GRCA monitoring network - pH

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River Water pH

The pH factor is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity (basic) of water. The usual pH range of water is from 0 to 14. A pH value of 7 indicates a neutral solution, meaning water is neither acidic or basic. Values below 7 and approaching 0 indicate a more acidic solution, while values above 7 to 14 indicate a more alkaline solution.

Acids are generally a class of substances that taste sour, such as vinegar, which is a dilute solution of acetic acid. Bases, or alkaline substances, are characterized by their bitter taste and slippery feel.

The fluctuations in acidity in the river over a given day are the resultant of plant processes going on in the river. Limestone bedrock found throughout the Grand River watershed buffers the acidity of the water and tends to cause river water to be more basic, rather than acidic.