pH+test



pH has a range from 0 - 14. Low numbers between 0 - 7 would be considered acidic High numbers between 7 - 14 would be considered basic. Neutral is about 7.0

water must be in a certain range for living things to survive. 6.5 - 8.2 is the reasonable range that living things need to survive.

Fish die when the pH is below 4.o Fish die when the pH is above 11.0

What might cause the pH to change in a stream environment?

If you are washing your car and using soapy water, the soap will drain down your drive way. The soap will then travel down your street and into a storm drain. All the water runoff will eventually travel into a stream and collect into a local watershed. Soap is a chemical base (see diagram above) and may alter the chemistry of a stream. pH for living organisms are much like soil quality and light for a plant. All living things have a pH range in which they can survive in the water. If the pH becomes too acidic or basic, living things such as plants and fish can not survive in the stream.

Acid rain can also contribute to changing the pH of a stream, pond, or lake. Animals and plants at the bottom of the food web are often sensitive to changes in pH. If certain macro-invertebrates or plants decrease in population, many different animals will be affected in the food web.

EPA pH LINK