Chapter 17 – Water Pollution

Core Case Study – Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: What major river/river basin flows into the Gulf of Mexico? Select the correct answer.

• Mississippi River

• Colorado River

• Rio Grande

• Columbia River

Core Case Study – Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: Nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, flow into the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the formation of a dead zone.

• Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff resulting in a dead zone

• Carbon from fossil fuels resulting in air pollution

• Salt from ocean water resulting in increased salinity

• Organic matter from decomposing bodies resulting in methane production

Core Case Study – Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: A deadzone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico with extremely low dissolved oxygen that lasts approximately a few weeks.

• An area with high aquatic diversity lasting several years

• An area with extremely low dissolved oxygen lasting a few weeks

• A region with moderate oxygen and diverse marine life lasting months

• A temporary area of low oxygen lasting one day

Causes and Effects of Water Pollution: Which of the following best exemplifies point and nonpoint sources of water pollution and identifies the leading cause of water pollution?

• Industrial wastewater discharge (point source) and agricultural runoff (nonpoint source)

• Municipal sewage (point source) and stormwater runoff (nonpoint source)

• Oil spills (point source) and acid rain (nonpoint source)

• Chemical spills (point source) and natural geological processes (nonpoint source)

Choose the correct pairing of two major types of water pollutants with their sources and effects.

• Industrial effluents from factories causing chemical contamination and agricultural runoff causing nutrient pollution and eutrophication.

• Household detergents causing chemical imbalance and natural sediment causing nutrient enrichment.

• Urban sewage causing thermal pollution and deforestation leading to increased siltation.

• Plastic debris originating from urban areas causing choking of aquatic life and acid rain from vehicles altering pH levels.

Major Pollution Problems in Streams and Lakes: What happened in the Cuyahoga River in 1969? What caused it and what did it result in?

• The river caught fire due to industrial waste and oil pollution, resulting in increased environmental regulations.

• The river overflowed its banks due to excessive rainfall, resulting in flooding.

• The river was polluted with untreated sewage, resulting in fish die-offs.

• The river experienced a chemical spill, resulting in temporary water closure.

Major Pollution Problems in Streams and Lakes: Pollutants more commonly found in streams of less developed countries include:

• Agricultural runoff and sewage discharge

• Industrial chemicals

• Heavy metal contamination

• Plastic debris

Major Pollution Problems in Streams and Lakes: Percentage of India’s water resources that are heavily polluted?

• 10%

• 21%

• 50%

• 75%

The area of stream where biodegradable wastes are broken down becomes oxygen depleted.

• It becomes oxygenated.

• It becomes oxygen depleted.

• It stays unchanged.

• It becomes alkaline.

BOD is an abbreviation used in environmental science that stands for a specific measure of water quality. Identify what BOD stands for.

• Biological Oxygen Demand

• Biological Oxidation Drought

• Biochemical Oxygen Development

• Basic Oxygen Design