SAVION YOUNG

Freshwater Pollution Guided Notes

Holt Environmental Science Section 5.2, pg. 131
1.What is water pollution? - The introduction of
chemical, physical, or biological agents into water
that degrades the quality of water and affects the
organisms that depend on it.

2.What are the major causes of water pollution? Two major causes of water pollution are
industrialization and the human population
explosions.

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. - Pollution that comes from many sources
rather than from a single specific site, such as storm
sewers.

5.Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious

problem? Because nonpoint pollution can enter
bodies of water in many different ways, it is
extremely difficult to regulate control.

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6.
and
we
with

What is
sludge
how do
deal
it? -

Sewage
sludge refers to the residual, semi-solid material that
is produced as a by-product during sewage treatment
of industrial or municipal wastewater. It is often
incinerated and then buried in a secure landfill.

7.What are pathogens? List some examples. Pathogens are disease causing organisms such as
bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms.
8. How can biological magnification affect
polluted aquatic ecosystems? - Bio magnification
stands for Biological Magnification, which means the
increase of contaminated substances or toxic
chemicals that take place in the food chains.

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9.What is thermal pollution and why is it a

problem? - Thermal pollution is when excessive
amounts of heat are added to a body of water this is
a problem because it can cause massive fish kills.

10. What is the Clean Water Act? When was it

passed? - The clean water Act stated the purpose of
the act was to restore and maintain the chemical,
physical, and biological integrity of the nation water.
It was passed in 1972.

11. Why will groundwater pollution be a longlasting problem? - Groundwater will be a longlasting problem because if groundwater pollution
stopped tomorrow the water would still be polluted
generations from now.

12. Where does most bottled water come

from? - Most bottled water is simply tap water that
has been filtered and treated with various chemicals.