Lesson 8 Water Management and Pollution

Final

There are important processes involved in the hydrologic cycle. What are they?

The main processes in the hydrologic (water) cycle are evaporation (water changes from liquid to vapor), transpiration(plants release water vapor), condensation (water vapor forms clouds), precipitation (rain, snow, etc. falls to Earth), infiltration (water soaks into the ground), and runoff (water flows over land into rivers and oceans).

Where do pollutants in water come from?

• Pollutants in water come from human activities such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, sewage and wastewater, oil spills, urban runoff from roads, and household chemicals.

There are two main sources of pollution: Point source and non-point source. Explain these terms briefly.

Point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory pipe or sewage outlet. 

Non-point source pollution comes from many scattered sources, such as fertilizer washed off farms or oil washed from roads by rain.

How might you be able to save freshwater in your daily life? Would the savings be worth the cost?

Freshwater can be saved in daily life by taking shorter showers, fixing leaks, turning off taps when not in use, using water-efficient appliances, and reusing water when possible. The cost of saving water is usually low, and the long-term benefits, such as lower water bills and protecting water supplies, make the savings worth it.