Water Pollution
Which human activity uses the most freshwater worldwide?
Agriculture (irrigation of crops)
The CCME Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) provides what? Double points if you can say what the range is from
An index can be used to reflect the overall and ongoing condition of the water. As with most monitoring programs, an index will not usually show the effect of spills, and other such random and transient events, unless these are relatively frequent or long lasting.
The index produces a number between 0 (worst water quality) and 100 (best water quality).
What is the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms
What does BOD stand for?
Biochemical Oxygen Demand?
Where is most of the freshwater stored on Earth?
Ice caps and glaciers
What is ocean acidification?
•As the oceans absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere, they become more acidic
–Many marine organisms have shells made of calcium carbonate, which gets broken down by even very weak acids
à small changes have a huge impact
–This could wipe out up to 1/3 of species in the ocean
When looking over a body of water, anything over _______ of BOD and Dissolved Oxygen is considered polluted/unsafe for organisms living in the water.
anything more than 5 mg/L
This is the term used to describe the water clarity or clearness
Turbidity
Profundal Zone or Benthic Zone
Buffalo Pound (where our water treatment plant is located), which is fed by Lake Diefenbaker, which comes from the Rocky Mountains.
During COVID, scientists were able to track how much viral load was present by testing what?
Waste Water
In November 2015, while Justin Trudeau was Prime Minister, he vowed to end long-term drinking water advisories. What percentage of water advisories have been lifted since he made this vow?
80% of water advisories have been removed nationwide, and about 148 long term drinking advisories have been lifted.
This chemical is used in the water treatment process to kill/disinfect any harmful microorganisms, like bacteria
Chlorine
What happens as a negative consequence of harmful algal blooms?
When they die and decompose, the oxygen level in the water falls, causing organisms to suffocate.
Which water zone houses the seaweed, plants, and other microorganisms? (Littoral, Limnetic, Profundal)
Littoral zone
What is the difference between Point Pollution and Nonpoint Pollution?
Point: comes from one source
Nonpoint: comes from many sources, and is harder to identify/control.
What is the general understanding of the PROVINCIAL governments responsibilities in regard to our water system?
Canadian provinces and one of the territories have the primary jurisdiction over most areas of water management and protection. Most of those governments delegate certain authorities to municipalities, especially the drinking water treatment and distribution and wastewater treatment operations of urban areas. They may also delegate some water resource management functions to local authorities that may be responsible for a particular area or river basin. Most major uses of water in Canada are permitted or licensed under provincial water management authorities.
Double Points! When temperature is ____________ the Dissolved Oxygen is usually ________________ (must get both to be correct).
Either or is accepted:
Warmer / Lower
Colder / Higher
Double Points! What are two different organisms that are considered "Moderately Tolerant of Pollution". Must name at least TWO different organisms.
-Damselfly Nymph
-Dragonfly Nymph
-Sideswimmer (Freshwater Shrimp)
- Sowbug
- Cranefly Larva
- Clam
-Crayfish
- Water Boatman
There usually is a space (5m) between the watershed and the land where certain plants grow, what is this area called?
Riparian
This toxic metal, often found in industrial waste, can accumulate in fish and cause serious health problems for humans who consume them.
Mercury
What is the general understanding of the FEDERAL governments responsibilities in regard to our water system?
Federal jurisdiction applies to the conservation and protection of oceans and their resources, fisheries, navigation, and international relations, including responsibilities related to the management of boundary waters shared with the United States. The federal government also has responsibilities for managing water in its own "federal house," which includes federal lands (e.g., National Parks), federal facilities (e.g., office buildings, labs, penitentiaries, military bases), First Nation reserves, as well as two of Canada's three territories (Nunavut and Northwest Territories).
What is bioaccumulation?
Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism.
An organism that serves as a measure of the environmental conditions in a given area
Indicator species
What's the difference between oligotrophic bodies of water and eutrophic bodies of water?
Oligotrophic lake (Deep & fairly cold & Water holds more dissolved oxygen)
Eutrophic lake (Shallow & warmer, O2 levels drop & some organisms disappear)