Water Contamination

Question 1

What is the leading cause of infectious diseases worldwide?

Answer 1

Contaminated water

Question 2

What is point-source pollution?

Answer 2

Contamination that can be traced back to a single source

Question 3

What is non point-source pollution?

Answer 3

Contamination that cannot be traced back to a single source

Question 4

What are the main components of contaminated water?

Answer 4

Chemical compounds, inorganic substances, solid wastes, microorganisms, bacteria

Question 5

What is coliform bacteria?

Answer 5

A typically non-pathogenic bacteria found in human and animal intestinal tracts that can indicate the presence of other organisms

Question 6

What are the main categories of water contaminants?

Answer 6

Microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radionuclides

Question 7

How do public water supplies meet national standards to protect the public?

Answer 7

By limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water

Question 8

Where does lead come from?

Answer 8

Burning fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing

Question 9

What is radon and where does it come from?

Answer 9

A radioactive, cancer causing gas from uranium in soil, rock, and water in the air

Question 10

What is ammonium and where does it come from?

Answer 10

Ammonium is produced when microorganisms break down organic nitrogen products such as urea and protein in manure.

Question 11

What is pH?

Answer 11

An expression of hydrogen ion concentration that indicates the degree of basicity/acidity of water

Question 12

What is chlorine?

Answer 12

A gaseous or liquid form of chlorine (CL2) is a water additive used by municipal water system to control microbes

Question 13

What is chromium and where does it come from?

Answer 13

A metallic element in rocks, soil, plants, and animals, steel-making, metal plating, leather tanning, paints, dyes, and wood-preservatives

Question 14

What is copper and where does it come from?

Answer 14

A metal found in natural deposits such as reds containing other elements and widely used in household plumbing materials

Question 15

What is cyanide and where does it come from?

Answer 15

A carbon-based nitrogen chemical unit used to make compounds and other synthetic fibers and resins

Question 16

What is iron and where does it come from?

Answer 16

A trace element needed by plants and animals in small amounts derived from minerals in the soil and underlying rocks.

Question 17

What are nitrates and where does it come from?

Answer 17

Nitrogen-oxgyen chemical unites which combine with various organic and inorganic compounds used in fertilizers

Question 18

What are phosphates and where does it come from?

Answer 18

One of the key elements necessary for growth of plants and animals used in fertilizers and organic pesticides

Question 19

What are silica and where does it come from?

Answer 19

The chemical compound silicon dioxide found in nature as sand or quartz

Question 20

What is sulfide and where does it come from?

Answer 20

Sulfides are sulfur species found in water from pesticide residuals and manufacturing wastes