Water Testing

When water chemistry is good, it is easier to keep your lake in good condition. We will occasionally track the water chemistry in difficult lakes. For more information on what makes good water chemistry download the Water Chemistry PDF

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The best way to test for dissolved oxygen (DO) is with an on-site test kit since the oxygen in the water can rapidly change if the water is transported. We often test for DO before algae treatments or after fish kills to determine if oxygen levels are as high as they should be. Sometimes we use an electronic meter to test DO at different depths in the lake because the water at the bottom of the lake may lack oxygen despite abundant oxygen at the surface. This is called stratification, and it can mask overall low DO in the lake water that may result in a fish kill later on. Read more »

Even freshwater can contain some salt, so we test the water’s specific conductivity. This parameter can detect imperceptible levels of salt, and gives us a good idea of what kinds of fish and plants will grow in lake, as well as letting you know if the water is safe for irrigation. Changes in specific conductivity can be indicative of seasonal changes or pollution.

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