Water is said to turbid when it is seen containing materials of suspension inside it. While turbidity may be defined as the measure of visible material in suspension in water,turbidity may be caused by algae or other organisms. it is generally caused by silt or clay.
The amount and character of turbidity depends upon two things:
- Type of soil over which flows
- The velocity of flowing water
When water becomes stationary, the heavier and larger suspended particles settle down quickly and the lighter and finely divided particles settles very slowly and even takes months.
Ground water is less turbid because of low velocity of water. turbidity may be helpful for controlling growth of organisms by not allowing proper sunlight to water which is necessary for their growth on the other hand it is harmful as the organisms are handling to the suspended particles.