Water and Water Quality: Exam 2

define water quality

the physical, chemical, and biological attributes that affect the suitability of water for its intended use

what is the importance of the word “use”

most bodies of water have multiple, sometimes conflicting, uses (such as drinking water, irrigation, fish production, and recreation).

define water pollution

change in water quality in a way which makes it less suitable for a particular use

define point source pollution

pollutants discharged to natural waters through a pipe or ditch from specific industrial or municipal activities and can be measured or treated at a specific location

define non-point source pollution

occurs over a wide area and is typically associated with land use activities such as urban runoff, agricultural cultivation, livestock grazing, and forest management practices

define thermal pollution

condition where the elevation of temperature has an adverse effect on the suitability of water to support aquatic life. this can be caused by the clearing of the vegetative overstory adjacent to a stream channel (riparian vegetation) resulting in increased solar radiation input

why are water quantity and stream flow important in fisheries?

water movement is crucial for dilution and mixing, the rate and timing of stream flow directly affects the composition and distribution of aquatic organisms living there.

define watershed

the entire area drained by a certain stream, river, pond, lake, or wetland. it collects water from runoff and rainfall and drains it through a common point.

define suspended sediment

solid material that has been eroded from its original location and is being transported. it is the form of sediment that most directly affects stream water quality, restricts light penetration, and can transport nutrients, heavy metals, and pesticides.

define bedload sediment

solid material that has been eroded and has been deposited (usually on the bottom)

explain the relationship between temperature, light and dissolved oxygen in water

temperature and DO: as water temperature increases the solubility of oxygen decreases, and the rate of biological activity increases, which creates a greater demand of DO

Light and DO: light is needed for photosynthesis which produces oxygen. if light penetration is restricted then photosynthesis and productivity are adversely affected.

what is the significance of BOD

biochemical oxygen demand is the amount of dissolved oxygen necessary to oxidize the readily decomposable organic matter in a water sample.

define pH

the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration

how does carbon dioxide relate to pH

the carbon dioxide controls pH because it acts as an acid. when CO2 enters the water it reacts to form carbonic acid which dissociates to release hydrogen ions

define eutrophication

the process where nutrient enrichment (with phosphorus often being the limiting factor) causes an excessive rate of aquatic plant growth.

define habitat

the area or type of environment in which an organism or group of organisms live

define turbidity

the decreased ability of water to transmit light - it is caused by suspended particulate matter which can include suspended sediment and phytoplankton

what are the toxic forms of nitrogen in water

the two forms of nitrogen that are toxic to aquatic life, including fish, are ammonia (NH3) and nitrite (NO2-)

what is the significance of substrate quality (streambed or lake bottom) in fisheries?

substrate quality is an indicator of overall ecosystem health and the rate of sedimentation. a desirable substrate is generally composed of a wide variety of particle sizes rather than exclusively silt and clay. poor substrate, often composed of settled sediment can smother fish eggs and destroy benthic communities.

what can benthic macroinvertebrates tell us about aquatic systems

widely used method for evaluating the health of aquatic ecosystems, these organisms are affected by all the stresses that occur in the aquatic environment. they can indicate pollution and problems within the water quality

in Georgia, what state agency is responsible for water quality protection?

Georgia DNR and Environmental Protection Division

what are the major uses of water in the US

drinking water, irrigation, livestock watering, recreational use, industrial use, etc.