Watershed Impairment Notes

Multiple Choice

What term describes the chemical, physical and biological attributes of water as it is fit for drinking, fishing, swimming, farming, etc.?

• Water quality

• Dissolved oxygen

• Water quantity

• Nitrate level

Multiple Choice

The image shows a watershed for a local suburban area. What are some of the possible sources of point source pollution?

• Suburban homes

• City streets

• Wooded areas

• Water treatment discharge line

Multiple Choice

How can nutrients be a pollutant?

• Not enough nutrients

• Too many nutrients

• Lack of specific nutrients

• Imbalance of nutrients

Multiple Choice

Which most likely has the highest number of contaminants in the water?

• a water system with moderate turbidity

• a water system with low turbidity

• a water system with high turbidity

• a water system with no turbidity

Multiple Choice

If a family puts regular fertilizer on their lawn in the morning and it rains hard for most of the afternoon, where does the fertilizer end up going?

• Into the grass where it is used to help the grass grow greener and more lush

• Into the sewer system that leads to a wastewater treatment plant where the fertilizer is removed from the water

• Into the storm drain and eventually into the watershed

• The fertilizer does not go anywhere

Multiple Choice

Humans modify our environment for a variety of reasons. We often add chemicals to the land or water to achieve some result. Some are considered pollutants while others are not. What is the MOST important criteria for something to be called pollution?

• Change in plant species

• Negative impact on the environment

• Any change to the environment

• Change in soil or water chemistry

Multiple Choice

A local business was very upset that their manufacturing permit was denied. They were told their expected waste discharge was too high. The business argued that their waste was similar to plants in other regions. What is a possible reason the city denied the permit?

• The facility was lying about their waste

• The water in the area is expected to vanish soon

• The area is the aquifer recharge zone, and is more susceptible to contamination

• The waste runoff was not compatible with their soil

Multiple Choice

If a farmer moved in and build a farm on this land at point C, what area on the map would see an increase in pollution?

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E