Water Quality

microscopic bubbles of gaseous oxygen mixed in water and available to aquatic organisms for respiration

a physical property that measures the heat in an object compared with a standard. In substances with a higher temperature, molecules have greater average kinetic energy. As temperature decreases, the average kinetic energy of the molecules also decreases.

a measure of how acidic or how basic (alkaline) a liquid is;

a measure of how clear water is

an organism used to monitor the health of an ecosystem

a measure of how suitable water may be for drinking

chemical compounds needed for organisms to survive, create DNA and energy distribution; enter water systems from fertilizers, sewage, manure runoff, natural deposits

Chemical compounds needed for organisms to survive; enter water systems from human and animal waste, laundry, cleaning and industry discharge.

waste matter such as water or human urine or solid waste; the system carrying away waste water and human waste from houses and other buildings through large underground pipes or passages.

process when too many nitrate and phosphate compounds build up in water systems, causing algal blooms which use up all nutrients and space resulting in reduced dissolved oxygen in the water. The decrease in dissolved oxygen kills all other organisms in the body of water.

Which process would MOST LIKELY increase the dissolved oxygen level in a freshwater lake? A. Algae bloom B. Lake turnover C. Photosynthesis D. respiration

Why should farmers be concerned about unused nitrates contaminating water supplies? A. Unused nitrates reduce algae growth B. Unused nitrates increase oxygen in water C. Excessive amounts of nutrients cause overpopulation of fish D. Excessive amounts of nutrients speed up eutrophication

Which groundwater contaminant contained in fertilizers and pesticides comes from farms? A. Bacteria B. Mercury C. Nitrates D. Sodium

Which would be the MOST LIKELY cause of large numbers of fish dying in a stream ? A. A lack of nitrogen B. High levels of mercury C. Decreased carbon dioxide D. Low dissolved oxygen concentration

Which would lead to the greatest reduction of dissolved oxygen in a lake? A. Decreased number of fish in the lake B. Increased number of fish in the lake C. Increased nutrients and algal blooms D. Decreased number of plants surrounding the lake

Which is the BEST example of point source pollution? A. Runoff from fields B. Pesticides sprayed into the air C. Oil spill from a boat in the Atlantic ocean D. Smoke from multiple industries in a large city

Why is it important to monitor turbidity levels of a water system? A. Frogs will destroy fish eggs in murky water B. Fish are better able to find food in cloudy water C. Water can only be used for recreation when it is clear D. Suspended particles diffuse sunlight and absorb too much

Which BEST determines the health of a lake used as a source of freshwater? A. Its depth and width B. Its temperature and pH C. Its location and depth D. Its temperature and depth

Pure water is neutral. What is the pH of pure water? A. 0 B. 7 C. 10 D. 14

Which event will MOST LIKELY cause increased turbidity in a lake or pond? A. Increase in runoff B. Decrease in runoff C. Increase in aquatic plants D. Decrease in aquatic plants

In which way does a flood have the greatest impact on local water quality? A. It causes aquifers to run out of water B. It cleans the water and decreases the turbidity C. It allows many foreign materials to enter the water D. It moves animals to new locations and increases biological diversity

If a body of water has high turbidity levels, what can MOST LIKELY be concluded? A. It has a low pH B. It is unsafe to drink C. It is too hot to drink D. It contains a lot of chemicals

Which substance will MOST LIKELY cause a decrease in pH if it is leaked into a NC waterway? A. Soap B. Bleach C. Drain cleaner D. Hydrochloric acid

Which is the greatest impact of sediment flowing into a river? A. Sediment poisons fish B. Sediment prevents light from reaching plants C. Sediment interferes with the ability of fish to find mates D. Sediment increases the depth of rivers and streams, reducing the amount of flowing water