H20 TESTING REPORT
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN???
TEMPERATURE: Maximum summer water temperatures are critical for fish and other aquatic life in the lake. Coldwater species like trout must have summer water temperatures below 72°F while warm water fish like bass, prefer summer water temperatures above 80°F.
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pH: If the pH of water is too high or too low, the aquatic organisms living within it will die. pH can also affect the solubility and toxicity of chemicals and heavy metals in the water. The pH of a lake should generally fall between 6.0 and 9.0.
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DISSOLVED OXYGEN: In limnology (the study of lakes), dissolved oxygen is an essential factor second only to water itself ¹. A dissolved oxygen level that is too high or too low can harm aquatic life and affect water quality. Healthy water should generally have dissolved oxygen concentrations above 6.5-8 mg/L and between about 80-120 %.
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BACTERIA (E-COLI): Escherichia coli, (commonly called E. coli) is one of the most common species of fecal coliform bacteria. We all carry about 1,000,000 E. coli cells per gram of feces in our guts. That’s right, over 1 million E. coli per gram of poop! If you are healthy, none of these E. coli are capable of causing gastrointestinal illness. We tend to think of E. coli as bad, but in actuality these are important components of a healthy gut in animals (including us). Recreational waters that are not designated beaches should not have more than 406 E-Coli/100 mL in any single sample.
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*Prevent increased levels of contaminated water runoff by picking up pet waste. Discourage geese from congregating. Refrain from feeding wildlife like geese and ducks as that encourages them to congregate and disrupts their natural foraging behaviors. Planting tall grasses, building geese fences, and raking sand to remove feces and exposing bacteria to sunlight so it dies off before reaching the water will deter waterfowl.
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TOTAL PHOSPHORUS: Phosphorus is an essential element for plant life, but when there is too much of it in water, it can speed up eutrophication (a reduction in dissolved oxygen in water bodies caused by an increase of mineral and organic nutrients) of rivers and lakes. This can be evidenced by an overgrowth of algae. Conversely, too little phosphorus can result in not enough plant growth to support a lake's food web, which can result in a collapse of the fish ecosystem. Phosphorus can enter the lake via runoff during rainfall events, the application of lawn fertilizers, and pet waste.
(See table for acceptable levels)
NITROGEN (as Nitrate/Nitrite): Nitrogen is second only to phosphorus as an important nutrient for plant and algae growth. The amount of nitrogen in lake water corresponds to local land use (animal waste, human waste, and lawn fertilizers on lakeshore property). Nitrogen does not occur naturally in soil minerals, but is a major component of all organic (plant and animal) matter. Decomposing organic matter releases ammonia, which is converted to nitrate if oxygen is present. This conversion occurs more rapidly at higher water temperatures. Levels exceeding 50 mg/L (ppm) nitrate-nitrogen are considered unhealthy for lakes.
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*Reducing nutrient levels of phosphorus and nitrogen is critical to control nuisance growth of aquatic plants and algae. This can be accomplished by reducing the use of fertilizers near the water, keeping geese and domestic animals away from the lake, redirecting runoff from fertilized areas.
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TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS): The portion of fine particulate matter that remains in suspension in water. These particles can include silt, algae, sediment, and anything drifting or floating in the water (both organic and inorganic). Suspended solids absorb heat from sunlight and as a result, the water temperature increases resulting in the deprivation of dissolved oxygen in the water which can be disastrous to aquatic life if levels are too high. TSS levels are difficult to quantify due to their natural variation by season, local geology, water flow and weather events. Even the National Academy of Sciences only recommends that “TSS should not reduce light penetration by more than 10%”. Most states do not have a set standard of concentration levels, whereas Michigan has a "narrative standard" as outlined:
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Rule 50 of the Michigan Water Quality Standards (Part 4 of Act 451)
Waters of the state shall not have any of the following unnatural physical properties in quantities which are or may become injurious to any designated use: turbidity, color, oil films, floating solids, foam, settleable solids, suspended solids, and deposits. This kind of rule, which does not establish a numeric level, is known as a "narrative standard." Most people consider water with a TSS concentration less than 20 mg/l to be clear. Water with TSS levels between 40 and 80 mg/l tends to appear cloudy, while water with concentrations over 150 mg/l usually appears dirty.