What is meant by the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico?
Question 2
2.
What contributes to/causes this dead zone? (Be sure to include what nutrient cycle is disrupted in your explanation.)
Question 3
3.
Where are other dead zones found globally?
20-1 What are the Causes and Effects of Water Pollution?
Question 4
4.
Define water pollution.
Question 5
5.
Why are nonpoint sources so much harder to manage than point sources?
Question 6
6.
List and explain (briefly) the top 3 causes of water pollution.
Question 7
7.
Explain the connection between atmospheric warming and water pollution.
Question 8
8.
One of the major water pollution problems is exposure to infectious diseases. List a few diseases caused by pathogens in water. How many people does this impact globally?
Science Focus
Scientists use different methods for testing water quality. Briefly note how they use the following:
E.coli
DO
Indicator species
GMOs
Turbidity
1
Question 9
9.
a. E. coli:
1
Question 10
10.
b. DO:
1
1
1
20-2 What are the Major Water Pollution Problems in Streams and Lakes?
Flowing rivers and streams can recover rapidly from moderate levels of degradable, oxygen-demanding wastes through a combination of dilution and bacterial biodegradation of such wastes. The problem is when we overload this natural recovery process.
Question 14
14.
Study Figure 20-6. Explain the oxygen sag curve.
Question 15
15.
In less developed countries, how much of their untreated sewage ends up in rivers, streams, and lakes?
Question 16
16.
Explain 2 reasons why lake and reservoirs are more vulnerable to water pollution compared to flowing waterways.
Question 17
17.
Differentiate between eutrophication and cultural eutrophication.
Question 18
18.
What is an oligotrophic lake?
Question 19
19.
What is more effective – water pollution prevention or water cleanup? Why?
Question 20
20.
Why are the Great Lakes so susceptible to pollution from point and nonpoint sources? What have the U.S. and Canada done to improve water quality?
Question 21
21.
Would you eat fish from the Great Lakes? Why or why not?
20-3 What are the Major Pollution Problems Affecting Groundwater?
Question 22
22.
Groundwater pollution comes from fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline, organic solvents, oil and paint thinners, but scientists have identified a new and growing potential threat. What is it and why is it a concern?
Question 23
23.
List/explain 3 reasons why can’t groundwater cleanse itself as quickly as a river or stream.
Question 24
24.
List/explain 2 technologies for purifying drinking water.
Question 25
25.
Explain advantages/disadvantages of bottled water.
Question 26
26.
Explain the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974.
20-4 What are the Major Water Pollution Problems affecting Oceans?
Question 27
27.
How much of the world’s population lives on or near coastlines?
Question 28
28.
How much of the municipal sewage from coastal areas in less-developed countries is dumped into oceans without treatment?
Question 29
29.
What causes harmful algal blooms and why are they harmful?
Question 30
30.
What is the North Pacific Garbage Patch? (Had you heard about this before reading it in the chapter?)
Question 31
31.
True or False: The largest sources of oil pollution in oceans comes from major catastrophes like the Exxon Valdez or the BP Deepwater Horizon.
Question 32
32.
Explain your answer to the previous question.
20-5 How can We Deal with Water Pollution?
Question 33
33.
List two ways to prevent nonpoint sources of pollution.
Question 34
34.
List two ways to capture nutrients after they’ve left farms and gone into waterways.
Question 35
35.
What is the Clean Water Act of 1972?
Question 36
36.
Explain each step of wastewater (sewage) treatment plants.
Primary sewage treatment
Secondary sewage treatment
Tertiary sewage treatment
Question 37
37.
What is a disadvantage of conventional sewage treatment systems? What are some alternatives?
