Water Pollution Problem

A. What disease causing organisms are found in polluted water?

B. Who was Robert Koch?

C. Why is water pollution still a problem today?

Sewage

D. What is sewage?

E. Briefly describe how water sewage treatment plants work.

F. What is sludge?

 

Pathogens

What are pathogens?

Give three examples of diseases transmitted through contaminated water.

How is the transmission of malaria affected by water contamination?

IV. Types of Water Pollution

A. List the most common sources of water pollution.

B. How can acid from industrial air pollution affect water?

 

Chemical Pollutants

G. What is meant by a toxic chemical?

H. What is the different between an inorganic and organic chemical?

Inorganic Chemicals

I. Give examples of inorganic chemicals.

J. What is a heavy metal? Give several examples.

K. How do heavy metals enter the water system?

L. What are some of the effects of heavy metals when ingested?

M. What happened in Minamata?

Organic Chemicals

N. What are the sources of some of these chemicals?

1. How do they enter groundwater systems?

2. What happened to the Exxon Valdez?

O. What is bioremediation?

Eutrophication

P. Describe this process

Q. Why does this cause environmental problems?

Radioactivity and Thermal Pollution

R. What kinds of pollution do nuclear power plants release

S. What are some uses of radioactive elements?

T. How do radioactive wastes get into our water supply?

U. What is thermal pollution and what causes it?

V. How does thermal pollution affect fish?

Controlling Water Pollution

W. Why was the Rivers and Harbors Act ignored?

X. What was the rationale behind the Clean Water Act of 1972?