Chapter 18 Water Pollution

1. Factories, sewage treatment plants, and oil wells are __________ sources of water pollution.
A. point
B. primary
C. nonpoint
D. tertiary pollutant
E. secondary
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

2. _________ sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate while _____________ sources
of water pollution are difficult to monitor and cleanup.
A. Domestic; industrial
B. Primary; tertiary pollutant
C. Nonpoint; point
D. Tertiary pollutant; primary
E. Point; nonpoint
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

3. The discharge from a nonpoint source of pollution is

A. usually constant throughout the year.
B. generally easier to regulate than a point source.
C. usually less polluting than point sources.
D. highly seasonal in quantity.
E. less damaging than other sources of pollution.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

4. ____________ is to point source of water pollution as _____________ is to nonpoint source of water pollution.
A. Golf course runoff; atmospheric deposition
B. Golf course runoff; power plant effluent
C. Power plant effluent; golf course runoff
D. Atmospheric deposition; golf course runoff
E. Power plant effluent; underground coal mine drains
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

5. Atmospheric deposition of contaminants is an excellent example of

A. the properties of water that allow it to disperse contaminants.
B. nonpoint pollution.
C. a point source of pollution.
D. the relative ease in determining sources of contaminants.
E. a primary source of pollution.
Answer: B

Question Classification: Knowledge

6. The water pollutant that most commonly threatens human health is

A. pathogenic organisms.
B. dissolved plant matter.
C. toxic and hazardous chemicals.
D. thermal pollution.
E. oxygen-demanding wastes.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

7. Coliform bacteria populations are routinely monitored in drinking water supplies, swimming pools, and at
beaches because these bacteria
A. are especially toxic to animals.
B. may mutate into severely pathogenic strains.
C. indicate the presence of feces in water.
D. usually live in pesticide-contaminated water.
E. are more difficult to find in water.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

Clean Drinking Water

Population

8. On the above graph of clean drinking water per person, each letter represents a country. Which of the following is
most likely?
A. A is the United States; B is India.
B. B is the United States; A is India.
C. A is the United States; B is Canada.
D. B is India; A is China.
E. A is India; B is Canada.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Application

9. High oxygen content in water is an indication that

A. water is clean enough to support game fish.
B. there are no contaminants present at all.
C. there is a large population of coliform bacteria.
D. water is only able to support algae and bacteria.

E. sewage, paper pulp, or food processing wastes have been added to the water.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

10. An oxygen sag occurs most often

A. seven to nine miles downstream from a pollution source.
B. immediately downstream of a pollution source.
C. immediately upstream of a pollution source.
D. after the water recovers from the pollution source.
E. at any of the above places.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension

Y
O2

Dissolved Oxygen

BOD

-1

11. In the diagram above, the horizontal (X) axis should be labeled
A. Temperature.
B. Time.
C. Distance from outfall pipe.
D. Depth.
E. Oxygen content.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Analysis

12. In the diagram above, which of the following units would probably be used to label the numbers on the
horizontal (X) axis?
A. Degrees Centigrade
B. Hours
C. Meters
D. Kilometers
E. Days
Answer: D
Question Classification: Analysis

13. The most active decomposition occurs in the area marked _____ on the horizontal axis of the diagram.
A. -1 to 0
B. 0 to 1

C. 1 to 2
D. 2 to 3
E. 1 to 3
Answer: B
Question Classification: Analysis

14. In the diagram above, which of the following organisms would probably be found in the area marked 3 and
higher?
A. mayfly and stonefly larvae
B. mosquito larvae
C. bullhead catfish and gar
D. gar, blackfly and midge larvae
E. trout, sludge worms, and mosquito larvae
Answer: A
Question Classification: Application

15. In the diagram above, which of the following organisms would probably be found in the area between 1 and 2?
A. mayfly and stonefly larvae
B. mosquito larvae
C. bullhead catfish and gar
D. gar, blackfly and midge larvae
E. trout, sludge worms, and mosquito larvae
Answer: B
Question Classification: Application

16. When natural waters are overloaded with plant nutrients, such as nitrate and phosphate ions, they become
A. oligotrophic.
B. dystrophic.
C. eutrophic.
D. metatrophic.
E. megatrophic.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

17. Cultural eutrophication results from

A. natural sediment and nutrient levels.
B. a change in animal life as well as plants.
C. the disappearance of tributary streams.
D. human activity.
E. natural topography.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

18. Algae blooms are a common problem in the Mediterranean Sea because of
A. the particular species of algae there.
B. heavy tourism and untreated sewage.

C. nutrients from extremely active agriculture.

D. the heavy storms and waves that occur there.
E. huge manure waste lagoons.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

19. Toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury

A. rarely threaten water supplies.
B. can be toxic if high concentrations are reached.
C. can be toxic in extremely small quantities.
D. are the most common health threat in water.
E. usually dont accumulate in food chains.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

20. Which of the following are inorganic toxic substances sometimes found in water supplies?
A. salts and lead
B. red tides
C. fecal coliform bacteria
D. algal blooms
E. All of these
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

21. Itai-Itai developed in Japanese people living near the Jintsu River. This disease was traced to
A. fecal coliform bacteria.
B. salt poisoning.
C. mercury poisoning.
D. cadmium poisoning.
E. red tides.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

22. Rivers in Californias dry agricultural valleys are often toxic because they
A. run through toxic soils.
B. originate in coastal industrial areas.
C. are so highly acidic, due to acid rain.
D. have high concentrations of metals and salts.
E. dissolve natural occurring sulfur dioxide.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

23. Acid precipitation is especially disruptive when it occurs in areas with______________ because of the lack of
_____________.
A. limestone in the soil; buffering capacity
B. alkaline soils; acid resistant mosses

C. granite bedrock; buffering capacity

D. granite bedrock; acid resistant mosses
E. alkaline soils; buffering capacity
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

24. Dioxins, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls are all types of

A. inorganic toxic substances.
B. heavy metals.
C. suspended solids and BODs.
D. acidifying agents.
E. toxic organic compounds.
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

25. The range of tolerance for temperature in an aquatic organism is likely to be _____ the tolerance range of a
terrestrial organism.
A. the same as
B. less than
C. more than
D. significantly more than
E. slightly more than
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension

26. In order to avoid producing thermal plumes, power plants often

A. increase the efficiency of their energy use.
B. warm entire rivers to ease temperature gradients.
C. chemically alter their effluent.
D. build cooling towers or ponds.
E. Power plants generally use a combination of all of the actions above to avoid producing thermal plumes.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

27. The main reason that surface water pollution has largely decreased in the United States since 1950 is
A. the Clean Water Act.
B. a series of epidemics that inspired action.
C. the discovery of newer technology that makes it cheaper not to pollute.
D. decreases in water withdrawal for industrial uses.
E. the emphasis in 1950 of watershed management.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

28. In 1998, a change in the approach to water quality was initiated by _________ with an emphasis on _________.
A. the EPA; cost-benefit analysis
B. a series of epidemics that inspired action; watershed management

C. industry; cost-benefit analysis

D. decreases in water withdrawal for industrial uses; cost-benefit analysis
E. the EPA; watershed management.
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

29. Feedlots are a major cause of _________ in water.

A. viruses
B. coliform bacteria
C. nitrates
D. phosphates
E. All of these
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

30. ______________ is an example of a natural process that is accelerated by human activities.

A. Eutrophication
B. The weathering and release of toxic inorganic minerals from rocks
C. The mobilization and concentration of soluble salts from groundwater
D. Sediment loading of rivers
E. All of these are examples of natural processes that are accelerated by human activities.
Answer: E
Question Classification: Comprehension

31. Aquifers are especially susceptible to contamination

A. around wells.
B. near their recharge zones.
C. when they are shallow.
D. around injection wells.
E. All of these.
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

32. The following statements explain why contamination of aquifers is dangerous. Which of the statements is false?
A. The contaminants are concentrated by the different densities of water in the aquifers.
B. Pollutants are extremely stable once they contaminate an aquifer.
C. Minuscule amounts of a pollutant can contaminate an entire aquifer.
D. Aquifers can take an extremely long time to turn over their water content.
E. All of these statements are true.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Comprehension

33. Municipal sewage can be an excellent source of _____________ that are otherwise expensive to mine.
A. useful metals
B. inorganic salts
C. organic compounds

D. toxic chemicals
E. useful organic materials.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

34. The potential problem with natural decay for human waste is that
A. it never really works.
B. it only works where population density is low.
C. it is an expensive process to maintain.
D. unlike sewage treatment, it produces toxic by-products.
E. natural processes take a long time.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension

35. __________ should never be allowed down a drain when a septic tank and drain field system is being used for
sewage disposal.
A. Kitchen wastes from cooking
B. Dog or cat urinary or fecal matter
C. Chlorine and antimicrobial cleansers
D. Oils and greases
E. Solid materials
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

36. Primary sewage treatment involves

A. removing solids from water.
B. removing all organic matter from water.
C. making water transparent again.
D. removing all bacteria.
E. making water usable for agriculture.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

37. Tertiary treatment of sewage produces water that is usable for

A. agriculture.
B. drinking.
C. industrial activities.
D. watering livestock.
E. dumping into freshwater systems.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

38. Tertiary sewage treatment is designed to remove

A. large solids.
B. suspended solids.
C. sludge.

D. nitrates and phosphates.

E. dissolved organic compounds.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

39. The advantage of effluent sewerage is that

A. since solids are removed, pipes and pumps to the central treatment plant can be small and cheap.
B. since solids remain in the liquid, disposal is easy and cheap.
C. families can do all their processing at home.
D. large, expensive municipal systems are no longer needed.
E. since solids are digested like a septic system, the effluent can be used for fertilizer.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

40. The city of Arcata, California, is notable because it designed a _________ to treat its sewage.
A. system of modern outhouses
B. fully modern, technologically advanced system
C. natural marsh
D. corporate sponsorship system
E. living machine
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

41. Using Bentonite slurries to stabilize liquids in porous substances is an example of

A. a containment method of remediation.
B. tertiary sewage treatment.
C. bioremediation.
D. extraction techniques of remediation.
E. in vitro extraction techniques.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Comprehension

42. Using duckweed in a lagoon as low-tech sewage treatment plants is an example of

A. a containment method of remediation.
B. tertiary sewage treatment.
C. bioremediation.
D. extraction techniques of remediation.
E. in vitro extraction techniques.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

43. Best practical technology (BPT) is legally required for all

A. point source polluters.
B. priority toxic pollutants.
C. pollution and polluters.
D. common toxic pollutants.

E. municipal planning officers to control urban runoff.

Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

44. Best available economically achievable technology (BAT) standards are standards set for
A. nonpoint pollution.
B. toxic substances.
C. radioactive waste, specifically.
D. organic compounds.
E. all point sources.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

45. Wetland protection is one of the most controversial provisions of the ___________ because opponents believe
that the legislation is _____________
A. Endangered Species Act; an infringement on their use of private property
B. Clean Water Act; ineffective because it does not prevent pollutants
C. Land Use Act; an infringement on their use of private property
D. Clean Air Act; ineffective because it does not prevent pollutants
E. Clean Water Act; an infringement on their use of private property
Answer: E
Question Classification: Comprehension

46. The cheapest and most effective way to reduce water pollution is to use technology to separate wastes for
nonpoint sources.
A. True.
B. False.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

47. Open sea bilge pumping and tank cleaning are legal ways to clean ships, once the ship is at least 300 miles off
shore.
A. True.
B. False.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

48. Sediments in rivers are especially harmful to Louisianas coastal wetlands.

A. True.
B. False.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

Short Answer/Essay Questions

49. Explain the connections between oxygen sag and biological oxygen demand. Use a drawing in your explanation.
Answer: For a total of 10 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.)
10 =
Provided accurate description of the relationship between the two terms; Provided an accurate drawing
5=
Provided a fairly accurate description of the relationship between the two terms; Provided an inaccurate
drawing
0=
Provided inaccurate description of the relationship between the two terms; Provided an inaccurate drawing

50. Identify four categories of human health problems associated with water pollution and an example for each one
(2 points for each category, 3 points for each example).

51. Identify four categories of ecosystem disruption problems associated with water pollution and an example for
each one (2 points for each category, 3 points for each example).

52. Compare and contrast the cleanup and control of nonpoint and point sources of water pollution.
Answer: For a total of 20 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.)
20 =
Provided at least three accurate comparisons; Supported the comparisons with accurate evidence; Provided
at least three accurate contrasts; Supported the contrasts with accurate evidence; Communicated effectively
with a well written summary
15 =
Provided at least two accurate comparisons; Supported the comparisons with accurate evidence; Provided
at least two accurate contrasts; Supported the contrasts with accurate evidence; Communicated with a fairly
well written summary
10 =
Provided at least one accurate comparison; Supported the comparison with accurate evidence; Provided at
least one contrast; Supported the contrast with evidence; Communicated with a fairly well written summary
5=
Provided at least one accurate comparison; Supported the comparison with accurate evidence OR Provided
at least one accurate contrast; Supported the contrast with accurate evidence AND Communicated with a
poorly written summary
0=
Provided at least one comparison; Did not support the comparison with accurate evidence OR Provided at
least one contrast; Did not support the contrast with accurate evidence AND Communicated with a very
poorly written summary