Gael and Ruby are assisting with biological monitoring in the Ohinemuri River, downstream from the Martha Mine Water Treatment Plant discharge point.
They are measuring the pH and conductivity of the river water. pH is a scale ranging from 0 – 14 that measures acidity or alkalinity of water containing dissolved material. A neutral solution has a pH of 7, acid solutions have a pH below 7, alkaline solutions have a pH above 7. Conductivity is a measurement of how easily electricity can pass through a substance. The conductivity of water generally increases with the amount of dissolved metals it contains.
