ph power
on the ph scale this number indicates a neutral substance
what is 7
This term describes the clarity or cloudiness of water
what is turbidity
This is the minimum amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) (in mg/L) generally needed for a healthy fish population
What is 4-5 mg
Water running off from fertilized farm fields is an example of this type of pollution
What is nonpoint source pollution/runoff
This involves removing harmful substances to make water safe to drink
What is water treatment
A pH reading of 3 is considered this
acidic
This is the primary material that causes turbidity in a fast moving river
What is sediment/silt/suspended solids
Cold water holds (more/less) dissolved oxygen than warm water.
what is more
This nutrient, often found in agricultural runoff, causes excessive algae growth
What are nitrates
This simple home method can make most biologically unsafe water safe to drink
What is boiling
This is the typical pH range for healthy natural fresh water
7 to 14
High turbidity reduces the amount of this essential factor for aquatic plants
What is sunlight/light penetration
The process used by aquatic plants to put oxygen into the water
What is photosynthesis
This is a common phrase for nutrient enrichment that leads to low oxygen zones in bodies of water
What is eutrophication
Name one specific type of filter used in a water treatment plant.
What is a sand filter / activated charcoal filter / reverse osmosis filter? (Accept reasonable answers)
This indicator can be used to visually estimate pH based on color change
ph strips or litmus paper
This simple tool is used to measure water clarity visually in the field
What is a Secchi disk
A high level of this can decrease dissolved oxygen levels as decomposers break it down
What is organic matter (e.g., sewage, dead algae)
This everyday habit is an easy way to conserve water at home
What is taking shorter showers / fixing leaks / turning off the faucet? (Accept reasonable answers)
This chemical is often added to treated drinking water to kill remaining bacteria and pathogens
What is chlorine / chloramine?
A substance with a pH of 9 is how many times more basic than a substance with a pH of 8
what is 10 times
High turbidity can harm aquatic life by clogging this essential organ in fish
what are gills
If a healthy stream's water temperature rises by 5 degrees Celsius, its DO levels will likely do this
decrease
In urban areas, runoff from parking lots often carries these specific pollutants from vehicles.
What are oil/grease/heavy metals
Scientists use this type of monitoring to regularly check a body of water's pH, DO, and temperature.
What is water quality testing/monitoring?