Deck 15: Freshwater Systems and Resources

Question 1

Precipitation that falls on Earth's surface .

A)is usually already unusable because of acid rain
B)may take a variety of pathways through surface water or groundwater flow
C)is mostly taken up by plants or other organisms
D)almost entirely filters down into the underground aquifers
E)mostly runs off into salt marshes or the ocean

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A watershed is .

A)a river that drains into the sea
B)the area of land from which rainfall drains into rivers or lakes
C)the water held in the atmosphere prior to returning to Earth in the form of rainfall
D)an inland basin that connects to another inland basin
E)a term used to describe water stored underground

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Dam removal in this country .

A)will probably increase rapidly as we move to a more fossil- fuel- dependent society
B)will assist with our transition to more natural forms of renewable energy
C)will probably continue because the environmental impacts of dams are reviewed periodically
D)is controversial because dams provide such good habitats for native species
E)provides many new jobs and opportunities and so is economically beneficial

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Overpumping groundwater in coastal areas can cause to move into aquifers, making the water undrinkable.

A)hard water ions
B)untreated sewage
C)saltwater
D)VOCs
E)suspended solids

Question 5

Only about 2.5% of all the water on our planet is fresh water, and .

A)most of this is far from where humans live
B)over half of this is in wetlands near coastlines and is becoming contaminated with saltwater
C)most of this is in large, freshwater lakes
D)over half of this is extremely hard water and is nearly unusable for drinking or agriculture
E)most of this is in underground aquifers

Question 6

A recent study has revealed that chlorinated hydrocarbons, gasoline, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs)have become significant pollutants in from .

A)deep ocean currents; discharges from dams into coastal waters
B)estuaries; fishing boats
C)mangrove swamps; oil tanker spills
D)groundwater; leaking storage tanks
E)coral reefs; discharges of reverse osmosis plants

Question 7

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
Sinkholes can occur when .

A)too much weight above an aquifer causes it to cave in
B)nonconsumptive use lowers an aquifer
C)the water in an artesian aquifer is under sufficient pressure that it breaks through to the surface
D)excessive water use lowers a water table and weakens the substrate
E)the water level in an aquifer rises, pushing through to the surface

Question 8

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
In July 2001, the town of Spring Hill, Florida, about 45 miles north of Tampa, had 18 sinkholes appear in a single day. The largest holes were nearly 100 feet deep. This is an indication that .

A)prolonged rainstorms had recently occurred, and the water table rose
B)hurricanes had recently occurred, and the water table rose
C)a drought had recently occurred, along with increased development and groundwater use
D)agriculture had increased, and the water table rose with irrigation recharge
E)earthquakes had recently occurred, and the water table sank

Question 9

Xeriscaping can save water by .

A)creating wetlands instead of landscaping
B)collecting rain water and storing it in cisterns or tanks
C)eliminating landscape plantings, replacing plants with rocks, sand, and sculpture
D)planting invasive exotic plant species
E)planting native or drought- resistant plants which require less water than typical landscaping plants

Question 10

In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, the primary treatment step includes .

A)letting sewage sit in large settling tanks so suspended solids settle out
B)adding bacteria to the sewage
C)stirring the sewage to increase oxidation
D)micro- filtering the sewage
E)chlorinating the sewage

Question 11

An artesian aquifer occurs where .

A)a well is dug through layers of sand and gravel into the water table
B)a water-bearing porous layer of rock, sand, or gravel has accumulated groundwater over a long period of time
C)several aquifers have merged
D)granite is overlain by a sandy substrate, allowing percolation into the aquifer
E)a water-bearing layer is trapped between two layers that are less permeable

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a floodplain?

A)a region of land that is periodically flooded when a river overflows
B)an area where flood irrigation of crops is used, such as a rice paddy
C)an area that is periodically flooded because humans have altered the landscape
D)a region of land that has been deliberately, permanently flooded due to human disturbance, such as in dam building
E)an area that is incidentally flooded when farming or mining operations change the course of rivers

Question 13

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
Sinkholes are an extreme and rapid form of .

A)consumptive use
B)subsidence
C)artesian aquifer
D)aquifer
E)water table

Question 14

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
Methods for desalinating sea water to produce fresh water include _ .

A)filtration and sedimentation
B)making sea water acid to transform salts to solids
C)reverse osmosis and distillation
D)treating sea water with salt- consuming marine bacteria
E)treating with activated charcoal and clay

Question 15

The fish in the lake at the local park are dying. A professor from the local college comes to investigate, and first she measures the dissolved oxygen because she wants to check for the .

A)aquatic biodiversity
B)presence of bacteria
C)possibility of eutrophication
D)presence of heavy metals
E)influence of acid precipitation

Question 16

"Blue- baby" syndrome is a consequence of excess in the water supply.

A)chlorine
B)carbon
C)E) coli
D)phosphates
E)nitrates

Question 17

Sinkholes result from .

A)building on floodplains
B)overconsumption of water from aquifers weakening the substrate
C)poorly drilled wells in soft soils
D)substrates that become weak following rain
E)flood damage and chemical erosion

Question 18

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
A serious problem that results from excessive water withdrawn from aquifers is that _ .

A)the soils contaminate the aquifer, making it unfit for human use
B)the aquifer decreases in size and new aquifers form
C)the water tends to overflow and flood the entire area
D)the aquifer increases in size, draining a larger surface area and leaving less water in rivers, streams, and lakes
E)the surrounding soils are compacted and the size of the aquifer is reduced

Question 19

The Colorado River's water resource allocation is being complicated by _.

A)the rapid growth of Las Vegas
B)saltwater intrusion into the Colorado estuary near San Diego
C)large numbers of people moving out of Nevada
D)rapid growth of vegetable farms in southern Arizona
E)sinkhole collapses in Arizona and southern California

Question 20

Gray water can .

A)usually be used with little or no treatment for drinking water
B)be used in place of tap water for drinking
C)be used for fish ponds and park lakes
D)usually be used for irrigation and watering lawns
E)not be used for washing cars

Question 21

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
Humans use more fresh water for _ than for any other purpose.

A)washing and home use
B)mining and industrial processes
C)drinking and cooking
D)agricultural irrigation
E)electrical production

Question 22

Match the following.

A)aquifer
B)pH
C)dam
D)levee
E)Okefenokee aquifer
F)lock
G)turbidity
H)aqueduct
I)water table
J)Ogallala aquifer
A measure of the density of suspended particles (lack of clarity)in a water supply

Question 23

Artificial wetlands .

A)can help purify water and also provide wildlife habitat
B)are the major program for replacing lost natural wetlands
C)are created using xeriscaping methods
D)are a source of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh
E)purify water for use as bottled drinking water

Question 24

Match the following.

A)aquifer
B)pH
C)dam
D)levee
E)Okefenokee aquifer
F)lock
G)turbidity
H)aqueduct
I)water table
J)Ogallala aquifer
Any obstruction placed in a river or stream to block flow

Question 25

Match the following.

A)aquifer
B)pH
C)dam
D)levee
E)Okefenokee aquifer
F)lock
G)turbidity
H)aqueduct
I)water table
J)Ogallala aquifer
A porous, spongelike layer of rock, sand, or gravel that is capable of holding water

Question 26

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
Why was the irrigation of Soviet cotton farming operations a problem?

A)There was governmental opposition that limited water access, killing crops.
B)Irrigation water came from rivers feeding into one of the largest lakes on Earth and resulted in major contamination of that source.
C)It was, for the most part, not a problem.
D)It angered local resort communities, which did not want farming in the region.
E)It drained the Aral Sea and increased the salt content of soils.

Question 27

Which of the following is one of the major pollutants of groundwater?

A)fertilizers from agricultural fields
B)treated sewage from cities
C)home garbage
D)acid rain
E)carbon dioxide

Question 28

Which of the following will contribute to water conservation?

A)watering lawns during peak sunlight hours, when plants need water most
B)using aerial sprays for crop irrigation
C)planting non- native wetland plants for landscaping
D)washing dishes by hand
E)watering lawns at night, using low- flow faucets, and landscaping with native plants

Question 29

A key characteristic of aquatic dead zones is .

A)a low concentration of oxygen
B)a high concentration of organisms resulting in extreme competition and finally the death of most
C)a high concentration of urban development
D)a low concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients
E)a low concentration of keystone species

Question 30

Recent research that analyzed the content of commercial bottled water indicates that .

A)bottled water is no safer or purer than most samples of tap water
B)bottled water has no contamination from hormone mimic plasticizers
C)bottled water consumes less fossil fuels in reaching the consumer than does tap water
D)all surveyed brands had information about the source and how it was treated
E)bottled water is significantly cheaper than tap water

Question 31

We build dams to .

A)drain wetlands for urban development
B)generate electricity, prevent flooding, and provide irrigation
C)improve the habitat for native fish
D)control the spread of waterborne diseases
E)transform watersheds into farms, towns, and recreational areas

Question 32

A septic system is .

A)a rural method of handling sewage
B)a second level mechanism to remove bacteria at a wastewater treatment plant
C)a toxic or badly polluted waterway
D)an early version of a wastewater treatment plant
E)the use of natural wetlands to cleanse wastewater

Question 33

Which of the following would be the initial ecological consequence of falling water tables?

A)loss of permanent wetlands
B)loss of agricultural irrigation water
C)loss of bird species
D)lack of drinking water
E)loss of mammals

Question 34

Match the following.

A)aquifer
B)pH
C)dam
D)levee
E)Okefenokee aquifer
F)lock
G)turbidity
H)aqueduct
I)water table
J)Ogallala aquifer
A long, raised mound of earth used to control flooding along a river

Question 35

Match the following.

A)aquifer
B)pH
C)dam
D)levee
E)Okefenokee aquifer
F)lock
G)turbidity
H)aqueduct
I)water table
J)Ogallala aquifer
The world's largest known aquifer

Question 36

Data indicate that the present rate of freshwater consumption in most developed countries is .

A)increasing groundwater storage and decreasing surface water storage
B)sustainable for the foreseeable future
C)unsustainable
D)only a problem in areas not on the coast
E)irrelevant, as water is not currently limiting

Question 37

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The formation of sinkholes has become a fairly common phenomenon in the state of Florida. Most sinkholes are small, but some sinkholes have led to catastrophic property damage and loss of life. One September day in 1999, folks began to notice that Lake Jackson in the panhandle region was shrinking. Within a few days, it was almost gone. A sinkhole had opened beneath the lake and drained it, along with all of the fish and alligators. Another sinkhole formed just 10 miles from Walt Disney World^® in August 2013, swallowing a 48- unit villa at Summer Bay Resort^®.
As aquifers lose water, their substrates can become weaker and less capable of supporting overlying strata and any human structures built upon them. In such cases, the land surface above may subside. Sometimes subsidence can occur locally and suddenly, in the form of sinkholes, areas where the ground gives way with little warning. Once the ground subsides, soil becomes compacted, losing the porosity that enabled it to hold water. Recharging a depleted aquifer may therefore become more difficult.
One reasonable way to prevent sinkholes might be to _ .

A)pump wastewater and sewage directly into the aquifer to maintain the water table
B)pump sand and gravel into the aquifer to fill in the bottom levels, thus raising the water table
C)increase groundwater recharge by constructing artificial wetlands that use treated municipal wastewater
D)install supports to maintain the shape of the underground aquifer
E)have the local water company regularly transfer water from one local aquifer to the next, maintaining the average water level

Question 38

One- fifth of Earth's total freshwater supply is in _ .

A)the ocean
B)ponds
C)the tundra
D)estuaries
E)groundwater

Question 39

Much of the "biosolids" material that is the end product of a wastewater treatment plant is .

A)used as crop fertilizer in the United States
B)placed in deep injection wells to keep it out of the water table
C)used as part of the "fill" to develop wetlands into agriculture or housing areas
D)trucked to special biohazard landfills for disposal
E)loaded onto barges and sent to underdeveloped countries to use as fertilizer

Question 40

Which of the following has contributed to aquifer contamination?

A)leaching of excess water into aquifers
B)pumping hazardous waste underground
C)inappropriate use of household detergents
D)natural gases, such as carbon monoxide, dissolving into aquifers
E)fungi entering through wells

Question 41

How can agricultural irrigation practices be altered to decrease loss of fresh water?

Question 42

Define water pollution, point source, and nonpoint source pollution. Which of the two (point source or nonpoint source)is easier to identify? Which is easier to legislate? Which currently poses the greatest threat to fresh water?

Question 43

How can algal growth be a problem in a freshwater system?

Question 44

low- pressure spray irrigation that sprays water downward toward plants and by using drip irrigation systems that target individual plants and introduce water directly onto the soil. Both methods reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation and surface runoff. In addition, choosing crops to match the land and climate in which they are being farmed can save huge amounts of water. Presently, crops that require a great deal of water, such as cotton, rice, and alfalfa, are often planted in hot and arid areas where irrigation is government subsidized. The true cost of water, therefore, is not taken into account as part of the costs of growing the crop. Eliminating subsidies and growing crops in climates that provide adequate rainfall could greatly reduce water use in many parts of the world. In addition, the selective breeding and/or genetic modification of crops is resulting in some varieties that require less water.
Discuss the environmental, quality, and economic issues associated with the manufacture and consumption of bottled water.

Question 45

Using the Three Gorges Dam on China's Yangtze River as an example, what are the benefits and costs associated with building dams?

Question 46

It is estimated that by 2035, half of the people in the world will live under severe water shortages. Discuss three specific strategies for conserving water.

Question 47

Describe the benefits obtained by the creation of artificial wetlands.

Question 48

With reference to the diversion of water from the Colorado River, what is meant by the statement, "We are truly 'replumbing the planet' "?