream. Be aware that nature affects water temperature, and thus water quality, regularly. Humans should be careful in their roles of impacting that balance so water quality doesn't get altered permanently.
