What is pH?

How Does it Effect Water Quality?

pH is one of the factors used to measure the quality of the water. Most critters prefer to live in a neutral pH environment. The pH of the river can change from things like acid rain, pollutants, and run-off chemicals. If you want to learn more about pH, click here. Below is a chart that shows what critters can tolerate different pH environments. Because pH is a logarithmic scale, what appears to be a small amount of change in the numbers can have a great effect on the environment and what can live there!

14 

 9 ~~~~Safe for

Fish~~~~ 5

 0


 Lye  Bleach  Ammonia  Baking Soda  Water  Milk  Carrots  Cola  Tomatoes  Lemon Juice  Battery Acid

 pH 6.5

Trout, Bass, Frogs

Mayflies, Clams,

Sunfish, Snails,

Salamanders,

Crayfish

 pH 6.0

Trout, Bass, Frogs,

Mayflies,

Sunfish,

Salamanders,

Crayfish

 pH 5.5

 

Frogs,

Sunfish,

Salamanders

 pH 5.0

 

Frogs