Download Water Resources and Pollution - ANSWER KEY

QA: Water Resources & Pollution – ANSWER KEY
Question
Answer
Percentage of earth’s water found in oceans as salt water?
97%
Percentage of freshwater on earth?
3%
Three-fourths of the freshwater on earth is found here?
Ice/glaciers/frozen
Underground places where water collects?
Aquifers
Water found in between permeable layers of rock and sediment, that can
flow easily in and out?
An aquifer surrounded by a layer of impermeable rock or clay that impedes
water flow?
The uppermost layer at which the water in a given area fully saturates the
rock or soil?
The process when water from precipitation can percolate through the soil
and work its way into an aquifer (only works for confined aquifers if they
have openings known as “recharge areas.”)
An area where there is no longer any groundwater?
Unconfined aquifer
Movement of salt water into freshwater aquifers in coastal and inland areas
as groundwater is withdrawn faster than it is recharged by precipitation?
The world’s three largest rivers and their locations?
Saltwater intrusion
Confined aquifer
Water table
Groundwater recharge
Cone of depression
Lakes with low productivity due to low levels of nutrients?
Amazon in South America, Congo
in Africa, and Yangtze in China
Oligotrophic
Lakes with a moderate level of productivity?
Mesotrophic
Lakes with a high level of productivity
Eutrophic
A barrier built to prevent flooding or contain the flow of water?
Levee
A barrier built to prevent flooding of ocean waters?
Dike
A barrier that runs across a river/stream to control the flow of water?
Dam
Water stored behind a dam in a large body of water?
Reservoir
The largest dam in the world?
What percentage of the world’s dams are hydroelectric?
Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze
River in China
3%
Canals or ditches used to carry water from one location to another?
Aqueducts
Which two US cities rely on aqueducts?
New York and Los Angeles
Consequences of aqueducts?
Expensive to construct, habitat
fragmentation, decrease water
flow (can dry up rivers) and can
result in “ownership” issues
Desalination
The process of removing salt from water, techniques include distillation and
reverse osmosis?
Question
Answer
The majority of the world’s fresh water (70%) is used for?
Agriculture
Wastewater from baths, showers, ad washing machines and is suitable for
watering lawns and plants?
Gray water
Pollution that comes from a distinct location? Example: Factory dumping
through a pipe
A widely spread source of pollution that is difficult to link to a specific point
of origin? Examples: Parking lots and agricultural fields.
The water produced by human activites including human sewage from
toilets, and grey water ?
The amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at a
specific temperature. (A low amount means less wastewater pollution, while
a high amounts mean more pollution)?
An area with little oxygen and thus, little life?
Point source
The process by which a body of water becomes too rich in dissolved
nutrients, leading to plant growth that depletes oxygen?
When a body of water experiences an increase in fertility leading to plant
growth that depletes oxygen that is due to anthropogenic inputs of
nutrients?
An organism that indicates whether or not disease-causing pathogens are
likely to be present?
A heavy metal that contaminates water when it passes through lined pipes,
solder, brass fittings and paint. It damages the nervous system?
A naturally occuring compound that can dissolve in groundwater. Often
mining and industrial uses can contribute to water contamination. It acts as
a carcinogen?
A naturally occurring heavy metal that is also the result of burning coal and
other fossil fuels. Limestone used to make cement can contain it too. It acts
as an endocrine disruptor?
Precipitation with a pH less than 5.6 that forms in the atmosphere when
certain pollutants (sulphates and nitrates) mix with water vapor?
Pollution caused when sulfuric acid and dangerous dissolved materials such
as lead, arsenic, and cadmium wash from coal and metal mines into nearby
lakes and streams (often turning water red)?
Nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a
substansial change in the temperature of water
Legislation that was created in 1948 and then hugely expanded in 1972. It
sets maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be
discharged into waterways. Aim: to make surface waters swimmable and
fishable?
Legislation created in 1974 that set maximum contaminant levels for
pollutants in drinking water that may have adverse effects on human
health?
Leading source/cause of water pollution?
eutrophication
Purpose and examples of primary sewage treatment?
Get rid of physical particles (bar
screen, grit chamber, settling tank)
Nonpoint source
Wastewater
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Dead zone
Cultural eutrophication
Indicator species
Lead
arsenic
mercury
Acid deposition
Acid mine drainage
Thermal pollution
Clean Water Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Agriculture
Purpose and examples of secondary sewage treatment?
The last step in the water treatment process, uses ozone, chlorine and UV
radiation?
Measuring the amount of suspended solids in the water (clarity)?
Comes from human/animal waste and contains disease-causing pathogens?
Get rid of bacteria and living stuff
by using microorganisms and
chemicals to decompose the
suspended organic material in
waste water.
Disinfection
Turbidity
Coliform Bacteria