The article contains figures and brief explanations about the property of water simply known as turbidity. Turbidity is simply the property or water referring to the amount of suspended organic or inorganic matters within it. It is a simple measure of effects of these suspended materials with the amount of light rays that passes through the water. Measurements of higher intensity of scattered light simply indicate high turbidity. Most of these materials can include clay, silt, planktons and other microorganisms, organic and inorganic matters, etc.

In simple terms, turbidity makes the water appear cloudy or affecting its opacity. These can sometimes be caused by naturally occurring factors such as flashfloods due to heavy rains and effects of such. Nevertheless, man made factors can also contribute to the turbidity of naturally existing rivers and lakes. An example would be mining and constructions near or on waters; disruption of the water floor would likely result in the mixture of foreign materials with water.

The standard unit for measuring turbidity is known as the nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). In rivers, the periods of low flows, usually measuring less than 10 NTU, turbidities are low. In cases such as rainstorms, some materials within water’s reach are washed onto the river making the water appear muddy brown in color—this indicates high turbidity.

Some water specimens are also studied within laboratory walls aside from on-site testings. A device called a turbidimeter is used to measure this water property. This device can be handheld as for use in a laboratory for small amounts of water specimen or in some cases; larger and more accurate devices are situated above the water on rivers and dams to measure the turbidity of water in “real time”. Most important water sites in the U.S. have already installed these devices to monitor their natural resource which is water.
Read the complete article at Chattahoochee Riverway Project website