How does Nitrate, pH, and

Phosphate affect
biodiversity?
By: Maya Hook, Elin Carlson,
Adyline Saucier, and Thea Huf
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a
particular habitat or ecosystem.
Colorado River
Tens of millions of people depend on the Lower Colorado river.
Over the years, agriculture has increased a lot in the Colorado
River. Sediment is very important to the function of the river.
There has been a reduction of water flow due to dams, diversions,
and evaporation losses due to reservoirs.
How does Nitrate affect
Biodiversity?
Comparison- 2-17-1981/Nitrate level/0.16 ppm
3-22-2017/Nitrate level/<0.2 ppm
The Nitrate level in 36 years has gone up 0.04ppm

Possible Reasons-
Overuse of chemical fertilizers and improper disposal of animal and human waste can cause an
increase of nitrates in the water.

Conservation Techniques- There are treatment processes that can help, but using less fertilizers can
also lower the nitrate levels.
How does pH affect
Biodiversity?
Comparison- 2-17-1981/pH level/8.2
3-22-2017/pH level/8.2
The pH level has not changed at Inks Lake in the 36 years.

Possible Reasons-
When minerals such as extra hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are present, it does not change the water
so it ends up staying the same in pH.

Conservation Techniques- Pollution, automobile engines, and mining can afect pH levels. In all,
anything that is artificial and man-made can afect the pH levels.
How does Phosphate affect
Biodiversity?
Comparison- 2-17-1981/Phosphate level/<0.03 ppm
3-22-2017/Phosphate level/<0.2 ppm
The Phosphate level has gone up 0.17 ppm

Possible Reasons-
Increasing phosphate levels can come from man-made things such as fertilizer which comes from
the runof and bank erosion. Also an increase in nitrate levels can also trigger an increase in
phosphate levels.

Conservation Techniques- Using less fertilizer can afect phosphate levels.

Why is conserving water quality
important tois important
Conserving water quality us? to us because swimming and hiking
on the Greenbelt along with riding in a boat on Lake Austin is apart of all of
our lives. Austin is a very outdoors city and lots of kids swim in the water in
Austin everyday, so making sure that the water is safe is very important.
MLA Citations
1. LCRA. Water Quality Data. 1996-2017. Lower Colorado River Authority.
28 Mar. 2017. <http://waterquality.lcra.org/ >

2. CDC. Nitrate and Drinking Water from Private Wells. 1 July 2015. Centers of Disease
Control and Prevention. 28 Mar. 2017 <https://www.cdc.gov/>

3. Utah State University. pH Water Quality. 2016. Extension Utah State.

28 Mar. 2017 <http://extension.usu.edu/>

4. LEO EnvirSci Inquiry. Phosphates. 2000-2011. Lehigh University.

28 Mar. 2017. <http://www.ei.lehigh.edu/>

5. Oram, Brian. Phosphate in Water. 2014. Water Research Center.

28 Mar. 2017. <http://www.water-research.net/>