Iron - Total and Dissolved
| Temperature | Acidity | Dissolved Oxygen (DO) | pH | Aluminum |
| Flow | Alkalinity | Total Dissolved Solids (Conductivity) | Iron | Manganese |
Ferrous Iron
The EPA drinking water standard for ferrous iron is to be less than 0.3 mg/L. Almost all water contains some iron, however large amounts are usually due to AMD. Large concentrations of iron often lead to yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow water with a similar coating on the rocks, nicknamed "yellow boys". Aquatic organisms suffer from iron concentrations in many ways. Young organisms often die very quickly as they take in more iron than nutritious food, dieing from starvation. The "yellow boys" coating on the rocks make it very difficult for the organisms to cling to the rocks to find food and shelter.
Other tests, including and/or in addition to those described above, may be appropriate for the watershed in your area. The indicators the were chosen as points of study while making your monitoring plan are a good way to decide what tests need to be performed.