Natural Resources: Water Quality and Conservation (Unit 8) Flashcards
What percentage of the Earth’s surface is covered by water? Why is water considered a universal solvent? How does this make it susceptible to pollution?
Water covers nearly 71 percent of Earth’s surface. Water is a universal solvent, which means it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. This characteristic of water makes it susceptible to pollution.
Water Pollution Definition
harmful substances contaminating a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, lowering water quality and making the water toxic
Groundwater Definition
water stored in the cracks and spaces of underground rock
Surface Water Definition
bodies of water on the surface of Earth such as oceans, rivers, and lakes
True or False: Because Earth has a limited freshwater supply, water pollution can be devastating.
True
Most water pollution is the result of what?
Most water pollution is the result of human activities.
How does groundwater get polluted?
Groundwater, or the water stored in the cracks and spaces of underground rock, gets polluted when contaminants seep down into the aquifer (an underground water reservoir). Once an aquifer is polluted it can be very difficult and costly to make the water safe again.
How does surface water get polluted?
Surface water includes bodies of water on Earth’s surface such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. Surface water gets contaminated when biological, chemical, and physical contaminants are dumped or runoff into water supplies. Understanding the source or causes of these pollutants can help protect water resources.
What is point source pollution?
Point source pollution is pollution that comes from a known and specific location, such as pipes from a factory or treatment plant or a leaking storage tank.
What is nonpoint source pollution?
Nonpoint source pollution is pollution that does not have a specific point of origin. These contaminants are difficult to trace to a specific site. Runoff carries nonpoint source pollution from places such as cities, farms, or feedlots.
How is runoff nonpoint source pollution?
Runoff can carry waste, oil, and debris from city streets and it can carry animal waste, pesticides, or fertilizers from feedlots, farms, and lawns.
Point Source Pollution Definition
pollution that comes from a known and specific location
Nonpoint Source Pollution?
pollution that does not have a specific point of origin
What causes algae to form?
Occurs when there are too many nutrients, warm water temperatures, or reduced water flow.
What are the effects of algal blooms on the water and the environment?
Harms aquatic life by clogging fish gills, reducing oxygen levels, and smothering streams, lake beds, and submerged vegetation; Some algae blooms can produce poisons that harm humans, pets, wildlife, and livestock when swallowed.
What are ways to reduce algal blooms?
Reduce algae blooms by using fertilizer sparingly, regularly checking and pumping septic tanks, and properly storing and disposing of animal and plant waste.
What causes dioxins to form?
Formed by burning trash or leaded gasoline and from manufacturing some pesticides.
What are the effects of dioxins?
Increases cancer risk and may harm the immune system, hormone levels, and fetal development.
What are ways to reduce contamination by dioxins?
Exposure to dioxins occurs largely through the food eaten; Pay attention to local fishing advisories for fish you catch and eat yourself.
What causes mercury to be emitted?
Released into the air by coal-fired power plants, it is washed into waterways; Spills and improper treatment can increase mercury levels in water.
What are the effects of mercury?
Mercury can build up in fish, which then poses health risks to people and animals that eat them.
What are ways to reduce and prevent the emission of mercury?
Purchase mercury-free products and correctly dispose of products that contain mercury.
What causes nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) to go into water supplies?
Present in fertilizers and can get washed up in waterways with agricultural runoff.
What are the effects of the emission of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)?
Causes harmful algae blooms; can also create low oxygen conditions that harm fish and other aquatic life.