Have you seen TDS water meters? Black Friday sales are pretty random. TDS means Total Dissolved Solids. High levels of TDS do not necessarily mean poor water quality. Like conductivity, TDS measure the ion levels in water. I use a conductivity sensor or meter for Ionic and Covalent Bonds Conductivity Lab.
Which water tests and test kits are useful for stream assays or tests? Here is my favorite kit, the LaMotte Water Monitoring Kit. I used grants to buy these kits. What do you need? First, pH paper, white ice cube trays to sort macroinvertebrates, (Potomac Highlands eSchool has lessons to learn how to identify macroinvertebrates in the stream.), and an armored thermometer. Use a metal-backed thermometer as a substitute. It’s nice to have a bucket to carry supplies, such as a tennis ball, tape measure, and flags to measure stream flow. Here are loads of additional resources about stream monitoring.
I love sensors, gadgets, and LaMotte kits. They are NOT necessary to conduct water quality tests. Save your money and buy basics, such as pH paper or thermometers instead.
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