Freshwater Pollution Guided Notes

1. What is water pollution? Introduction of chemical, physical and biological agents into
water

2. What are the major causes of water pollution? Industrialization and

human population

3. What is point pollution? Provide one example. Pollution discharged

from a single source

FACTORIES

4. What is nonpoint pollution? Provide one example. Pollution that

comes from many sources

STORM SEWERES

5. Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious problem? Pesticides

are washed away

6. What is sludge and how do we deal with it?

7. What are pathogens? List some examples. Disease causing organisms
such as bacteria and viruses

8. How can biological magnification affect polluted aquatic

ecosystems? Killing living things in a stream
9. What is thermal pollution and why is it a problem? Excessive
amount of heat added to a body of water

10. What is the Clean Water Act? When was it passed? Contain
water pollution as of 1972

11. Why will groundwater pollution be a long-lasting

problem? Common pesticides and fertilizers seep into groundwater
12. Where does most bottled water come from? Tap water treated for
various chemical