Chapter 11: Water

Question 1

Describe the path a molecule of water might follow through the hydrologic cycle from the ocean to land, through organisms and back again.

Answer 1

• water evaporates from moist surfaces
• falls as rain, snow, sleet, fog
• passes through living organisms
• returns to the ocean via soil and water
• evaporates or is transpired to atmosphere

Question 2

Water is purified during which stage of the hydrologic cycle?

Answer 2

When the water passes through living organisms

Question 3

Know the four major water compartments and the approximate percentage of earths water in each compartment. How does residence time relate to pollution?

Answer 3

• glaciers, ice, and snow. 87%
• groundwater. 12%
• rivers, lakes and wetlands. 0.8%
• the atmosphere. 0.001%

Because residence time evaporates water into the air.

Question 4

How many years does an average water molecule reside in earths ocean water compartment?

Answer 4

3,000 years

Question 5

How long does a water molecule reside in the earths atmosphere water compartment?

Answer 5

1 week

Question 6

About what percent of the water on earth is liquid, fresh, surface water that supports most terrestrial life?

Answer 6

Ocean water 97%
Fresh water 2.4-2.5%
Liquid surface water 1%

Question 7

What is aquifer?

Answer 7

Porous, water-bearing layers of sand, gravel, and rock below the earths surface; reservoirs for groundwater.

Question 8

How does water get into an aquifer?

Answer 8

Recharge zones

Question 9

In Solano county, according lecture (ppt) what price do residential consumers pay for 1(or 5) gallons of clean, treated water from the tap?

Answer 9

5 gallons: 1 penny

Question 10

Water use can be categorized by sector: agricultural, domestic and industrial. Which sector consumes the most globally?

Answer 10

Agricultural at 70%

Question 11

What is point source?

Answer 11

Are municipal and industrial wastewater coming from a district point such as a sewer outfall.

Question 12

What is non point source?

Answer 12

This type of water pollution is a diverse and comes from everyday land use activities such as agriculture, residential development, construction, forestry and more.

Question 13

Which is harder to control, point or non point pollution. Why?

Answer 13

Non point is the hardest to control because it is hard to find the location.

Question 14

Why can nutrients be considered pollutants?

Answer 14

Nutrients stimulate plant growth, over time ponds and lakes often fill in, becoming marshes or even terrestrial biomes.

Question 15

What is biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

Answer 15

A standard test for measuring the amount of dissolved oxygen utilized by aquatic microorganisms.

Question 16

What is primary water treatment?

Answer 16

A process that removes solids from sewage before it is discharged or treated further.

Question 17

What is secondary water treatment?

Answer 17

Bacterial decomposition of suspended particulates and dissolved organic compounds that remain after primary sewage treatment.

Question 18

What is tertiary water treatment?

Answer 18

The removal of inorganic minerals and plant nutrients after primary and secondary treatment of sewage.

Question 19

What is the goal of the clean water act of 1985?

Answer 19

Sets as a national goal the attainment of fishable and swimmable quality for all surface waters in U.S.

Question 20

Identify 3 easy non-heroic actions you can take at home to reduce water consumption.

Answer 20

• spend less time in showers or baths
• use lawn and garden water carefully
• use water conserving appliances

Question 21

Name three benefits of water to life on earth.

Answer 21

Water regulates body temperature, supports structures, and removes waste products.