Question 1

Groundwater and surface waters are about equal in volume.

Accepted Answer

Surface waters, such as lakes, rivers, and streams, only make up about 1% of the Earth's water. Groundwater makes up about 30% of the Earth's freshwater, but this is still significantly less than the amount of water in the oceans. Therefore, groundwater and surface waters are not equal in volume.

Question 2

Because the Chesapeake Bay's quality had not improved sufficiently, a Presidential Executive Order established a committee to develop a strategy to restore the bay.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Chesapeake Bay Executive Order was signed by President Obama in 2009 in order to establish a federal-state partnership to restore the bay's water quality and ecosystem.

Question 3

There are three classifications of water pollutants: toxic, conventional and nonconventional.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Toxic pollutants are chemicals and metals that can cause harm to living organisms. Conventional pollutants are organic and inorganic substances that can be measured using standard methods. Nonconventional pollutants include radioactive materials, thermal pollution, and noise.

Question 4

The Clean Water Act's no toxics in toxic amounts goal can be justified on economic grounds.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Clean Water Act's no toxics in...

Question 5

State-established receiving water quality standards have two components: use designation and water quality criteria.

Accepted Answer

State-established receiving water quality standards are defined by both use designation and water quality criteria. The use designation specifies the intended use of the waterbody (e.g. fishing, swimming, drinking) and the water quality criteria establish the levels of pollutants that are safe for that use.

Question 6

In the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, President Obama signed the Oil Pollution Control Act.

Accepted Answer

The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, not after the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010.

Question 7

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill is the largest tanker spill in U.S. history.

Accepted Answer

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska is indeed the largest tanker spill in U.S. history, releasing approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound.

Question 8

The Water Quality Act of 1987 embodies revisions to the Clean Water Act of 1977.

Accepted Answer

The Water Quality Act of 1987 is indeed a revision to the Clean Water Act of 1977.

Question 9

Water quality policy recognizes two major categories of water resources -- surface water and groundwater.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Water quality policy typically distinguishes between surface water -- such as lakes, rivers, and streams -- and groundwater, which is found underground in aquifers. Different regulations, management strategies, and monitoring approaches may be employed for these two types of water resources.

Question 10

Environmental threats to surface water have no connection to groundwater contamination.

Accepted Answer

Environmental threats to surface water such as spills, runoff, and agricultural practices can lead to groundwater contamination through percolation and seepage.

Question 11

The interdependence of all water resources is explained by the hydrologic cycle.

Accepted Answer

The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, shows how water is continuously cycled between different sources, such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. This interdependence of water resources is an essential part of the hydrologic cycle, as water from one source can be replenished by water from another source. Therefore, the hydrologic cycle explains the interconnectedness of water resources, making (A) True.

Question 12

The Clean Water Act's zero discharge goal was met in 1985.

Accepted Answer

The Clean Water Act's zero discharge goal has not been fully met as of 2021. While progress has been made in reducing water pollution, there are still instances of illegal dumping and wastewater discharges that do not meet federal standards.

Question 13

According to the textbook application, point source pollution has been eliminated from the Chesapeake Bay.

Accepted Answer

The textbook application does not provide any information indicating that point source pollution has been completely eliminated from the Chesapeake Bay. Instead, it highlights ongoing efforts to reduce and enforce regulations on point source pollution, as well as the need to address non-point source pollution.

Question 14

The leading source of river and stream pollution is urban runoff.

Accepted Answer

Agricultural runoff is generally considered the leading source of river and stream pollution, as it often contains fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste.

Question 15

An aquifer refers to any water body exposed to the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

An aquifer is actually an underground layer of permeable rock, sediment, or soil that holds water and allows it to flow. It is not exposed to the atmosphere.

Question 16

Water runoff from a major highway is an example of a point source.

Accepted Answer

Water runoff from a major highway is considered a non-point source pollution because it does not originate from a single, identifiable source but rather from a diffuse area.

Question 17

A cruise ship is an example of a nonpoint source.

Accepted Answer

A cruise ship is considered a point source of pollution because it discharges pollutants from a specific, identifiable location, such as a pipe, outlet, or drain.

Question 18

The Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) address the development of coastal nonpoint pollution control programs.

Accepted Answer

CZARA includes provisions for the development and implementation of state coastal nonpoint pollution control programs, aimed at reducing pollution from activities such as agriculture, forestry, urban runoff, and construction in coastal areas.

Question 19

The two major sources of water contamination are typically classified as mobile and stationary sources.

Accepted Answer

The two major sources of water contamination are typically classified as point sources and nonpoint sources. Point sources are identifiable and stationary locations or fixed facilities, while nonpoint sources are diffuse and can come from many directions, such as runoff from agricultural land.

Question 20

Use designation of water quality standards is evaluated using a use-support status framework.

Accepted Answer

The use-support status framework considers factors such as human health, aquatic life, recreational use, and drinking water supply to assess water quality standards. By examining how well water quality standards support these designated uses, the framework can evaluate the effectiveness of regulatory measures and identify areas where further improvement is needed.

Quiz 14: Defining Water Quality: the Standard-Setting Process