Note: Zero-Con test results show the before tubidity of 2,400+ ntu's and after one treatment the turbidity was dropped to <4 ntu's.

Turbidity is the amount of particulate matter that is suspended in water. Turbidity measures the scattering effect that suspended solids have on light: the higher the intensity of scattered light, the higher the turbidity. Material that causes water to be turbid include:

• clay
• silt
• finely divided organic and inorganic matter
• soluble colored organic compounds
• plankton
• microscopic organisms

Turbidity makes the water cloudy or opaque. The picture to the left shows highly turbid water from a tributary (where construction was probably taking place) flowing into the less turbid water of the River. Turbidity is measured by shining a light through the water and is reported in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Bottom line is if the water has too many ntu's (too much turbidity) fish and other living organisms will not be able to survive.

Zero-Con test results show 2.9 to 4 ntu's when treating extremely turbid water just once!

pH is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 - 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base. pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water. Water that has more free hydrogen ions is acidic, whereas water that has more free hydroxyl ions is basic. Since pH can be affected by chemicals in the water, pH is an important indicator of water that is changing chemically. pH is reported in "logarithmic units," like the Richter scale, which measures earthquakes. Each number represents a 10-fold change in the acidity/basicness of the water. Water with a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than water having a pH of six.

Pollution can change a water's pH, which in turn can harm animals and plants living in the water. For instance, water coming from concrete wastewater exceeds a pH of 14, which is very alkalinic and would definitely kill any fish crazy enough to try to live in it!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the pH of water must be between a 6.5 - 9 to allow direct discharge on the ground. Other factors such as turbidity are also a concern.

Note: Zero-Con test results show the turbidity is <4 ntu's and with a pH adjustment kit, wastewater may be directly discharged on the ground, POTW or directly into natural waterways.

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