Water pollution affects whether water can safely support people, wildlife, and other legitimate uses. This lesson introduces the meaning of water pollution, the water bodies it affects, and the distinction between point and non-point sources.
Water pollution, also called aquatic pollution, is the contamination of a water body in a way that negatively affects how the water can be used. A practical definition includes the addition of substances or forms of energy that alter the nature of water and interfere with its legitimate uses.
All flashcards
What is water pollution?
Contamination that changes a water body and negatively affects its legitimate uses or ecological functions.
What distinguishes a point source from a non-point source?
A point source has one identifiable origin; a non-point source is diffuse across many places or a broad area.
Which organisms can cause disease in contaminated wastewater?
Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and parasitic worms.
What are the three broad approaches to monitoring water quality?
Physical, chemical, and biological monitoring.
How can well-designed wastewater treatment reduce sewage pollution?
It can remove 90 percent or more of the pollutant load.
Quiz questions
Why are indicator organisms used to assess fecal contamination in water?Answer: They signal likely fecal contamination when direct pathogen testing is difficult.
What can happen when excess nitrogen and phosphorus enter a lake?Answer: Nutrient enrichment can increase productivity and later deplete oxygen.
Why can a discharge of heated water harm aquatic life?Answer: Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen because gas solubility decreases as temperature rises.
What is a bioindicator in biological water monitoring?Answer: An organism whose condition or population can reveal ecosystem integrity.
When is a storm drain a point source of water pollution?Answer: When polluted water is discharged from a specific, identifiable outlet.
Based on the Wikipedia article Water pollution, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.