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Water Quality
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Local reservoirs provide most of the drinking water for North Texas.
The quality of water in these lakes can be greatly affected by the
many chemicals and pollutants that enter local watersheds and wash
into the lake everyday.
Though many variables can be measured individually, only living
organisms that can respond to the totality of their environment can
truly indicate the toxicity of the environment as a whole.
Scientists at UNT have developed biomonitors using clams to warn of
possible excess of toxins entering Lake Lewisville. When the clams
respond negatively to their environment, water samplers are activated.
These samples can be analyzed in a manner that breaks their components
down so that the toxic constituents can be identified.
Once a problem is known, and given the position of the biomonitors in
the watershed, it may be possible to take corrective measures to reduce
the particular toxins entering the lake.
Biological, physical and chemical data are continuously measured at
Lake Lewisville and telemetered to UNT for analysis and display in near
real-time on the website.
Log onto ECOPLEX and see what the clams are up to!
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