Freshwater troubles
When deep wells are heavily pumped, an area that lacks water can develop near the well. This is called ...
What is a "Cone of Depression"?
In the United States, most water is used for...
What is "Agriculture"?
Dams are constructed to manage surface waters but changed conditions downstream can lead to (increased/decreased) species richness.
What is "decreased" species richness
Describe what happens during the first part of water treatment at the Waste Water Recycling Center.
What is "mechanical filtration" or "large debris are filtered out by a screen"
This chemical pollutant is released into the atmosphere by burning coal, incinerating garbage, and medical & dental supplies. It can cause cancer of the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bladder.
What is "Mercury"?
It takes 2,900 gallons of water to create a pair of blue jeans. How many liters is this?
1 gallon = 3.79 L.
What is
3.79 L/1 gal x 2,900 gal=
"10,991" Liters
This water irrigation method is the most efficient.
What is "Drip Irrigation"?
On average - Americans could save the most water by doing which action?
What is "consuming less meat"?
____ are built like sets of stairs with water flowing over them to mitigate the negative ecological consequences of dams for many species such as salmon and bears.
What are "fish ladders"
What is "False"
Clean Water Act only applies to surface waters. Groundwater must meet Maximum Containment Levels (MCLs) of monitored substances. The EPA addresses groundwater under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR)- legally enforceable standards and treatment techniques that apply to public water systems.
A naturally occurring chemical contaminant from Earth's crust dissolved in groundwater.
What is "Arsenic"?
Blue Crab populations have been in decline since the mid 1980s.
In 1988 researchers estimated 83,000 crabs per 1,000 m2.
In 2017 researchers estimated 47,000 crabs er 1,000 m2.
Calculate the populations' percent change.
83,000 - 47,000 = 36,000
36,000/83,000 = "43.4% decrease"
An enlarged bank built up on each side of a river to prevent flooding.
What is a "Levee"?
This type of household water use requires the greatest amount of water:
consumption/cooking, bathing, laundry, toilet flushing
What is "toilet flushing"?
Most dams in the United States are used for...
a. Flood Control
b. Hydroelectric power
c. Water reservoir storage for consumption and recreation
What is
c. Water reservoir storage for consumption and recreation (38%)
rather than Flood Control (18%) or Hydroelectric power (3%)
Which stream would likely be contaminated by cultural eutrophication?
a. pH 7.5, BOD 230 mg, Aluminum 0.001 mg/L
b. pH 2.0, BOD 15 mg, Aluminum 1mg/L
c. pH 6, BOD of 100, and Aluminum 0.40 mg/L
What is
"Stream a. pH 7.5, BOD 230 mg, Aluminum 0.001 mg/L"
The removal of lead contamination from old pipes can be complicated and expensive. Name a strategy to address this issue.
What is
"replacement of old pipes or coating the pipes with a non-lead based substance" or
"federal guidelines for construction materials banning lead."
A manuer lagoon is beig built for a dairy with 850 cows, each of which produces 50L of manure daily. How many litres must a lagoon be able to hold in order to contain 30 days worth of manure?
What is
50 cows x 50 L manuer x 30 days =
"1,275,000"
Large areas of impermeable surface can cause these TWO water troubles...
What are:
Increased runoff & surface water pollution
Increased flooding & damage to: properties, crops, structures, economy, human health
Decreased groundwater recharge
During a drought, a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall leads to a shortage of water. Which statement is true:
a. Increased erosion can result during drought conditions.
b. Nutrient cycling increases during drought conditions.
c. Decreased pH, change in water color to shades of red, and increase of metals.
What is:
a. Increased erosion can result during drought conditions.
In 2024, after 100 years, salmon have finally returned to the ________ River following a historic dam removal project in California.
What is the "Klamath River"
Describe the reason USGS studies found that 23% of largemouth bass and 82% of smallmouth bass in the United States develop into hermaphrodites.
What is
"the release of estrogenic compounds from treated wastewater into streams"
These synthetic organic compounds used in flame retardants are likely to cause nervous system and brain damage in humans in addition to being linked with learning disabilities and delays.
What are
"PBDEs"
DOUBLE JEOPARDY!!
Experts estimate that 5x107 gallons of oil seep into North American waters from the ocean floor each year. The average house in the United States uses 9x102 gallons of oil per year. How many homes can be powered by the oil that seeps into the ocean each year?
What is
5x107 / 9x102 = 0.55x105
= "55,000 homes"
The process of removing salt from water in which water is forced through a thin semipermeable membrane at high pressure is called Reverse Osmosis. It is less energy-intensive than distillation however, it is not without disadvantages. Name the main disadvantage of using this technology.
What is "disposing of the brine solution"?
Both disposing on land or in the ocean changes habitat & disrupts ecology
A great disadvantage of aqueducts designed as open canals is...
What is "water loss due to evaporation"
The costs of building dams, to people and the environment, are substantial. Name a negative social impact of dam construction.
What is:
"Dams may displace people" or
"flood cluturally significant areas"
for example: the creation of the Three Gorges Dam in China flooded 13 cities, 140 towns, and 1,350 villages; displacing more than 1.3 million people.
Which description indicates a body of water that has been contaminated by human wastewater?
a. low levels of nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, and a fecal coliform bacterial count of zero colony-forming units (cfu)/100 mL.
b. high nutrient content, a high BOD, and a fecal coliform bacterial count of zero cfu/100 mL
c. high nutrient content, a high BOD, and a fecal coliform bacteria count of more than 4000 cfu/100 mL
What is "choice c"
Drinking water must contain Less than 1 cfu/100 mL fecal coliform bacteria
Recreational water must contain less than 200 cfu/100 mL for body contact
Domestic water supply: Fewer than 2000 cfu/100 mL for treatment
Fishing and boating: Fewer than 1000 cfu/100 mL
PCBs, a synthetic Organic Compound that was once used industrially in the process of producing electricity, can persist for many decades in the environment and cause great harm. In 2003 NY General Electric was ordered to remove 40 miles of sediment from the Hudson River due to contamination from their 1947-1977 dumping. What harm do PCBs cause to people?
What is
"exposure can be lethal or lead to cancer"
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was the first major piece of legislation affecting water quality. In 1972, the act was expanded and retitled "The Clean Water Act" which supports the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water by maintaining and restoring chemical, physical, and biological properties of surface waters. How long has the Clean Water Act been in effect?
What is "53 years"
2025-1972 = 53 years