Identifying Bad Water Quality Part 1
Most growers have ppm pens or monitors that can tell them the quality of their water. This is a good starting point, but knowing the hardness (calcium and magnesium) of the water is important, to see how much of the ppm is the hardness and how much is other contaminants. There is a myriad of other substances that can be read by a ppm pen. Sources for ppm in your water include agricultural runoff, urban runoff, industrial waste water, sewage, and natural sources such as leaves, silt, plankton, and rocks. Piping or plumbing may also release metals into the water and add to the ppm.
Below is a guide to identifying certain water problems:
Water Quality Troubleshooting Chart