Watershed and Pollution

A student’s model of an area near a city depicts many activities that affect the quality of the water in the area. How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?

• Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt.

• Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river.

• Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants.

• Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, slowing the movement of the river water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

When runoff crosses the land, it picks up fertilizers that have been used on crops and lawns. These contaminants will eventually enter a lake, river or stream, which may lead to -

• the earth’s surface to sink.

• the water in an aquifer to drop.

• harmful rapid growth of algae.

• cleaner water for drinking and bathing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Match the following

• surface water

• streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans

• fertilizers and pesticides

• water traveling over the land surface before reaching a stream

• runoff

• water that soaks into and collects under the ground

• groundwater

• common farming pollutants

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

An area of land where the surface water and ground water drain into a particular body of water.

• aquifer

• watershed

• subsidence

• divide

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

A student sets up the investigation shown below. The movement of colored water through the gravel best models —

• condensation of water vapor

• conservation of water

• surface runoff of precipitation

• pollution of groundwater

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

• The proposed law will protect the lake because plant roots between the wetland and the lake will stop pollution from entering the lake.

• The proposed law will not protect the lake because animals that live in or near the lake will add pollution to the lake.

• The proposed law will not protect the lake because groundwater will carry pollution from the wetland directly into the lake

• The proposed law will protect the lake because the high elevation of the water table will block pollution from entering the lake.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

An area of land where the surface water and groundwater drain into a particular body of water

• Watershed

• Drainage Divide

• Erosion

• Aquifer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

An area of land that drains to a particular river, lake, bay, or other body of water.

• Tributary

• Wetland

• Divide

• Watershed

Which one is an example of Non-point source pollution?

• Littering

• Using pesticide

• Using fertilizer

• All the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

Which is an example of point source pollution?

• Littering

• Factory discharge going into the river

• Using pesticide

• Using fertilizer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3