Water Pollution – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Explain why reducing surface runoff is the most general way to reduce water pollution.
answer
Surface runoff includes a long list of nonpoint sources of pollution related to human activity. It occurs when water carries harmful substances into the environment. If this runoff can be prevented on a broadly-based scale, then it has the potential to significantly reduce water pollution.
question
Discriminate between the immediate and chronic effects of water pollution and explain why chronic pollution is a more serious long term threat.
answer
The immediate effects of water pollution such as fish kills and official advisories and restrictions on water use and consumption are visible and immediately noticed by a community. Chronic pollution occurs over long periods of time, giving communities and individuals time to become accustomed to it. There is less of a sense of urgency to the problem which actually allows it to grow and persist more readily.
question
The most common source of infectious diseases in water supplies is _______.
a.
algal blooms
b.
sewage
c.
surface runoff
d.
none of the above
answer
b.
sewage
question
The untreated sewage discharged by cruise ships is _______.
a.
blackwater
b.
greywater
c.
solid waste
d.
not considered pollution
answer
a.
blackwater
question
Explain how heat can be a source of water pollution.
answer
Aquatic ecosystems are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. Changes in temperature can kill native organisms and promote the growth of nonnative or invasive species. Because heat has this potential to do such serious harm to these environments, it is considered a source of water pollution.
question
Explain why nonpoint source pollution is a greater threat and hazard than point source pollution.
answer
Point source pollution is discharged by a known, observable source and can therefore be regulated and controlled. Nonpoint source pollution originates as an accumulation of pollution from multiple untraceable or unknown sources. Because these sources, even if known, cannot be tracked it is far more difficult to regulate or stop this form of pollution.
question
The most likely source of water polluting pathogens is _______.
a.
agricultural runoff
b.
surface runoff
c.
sewage discharge
d.
mine drainage
answer
c.
sewage discharge
question
Piles of aluminum cans floating at sea would be an example of _______.
a.
organic pollutants
b.
macroscopic pollution
c.
pathogen pollutants
d.
thermal pollution
answer
b.
macroscopic pollution
question
Explain how replacing asphalt with gravel or other permeable material can improve water quality.
answer
Impervious surfaces like asphalt and concrete channel water across their tops until the water finds a point where it can infiltrate the ground. As it passes across these impervious surface the water gathers chemicals and debris that have collected and concentrates them at the point of infiltration. By using more permeable materials the water infiltrates more generally and does not flow along and collect additional pollutants.
question
More efficient plumbing reduces water pollution by _______.
a.
using more water
b.
using less water
c.
using cleaner water
d.
using dirty water
answer
b.
using less water
