Freshwater Pollution Guided Notes

Holt Environmental Science Section 5.2, pg. 131

1.What is water pollution? Introduction of
chemical, physical, or biological agents into
water that degrades quality of water.
2.What are the major causes of water pollution?
Industrialization and human population.
3.What is point pollution? Provide one example.
Pollution discharged from a single source,
factory waste.
4.What is nonpoint pollution? Provide one
example. Pollution from many sources unable
to pinpoint. Agricultural runoff.
5.Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious
problem? We cant pin where the pollution is
coming from
**Leave some room here for a sketch (wastewater
treatment)**
6.What is sludge and how do we deal with it?
Solid material that remains after treatment.
Sometimes disposed as hazardous material or
sometimes can be used for agriculture or
building.
7.What are pathogens? List some examples.
Diseases causing microorganisms. Virus
bacteria parasites.

8.How can biological magnification affect

polluted aquatic ecosystems?
**Leave some room here for sketches
(biomagnifications & eutrophication)**
9.What is thermal pollution and why is it a
problem? Thermal pollution is excessive
amounts of heat added to a body of water. It
warms up water which can affect the
organisms and the ecosystem.
10. What is the Clean Water Act? When was it
passed? An act to restore and maintain the
integrity of the nations water. Passed in 1972
11. Why will groundwater pollution be a longlasting problem? Groundwater recharges slowly
and would take time for pollutants to
disappear.
12. Where does most bottled water come
from?
filtered tap water