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 the water and affects organism that
depend on it.
2.What are the major causes of water pollution?
Industrialization and the human population
explosion.
3.What is point pollution?
Pollution that is discharged from a single
source.
Provide one example Such as a factory, a
wastewater treatment plant, or an oil tanker.
4.What is nonpoint pollution?
Pollution that comes from many sources rather
than from a single specific site.
Provide one example Homes, farms, and
highways.
5.Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious
problem?
Because it is much harder to regulate and
control, it can enter the 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?

The solid material that remains after treatment
7.What are pathogens?
Disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria,
viruses, and parasitic worms.
List some examples Cholera, hepatitis, and
typhoid
8.How can biological magnification affect
polluted aquatic ecosystems?
Because there only needs to be one intake of
water pollution, and the food chain will take
over and continuously pass it through and
through.
**Leave some room here for sketches
(biomagnifications & eutrophication)**

9.What is thermal pollution and why is it a

problem?
Excessive amounts of heat are added to a body
of water. This can be a problem because the
rivers or lakes are getting heated.
10. What is the Clean Water Act? When was it
passed?
An act created to resore and maintain the
chemical, physical, and biological integrity of
the nations waters. It was passed in 1972
11. Why will groundwater pollution be a longlasting problem?
Because the groundwater is so dispersed and
outspread it will be difficult to try to
decontaminate it.
12. Where does most bottled water come
from?
The tap. It is just filtered and chemically
modified.

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 longlasting problem?

12. Where does most bottled water come
from?