What does turbidity indicate in water quality tests?

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of water, primarily caused by the presence of suspended particles such as sediments, microorganisms, and pollutants. When water has high turbidity, it indicates that there are various particles that can include harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, as well as pollutants such as heavy metals and organic compounds. These factors can lead to a range of environmental and health issues, as they can affect aquatic life and potentially contaminate drinking water sources. Monitoring turbidity is crucial for assessing overall water quality and safety, making it an important parameter in water quality tests.

The other options relate to different aspects of water quality. Temperature measurements do not provide information about turbidity. Dissolved oxygen is a separate measure that indicates water's ability to support aquatic life but does not reflect turbidity levels. Similarly, while nutrients can affect biological productivity in water, they are assessed through different tests and do not directly correlate with turbidity. Therefore, turbidity specifically signifies the presence of suspended particles that can indicate contamination and potential health risks.