Environmental Science Water Unit Review

Which of the following is by far the leading cause of water pollution?

• mining
• agriculture
• factories
• wastewater treatment plants

Of the following organisms, the group that is least likely to cause waterborne disease is

• bacteria
• protozoa
• algae
• parasitic worms

A good indicator of water quality is the number of

• ducks
• turtles
• fish
• fecal coliforms

To be considered safe for drinking under the US Safe Drinking Water Act, a 100 milliliter sample of water should contain __colonies of fecal coliform bacteria.

• 0
• 5
• 10
• 100

A body of water can be DIRECTLY depleted of its oxygen by

• viruses & parasitic worms
• organic wastes
• sediments & suspended water
• organic compounds such as oil, plastics, solvents, and detergents

Which of the following is a POINT source of water pollution?

• wastewater treatment plant
• livestock feedlot
• croplands
• urban lands

Which of the following statements is false?

• Because of their flow, most streams can recover rapidly from pollution by heat and biodegradable waste.
• In rapidly flowing rivers, dissolved oxygen is replaced quickly.
• The amount of oxygen in rivers increases as the water's temperature rises.
• The amount of oxygen in rivers increases as the water’s temperature falls.

In most developed countries, large fish kills and contamination of drinking water may be caused by all of the following except

• malfunctioning sewage treatment plants
• pesticides and plant nutrients from agricultural sources
• deliberate release of toxic industrial chemicals
• accidental release of predatory exotic species

Which of the following is a common characteristic of lakes undergoing cultural eutrophication?

• Decreased rates of sediment accumulation
• Increased levels of plant nutrients
• Increased levels of oxygen throughout the water column
• Decreased amounts of green and blue-green algae

Overuse of groundwater in coastal areas would most likely result in which of the following?

• Decrease in eutrophication
• Increase in stream flow
• Saltwater intrusion
• Bacterial contamination of surface water