Water resource

A water resource that would be categorized as nonrenewable would be

• water vapor in the atmosphere

• Precipitation

• surface water in lakes and streams

• confined aquifers

Worldwide, about 70% of the water withdrawn each year is used for

• cooling towers of power plants

• industrial processes

• domestic use

• irrigation of croplands and raising livestock

Which of the following is not a way to prevent groundwater depletion?

• waste less water

• increase the number of wells

• tax water pumped from wells near surface waters

• do not grow water intensive crops in dry areas

It is most economically and environmentally sound to focus water resource management on

• increasing the water supply

• controlling the “mining” of groundwater

• developing desalination plants

• reducing unnecessary waste of water

Saltwater intrusion into freshwater (drinking water) supplies can occur when

• land subsidence occurs

• groundwater is withdrawn near saltwater bodies

• water is drawn from desert lakes to irrigate crops

• runoff of agricultural fields drains into wells

Which of the following is the most efficient form of irrigation?

• micro irrigation

• flood irrigation

• low pressure irrigation

• Manual irrigation

Floodplains usually contain

• nutrient poor soil

• pest insect populations

• highly productive wetlands

• debris that has been deposited during floods

Nitrates and phosphates are examples of

• disease-causing agents

• oxygen-demanding wastes

• plant nutrients

• organic chemicals

Which of the following developments of cultural eutrophication would occur last?

• fish kills

• increase in anaerobic bacteria

• increase of plants such as duckweed

• blooms of algae

The majority of the oil pollution of the ocean comes from

• tanker accidents

• runoff from land

• normal operation of offshore wells

• maritime