Ten percent of pond owners have water-quality problems so severe that they experience fish kills. First, have the water tested. Free test kits are available at many county Cooperative Extension offices, but there is a fee required when water samples are sent to the lab.
Two test packages are available. Both packages include tests for pH level, total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen, alkalinity, aluminum, iron, manganese, phosphorus, sulfate and hardness. Swistock explained that the test kits are really meant for ponds and lakes larger than about one-quarter acre. They are not intended to help diagnose problems in very small backyard ponds, which are managed more like an aquarium. After pond water is tested, test results and recommendations to address water-quality problems are provided by the lab.
But the resolution of water-quality problems is rarely as simple as just applying algaecide or other aquatic herbicides, Swistock pointed out. Effective alternatives to chemical controls include reducing nutrients entering the water, adding beneficial bacteria, using barley straw to reduce algae growth and even stocking certain kinds of fish to consume excess vegetation.
Pond owners must act responsibly because their body of water is usually connected to groundwater or surface streams by some sort of outflow, said Swistock, so whatever they do to their pond can have downstream ramifications. Even if nothing seems obviously wrong, regular testing finds changes that occur over time and allows you to keep minor issues now from becoming expensive problems later on.
We test for a wide array of parameters, including:. Please contact us for further information. It is often easy to see harmful algal blooms in lakes and ponds. However, dangerous bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye. Bacteria are single-cell organisms that are a natural part of water. There are also indicators that you may have too much bacteria in your lake or pond. Pond and lake water testing for harmful bacteria may be required if:. Pond and lake water can contain good and bad bacteria.
They feed on harmful bacterial and other organisms that would otherwise thrive. They also play an important role in nutrient cycling since many bacteria feed on the nitrogen produced by plants and fish.
Harmful bacteria can infect plants and fish, which can lead to disease or death. Water quality issues in ponds and lakes can usually be prevented with some proper management techniques. Here are some tips:. Please contact us for further information on how regular testing can improve the water quality of your lake or pond. There are a lot of factors that play a part in the quality of water in lake and wetlands.
When testing the lake water all of these have to be taken into consideration as well. There are state regulations on water quality and they vary between different bodies of water such as lakes or streams.
A lot of the quality can also depend on runoff and pollution that can create other fields of management for wetlands such as installing fences or signs.
Since there is so much that can affect the water quality, it is important to regularly test it and act on a problem as soon as it rises. There are many different tests that have to be done, as well as levels of test, such as basic or more advanced.
Influxes of phosphorus and other nutrients, often caused by chemical runoff from nearby farms and agriculture, can upset the balance of your lake or pond and make it more vulnerable to invasives. Algae blooms — Algae is present in all lakes and ponds. However, algae blooms are not only unappealing aesthetically, but they can also prevent other plant growth, cause serious problems for a fishery or even contain toxins.
Warmer temperatures, high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, and high turbidity all contribute to the growth of algae and cyanobacteria.
Monitoring changes in these factors can be essential to preventing blooms from occurring, and keeping your pond clean and clear. The most common issue is low levels of dissolved oxygen, though parasites, toxins, and temperature can all be factors as well. All Rights Reserved.
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