L.7 - Surface Water Flashcards
What are some uses for water?
1) drinking
2) food preparation
3) growing crops
4) washing
5) recreation
6) industrial processes
What are some water withdrawal areas?
1) Thermal power
2) Manufacturing
3) Agriculture
4) Municipal
5) Mining
What percent of our water use is indoors?
40%
Define Water Pollution:
occurs when discharges of energy or materials degrade water
What is water pollution classified according to?
1) the nature of the pollutants
2) the source where the pollutants are released from
3) the water bodies the pollutants are being discharged into
How is water pollution measured?
measured by the concentration of pollutants being discharged into a water body and the effects that pollutant has on water uses
List some water pollutants of concern:
1) oxygen-demanding wastes
2) thermal pollutants
3) acidification
4) toxic materials
5) pathogens
6) nutrients
What does the saturation value of DO depend on?
temperature and salinity
Define Oxygen Demand:
oxygen required depends on the aquatic organisms present
Where does BOD come from?
biochemical oxygen demand is created by oxygen demanding wastes decaying in the water body
What is BOD used for?
as an indicator of wastewater treatment plant performance
What is BOD5?
the five-day BOD tests, the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the first five days of biodegradation
List some major sources of oxygen demand waste:
1) Wastewater
2) Agriculture
3) Organisms in lake
Define Nitrification:
oxidation of ammonia forming nitrates
What is CBOD?
oxygen demand for biological reactions involving compounds with carbon
What is NBOD?
oxygen demand by oxidation of nitrogen compounds
Define Nutrients (w/ ex.):
chemicals that are essential to the growth of living things
ex. nitrogen, carbon, iron
When do nutrients become pollutants?
when their concentrations allow excessive growth
Define Eutrophication:
the process where water bodies receive excessive nutrients resulting in excessive plant growth
Why is eutrophication bad?
1) excessive plant growth prohibits recreational activities
2) algal bloom depresses oxygen levels