What are common indicators of pollution found in water?

The choice of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, turbidity, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) as common indicators of pollution in water is appropriate because these parameters specifically correlate with the presence of contaminants that can negatively impact water quality and public health.

Total coliforms are a group of bacteria widely used as an indicator of water quality because their presence suggests that fecal matter may be present, which can introduce pathogens into the water supply. Fecal coliforms, a subset of total coliforms, are specifically linked to fecal contamination from warm-blooded animals and are critical in assessing the safety of drinking water.

Turbidity measures the cloudiness or haziness of water, which can indicate the presence of suspended particles, including sediments, algae, and microorganisms. High turbidity can signal pollution from runoff, impacting aquatic life and water treatment processes.

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) identifies the amount of oxygen that microorganisms will consume while decomposing organic matter in water. High BOD levels suggest significant organic pollution, indicating potential impacts on oxygen levels critical for aquatic life.

These indicators collectively provide valuable information about the biological and physical condition of water, making them essential for evaluating pollution levels and assessing the overall health