unit 8 vocab (apes)

Fecal Coliform

Bacteria found in feces that indicate contamination of water sources. They are used as an indicator of water quality.

Turbidity

The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by suspended particles that scatter light, making the liquid appear murky.

Dissolved Oxygen

Measure of oxygen gas dissolved in water, crucial for aquatic life. High levels support healthy ecosystems, while low levels can harm fish and other organisms.

Biological Oxygen Demand

Measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material in water.

Wastewater

Water that has been used in homes, businesses, industries, or agriculture and contains pollutants or contaminants.

Thermal Pollution

The degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature is often caused by industrial activities or power plants.

Groundwater Pollution

Contamination of underground water sources by chemicals, waste, or pollutants, often from human activities like industrial processes or agricultural runoff.

Biomagnification

The process where toxins concentrate as they move up the food chain, posing risks to top predators due to increasing levels of toxins.

Endocrine Disrupters

Chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system, affecting hormone balance and causing adverse health effects in humans and wildlife.

Eutrophication

Excessive nutrients in water cause algae blooms, depleting oxygen levels, harming aquatic life, and disrupting ecosystems.

Primary Sewage Treatment

Involves physical processes like screening and settling to remove large solids from wastewater before secondary treatment.

Secondary Sewage Treatment

Biological process that removes dissolved and suspended organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens from wastewater using bacteria and other microorganisms.

Tertiary Sewage Treatment

The final stage of wastewater treatment that removes remaining contaminants, producing high-quality water safe for discharge or reuse.