Freshwater Pollution Guided Notes

Holt Environmental Science Section 5.2, pg. 131

1. What is water pollution?
The introduction of chemical, physical, and
biological agents into water that degrades the
waters quality.
2. What are the major causes of water pollution?
Industrial and human population
3. What is point pollution? Provide one example.
Pollution that is discharged from a single source
such as a factory.
4. What is nonpoint pollution? Provide one example.
The pollution that comes from many sources rather
than from a single point such as neighborhoods
5. Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious problem?
Because since it comes from many different places
it is hard to regulate and control

6. What is sludge and how do we deal with it?

The solid material that remains after treatment

7. What are pathogens? List some examples.
Disease-causing organisms such as bacteria,
viruses, and parasitic worms
8. How can biological magnification affect polluted aquatic
ecosystems?
It would make it worse and it would spread from
not just aquatic from the toxins would go in to
mammals an birds that eat them

9. What is thermal pollution and why is it a problem?

The degradation of water quality by any process that
changes ambient water temperature. Because water is
suppose to regulate its own temperature and the
temperature around it.

10.

What is the Clean Water Act? When was it passed?

To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and

biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing
point and nonpoint pollution sources. 1972

11. Why will groundwater pollution be a long-lasting

problem?
Because of all the land fills
12.
Where does most bottled water come from?
municipal water source