APES Water Pollution Quiz

Point Sources

single identifiable sources of pollution

ex. smokestacks, waste discharge pipes

Anoxia

extreme hypoxia

Nonpoint Sources

pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources making it difficult to identify

ex. urban runoff, pesticide spraying

Eutrophication

a process where water bodies receive excess nutrients, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Biological Oxygen Demand

amount of oxygen required by microbes to decompose organic material in water, indicates pollution levels

Key Nutrients in Eutrophication

Nitrates (NO3-), Phosphates (PO4-), Potassium (K+)

Effects of Eutrophication

• Leads to decreased dissolved oxygen (D.O), causing fish and aquatic organism die-offs.

• Hypoxic (low oxygen) and anoxic (no oxygen) conditions are created, particularly due to agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge.

Oxygen Sag Curve

• Illustrates how types of organisms present vary with changes in oxygen levels due to pollution.

  • Clean water organisms: Trout, perch.

  • Trash fish: Carp, leeches

Indicator Species

organisms that indicate the health of an ecosystem

Main cause of algae blooms

phosphorus from agricultural runoff

oligotrophic lake

low nutrient amounts, stable algae populations, high dissolved oxygen

eutrophic lake

high nutrient levels, frequent algae blooms, lower dissolved oxygen

Thermal Pollution

results from heat released into water, negatively impacts organisms

cold water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm water

solubility of oxygen decreases as temperature increases

Urban Runoff Mitigation Strategies

• Increase infiltration (permeable pavement, planting trees).

• Promote public transport to decrease car dependency.

• Sustainable urban planning (building up instead of out).

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP)

synthetic, carbon-based molecules that do not break down easily

toxic to organisms, accumulate in fatty issues, and can travel long distances

ex. DDT, PCBs

Bioaccumulation

process where organisms selectively absorb and concentrate pollutants

Biomagnification

increase in concentration of substances as they move up the food chain, particularly affecting top predators

cause reproductive, nervous, and circulatory system issues in humans and wildlife because of the DDT and mercury

Endocrine System

the system of glands that produce hormones, regulating various bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

maintains homeostasis in response to environmental changes through hormone regulation

Endocrine Disruptors

can interfere with endocrine system leading to developmental problems in various species

ex. PCBs, dioxins, pesticides

Lethal Dose (LD50)

dose of a chemical lethal to 50% of a specific population

Dose-Response Curve

graph indicating the relationship between the dose of a toxin and the mortality rate of a population

Make-up of the Hydrosphere

[freshwater 2.5%] → [ice 74% & liquid 26%] → [groundwater/aquifers 98.4% & atmosphere 0.2%]

Hydrosphere

earth’s liquid water, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere

Main Water Usage

Agriculture (70%)

Industrial (20%)

Municipal/Domestic) 10%

Steps of Water Recycling Process

1. Physical systems

2. Biological systems

3. Chemcial systems

Primary/physical (Water Recyling Process)

• removal of large objects

• usually through use of screens and grates

Secondary/biological (Water Recyling Process)

• bacteria break down organic matter into carbon dioxide and inorganic sludge

• tank aerated to increase rate at which bacteria break down organic matter

Tertiary/chemical (Water Recyling Process)

• kill bacteria in water (like ones used in biological systems)

  • most commonly chlorine, ozone, or UV light

  • after, chlorine is removed by SO2

• can include all three systems (biological, chemical, and physical) but ALWAYS includes chemical

• remove phosphorus and nitrogen

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

• protects drinking water sources

• regulates drinking water

• focuses more on ensuring safe drinking water

The Clean Water Act

• restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters

• focuses more on controlling pollution in waterways

Hypoxic

waterways low in dissolved oxygen

Turbidity

• measure of murkiness of water

• number of suspended particles in the water like nutrients and sediments

Healthy v Unhealthy Turbidity

Healthy = low (but stable) turbidity levels

Unhealthy = high turbidity levels

Ecological Effects of Turbidity

• reduces light penetration

• decreases visibility

• smothers organisms

• usually harmful pollutants in the suspended particles

Fix Turbidity Problems

• reducing runoff

  • limiting use of fertilizers

  • add vegetation buffer zones

• Protect Ecosystems

  • put restrictions on recreational practices

  • creating restrictions on industries and their runoff

Hardness

concentration of dissolved minerals in water

Healthy v Unhealthy Hardness

Healthy = middle ground/medium hardness

Unhealthy = very hard or soft water

Ecological Effects

• provides essential minerals to organisms

• buffers pH levels

• alters aquatic ecosystems

• causes soil and water issues (like soil salinization)

Sources of Hardness

• Geological

  • water percolates through limestone

• Human Activities

  • industrial discharge from factors using calcium or magnesium

  • agricultural runoff and fertilizer

  • detergents and soaps that interact with hard water

• Natural Processes

  • rainwater absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide forming carbonic acid which dissolves calcium and magnesium minerals from rocks

Fix Hardness Problems

• Preventing Excess Hardness

  • water softening

  • chemical treatment

  • environmental control

• Fixing Deficient Hardness

  • add minerals

  • blend water sources

  • adjust pH

Bacteria

• microscopic, single-celled organisms found in various environments

• some bacteria harmless or beneficial and some the opposite

Healthy v Unhealthy Bacteria in Water

Healthy = low E. coli levels

Unhealthy = high E. coli levels

Methods of Testing Bacteria

• Membrane Filtration

  • water passed through membrane filter that captures bacteria

• Enzyme Substrate Test

  • specific substrates that produce a color or light when metabolized by coliform bacteria

Sources of Bacteria

• sewage overflow

• human and animal waste

• stormwater runoff

• agricultural runoff

Bacteria Ecological Effects

• eutrophication can occur from excess nutrients from bacterial waste

  • cause algae blooms

• Bacteria kills organisms

Reduce Bacteria Problems

• disinfect water with chlorine and ozone solutions

• maintenance of household and public sewage systems to prevent leaks

• implement agricultural practices to reduce runoff like no-till and contour farming

Heavy Metals

• metallic elements with high densities

Healthy v Unhealthy Heavy Metals

Healthy = none

Unhealthy = any heavy metals

Sources of Heavy Metals

Natural Sources

• weathering of rocks

• volcanic eruptions

Human-made Sources

• industrial discharge

  • factory release of metals

• agricultural runoff

  • pesticides and fertilizers

• sewage

• waste disposal

  • improper disposal of e-waste or batteries

Heavy Metals Ecological Effects

• accumulates in aquatic organisms

• cause problems in species

  • less reproduction

  • slow growth

  • abnormal behavior

  • death

• disrupt aquatic ecosystems

• lead to population declines

• toxic at high levels

Fix Problems with Heavy Metals

membrane filtration

Macro-Invertebrates

have backbone and can be seen with eyes

Healthy v Unhealthy Macro Invertebrates

Healthy = mayfly, stonefly, diverse pollution

Unhealthy = worms, leech snails, pollution tolerant

Macro Invertebrates Solution

• reducing water pollution

• reducing erosion

• restoring habitats/adding vegetation

Amphibians

cold blooded vertebrates with permeable skin

Healthy v Unhealthy Amphibians

Healthy = normal population size

Unhealthy = few to none in ecosystem

Amphibians Solution

modify the habitats and controlling pollutants like POPs

Fish

aquatic vertebrate that have gills but lack limbs with digits (fingers)

Healthy v Unhealthy Fish

Healthy = fish that are intolerant of pollution indicate health

• brindled madtom

• coho

• chinook salmon

• pacific herring

Unhealthy = tolerant to pollution fish/amount of fish

• atlantic killifish

• common carp

• channel catfish

• gender imbalance in fish

Fish Solutions

• recovering from a fish deficiency starts in restoring the water