Turbidity, measured as NTU or FNU
Overview
Turbidity is a water-quality term that refers to the cloudy appearance of water and is caused by small
particles of suspended matter. Turbidity is measured by quantifying the amount of light scattered by
particles in the water. Although turbid water is not necessarily harmful, it can be an indicator of more serious
problems. Turbidity particles may adsorb other harmful contaminants. Turbidity particles known to be
harmful themselves include asbestos, lead, bacteria and viruses, and protozoan cysts such as Giardia
and Cryptosiporidium.
Water-quality standards and criteria are developed by the States, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA), and then promulgated (passed into law) as standards by each State.
Graphs on this website allow comparison of measured and computed data
to these standards and criteria by plotting them as straight lines.
When evaluating data to decide whether water quality is suitable
for the intended use,
viewers are cautioned to consider the uncertainty associated with these computed data.
Water-quality Standards and Criteria
USEPA proposed maximum for streams in Ecoregion VI: 9.9 FNU
A criterion of 9.9 nephelometric turbidity units has been recommended by the USEPA.
Source: USEPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria Recommendations, Region VI
(view online)
Stations That Measure or Compute Continuous Turbidity
Click a station to view measurements of turbidity.
Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth, KS |
06864500 |
Big Blue River at Marysville, KS |
06882510 |
Little Blue River near Barnes, KS |
06884400 |
Black Vermillion River near Frankfort, KS |
06885500 |
Big Blue River near Manhattan, KS |
06887000 |
Kansas River at Wamego, KS |
06887500 |
Kansas R AB Topeka Weir AT Topeka, KS |
06888990 |
Kansas River at Topeka, KS |
06889000 |
Kansas River at DeSoto, KS |
06892350 |
Kill Creek at 95 Street near DeSoto, KS |
06892360 |
Cedar Creek at Highway 56 at Olathe, KS |
06892440 |
Olathe Lake near Olathe, KS |
06892450 |
Cedar Creek near DeSoto, KS |
06892495 |
Mill Creek at Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS |
06892513 |
Blue River at Kenneth Road, Overland Park, KS |
06893100 |
Blue R at Blue Ridge Ext in KC, MO |
06893150 |
Indian Creek at State Line Road, Leawood, KS |
06893390 |
Rattlesnake Creek near Zenith, KS |
07142575 |
Turkey Creek nr Buhler, KS |
07143660 |
Little Arkansas River at Highway 50 near Halstead, KS |
07143672 |
W Emma Creek nr Halstead, KS |
07143965 |
E Emma C nr Halstead, KS |
07144000 |
Little Arkansas River near Sedgwick, KS |
07144100 |
North Fork Ninnescah River above Cheney Reservoir, KS |
07144780 |
Cheney Reservoir near Cheney, KS |
07144790 |
Neosho River at Burlingame Rd. near Emporia, KS |
07179750 |
Cottonwood River at Plymouth, KS |
07182250 |
Cottonwood River near Neosho Rapids, KS |
07182280 |
Neosho River near Neosho Rapids, KS |
07182390 |
L Arkansas R Upstream of ASR Fac Nr Sedgwick, KS |
375350097262800 |
Emma C at 72nd St nr Sedgwick, KS |
375721097263300 |
Mill Creek at Woodland Road, Olathe, KS |
385404094485800 |
Outlet at Clinton Lake, KS |
385548095192701 |
Mill Creek at 87th Street Lane, Johnson county, KS |
385800094485300 |
Clear Creek at 86th Street Terrace, Lenexa, KS |
385818094520300 |
Coon Creek at Woodland Road, Lenexa, KS |
385826094491700 |
Unnamed tributary at Barkley Drive, Lenexa, KS |
385835094471300 |
Unnamed tributary into Shawnee Mission Lake, Lenexa, KS |
385859094473700 |
Clear Creek at 79th Street, Lenexa, KS |
385906094524400 |
Unnamed tributary into Shawnee Mission Lake Wetland, KS |
385910094474400 |
Unnamed tributary near Shawnee Mission Lake, Shawnee, KS |
385922094485500 |
Little Mill Creek at Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS |
385952094454000 |
Little Mill Creek at Warwick Lane, Shawnee, KS |
390010094482100 |
Mill Creek near Shawnee Mission, KS |
390026094485800 |
Clear Creek at Clare Road, Shawnee, KS |
390051094522200 |
Clear Creek at Woodland Road, Shawnee, KS |
390056094493200 |
Banner Creek at M Road near Holton, KS |
392652095484100 |
Banner Creek Lake near Holton, KS |
392727095454900 |
Atchison County Lake near Horton, KS |
393806095273700 |
Clear Creek at Decator Road near Horton, KS |
393817095260100 |
Black Vermillion River Tributary above Centralia Lake, KS |
394126096073500 |
Black Vermillion River Tributary below Centralia Lake, KS |
394218096095000 |