Assessment of the Water Quality of Wheeler Watershed Basin in Northern Alabama.

Water quality is essential to the productivity the environment and the ecosystem. Impaired watershed affects all facets of human life. Most of the water consumed in the United States comes from surface water or groundwater. The continuous monitoring of the waters is essential to the well being of society. Several rivers and streams in Alabama are on the impaired list for pesticides and heavy metals. Most of the heavy metal pollution found in surface water is from point source pollution, i.e. the polluter can usually be identified. By monitoring the water quality of the Wheeler Watershed Basin we will determine the course of action best suited to repairing the watershed and preventing the continued out sourcing of pollution. The following metals and macronutrients will be assessed: Aluminum (Al), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Arsenic (As), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb) and Phosphorus (P). We will use this research to devise a plan to keep Alabama’s rivers off the impaired list and make the environment suitable for recreation and its biota suitable for consumption. Results will be discussed in following articles.