Which one of the following has highest turbidity?

Key idea: Turbidity measures how cloudy or opaque water is due to suspended particles; higher concentrations of suspended solids give higher turbidity.

• Muddy water: contains large amounts of suspended soil, silt, and organic matter, so it has very high turbidity.

• Ocean water: turbidity varies but is generally lower than visibly muddy water except in coastal or storm-affected areas.

• Clear lake water: by description it has few suspended particles and therefore low turbidity.

• Drinking water: treated to remove particles and thus has very low turbidity.

Conclusion: Muddy water has the highest turbidity because it contains the greatest concentration of suspended solids.