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 quality of the
water and affects the organisms that depend on it.
2. What are the major causes of water pollution?
The industrialization and the human population
explosion.
3. What is point pollution? Provide one example.
Point pollution is pollution that is discharged from a
single source. An example is a waste treatment plant.
4. What is nonpoint pollution? Provide one example.
Nonpoint pollution is pollution that comes from many
sources rather than from a sing specific site. An
example is a house or a farm.
5. Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious problem?
Nonpoint pollution is extremely difficult to regulate
and control because the pollution can enter water in
many different ways.
**Leave some room here for a sketch (wastewater
treatment)**
6. What is sludge and how do we deal with it?

Sludge is the waste that comes out filtering water. We

deal with it by either combining it with clay to make
bricks that are used to build buildings or it can be used
as a fertilizer.
7. What are pathogens? List some examples.
Pathogens are disease causing organisms. Some
examples are bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms.
8. How can biological magnification affect polluted
aquatic ecosystems?
Biological magnification can affect polluted aquatic
ecosystems because it can cause immediate damage,
affect human health, and place toxins in the fishes
body making them unsafe to eat for humans.
**Leave some room here for sketches (biomagnifications &
eutrophication)**

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. It can cause massive fish kills
when the discharges water is too warm. Warm water
cannot hold as much oxygen, so aquatic organisms are
deprived of oxygen.

10.
What is the Clean Water Act? When was it
passed?
The Clean Water Act functions with the goal in mind to
make all surface waters clean enough for fishing and
swimming. It was passed in 1972.
11.
Why will groundwater pollution be a long-lasting
problem?
Groundwater pollution will be long-lasting because
pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other agricultural
chemicals seep into the groundwater. Also, industrial
fluids and leaky chemical storage leak into the
groundwater.
12.
Where does most bottled water come from?
Bottled water comes from tap water that has been
filtered and treated.

Freshwater Pollution Guided Notes

Holt Environmental Science Section 5.2, pg. 131

1. What is water pollution?
2. What are the major causes of water pollution?
3. What is point pollution? Provide one example.
4. What is nonpoint pollution? Provide one example.

5. Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious problem?

**Leave some room here for a sketch (wastewater
treatment)**
6. What is sludge and how do we deal with it?
7. What are pathogens? List some examples.
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?
10.
What is the Clean Water Act? When was it
passed?
11.
Why will groundwater pollution be a long-lasting
problem?
12.
Where does most bottled water come from?