APES Water Pollutants Quiz

Steps in the purification and treatment of municipal wastewater?

1. Water is passed through screen to remove debris 2. A flocking agent, such as alum, is added to the water 3. Suspended particles clump and settle out 4. Pathogenic organism are killed by chlorination, UV, or ozone

Region of the ocean LEAST likely to contain photosynthetic organisms

Abyssal zone

Component of water treatment plant that is designed to facilitate the decomposition of organic material by aerobic microorganisms

Activated-sludge tank

Sewage treatment plants in the US...

Are not designed to remove pharmaceutical chemicals from waste water

Introduces microorganisms to break down hazardous organic compounds

Biological treatment

Best suited for neutralizing the acidic components of waste

Chemical treatment

Example of point source water pollution?

Factory effluent

Greatest percent of domestic use of water in US

Flushing toilets

Characteristic of lakes undergoing cultural eutrophication?

Increased level of plant nutrients

In a river ecosystem, dissolved oxygen concentrations drop quickly downstream from a point-source input of organic matter into the river. This is due to...

Increasing bacterial activity as organic matter decays

In the removal of a pollutant from wastewater, what is true of the cost per unit of pollutant removed?

It decreases as the toxicity of the pollutant increases

Three common methods employed in the cleanup of oil spills are?

Large floating booms, skimmer boats, and genetically engineered bacteria

Clean Water Act

Mandates the maintenance and restoration of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters

Lakes that are characterized by high water clarity and low concentrations of dissolved nutrients

Oligotrophic

Alternative to chlorine for disinfecting wastewater in a municipal treatment plant

Ozone

Accelerates eutrophication when introduced into streams, lakes, and bays

Phosphates

The major biological source of dissolved oxygen in the ocean comes from...

Photosynthesis by phytoplankton

Safe Drinking Water Act

Requires minimum safety standards for community water supplies

What is likely to increase both the nutrient levels and the bacterial content of lake water?

Runoff from a nearby hog farm

Example of nonpoint source water pollution?

Runoff from agricultural fields

The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river water suggests?

The water is contaminated with animal waste

Measure of the amount of suspended material in water

Turbidity