Deck 20: Water Pollution and Its Prevention

Question 1

Which of the following farming practices were recommended to mitigate the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico just west of the Mississippi River?

A)increased use of no-till farming (nitrogen retention)and decreased fertilizer use
B)increased use of ammonia as a fertilizer
C)crop rotation between soybeans and corn
D)switching from raising corn to raising cattle

Answer 1

increased use of no-till farming (nitrogen retention)and decreased fertilizer use

Question 2

Which one of the following best illustrates a nonpoint source of pollution?

A)oil leaking into the ocean from an oil rig
B)wastewater from a coal-fired power plant
C)storm-water drainage from the parking lot around a football stadium
D)raw sewage released into a river when storm-water overflows a city's sewage treatment facility

Answer 2

storm-water drainage from the parking lot around a football stadium

Question 3

The people using this river increase their health risks the most if they use the same area of the river for drinking and

A)bathing.
B)public boat transportation.
C)disposal of sewage.
D)religious rituals and washing their clothes.

Answer 3

disposal of sewage.

Question 4

Adding fertilizer to most aquatic systems results in

A)increased growth of phytoplankton and hypoxic conditions.
B)increased growth of phytoplankton and hyperoxic conditions.
C)decreased growth of phytoplankton and hypoxic conditions.
D)decreased growth of phytoplankton and hyperoxic conditions.

Question 5

In New York City in the 1920s,sewage-carried pathogenic diseases were primarily prevented by

A)public water supplies that treated the water with fluoride.
B)widespread use of antibacterial soaps.
C)widespread immunization against most of these pathogens.
D)central collection and treatment of human sewage.

Question 6

Which of the following activities is most directly related to the dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico just west of the Mississippi River?

A)extensive shrimp fishing
B)farming in the Midwest
C)burning coal to generate electricity in the Midwest
D)barge traffic on the Mississippi River

Question 7

The Cuyahoga River in Ohio had been so polluted that it caught fire repeatedly from 1868-1969,including a 1952 fire that resulted in nearly $1.5 million in damages.Amazingly,other rivers in the United States also caught fire during this period.
Why didn't federal laws limiting pollution of rivers and streams prevent this pollution and these fires?

A)There were no federal regulations of water pollution at that time.
B)This pollution went undetected by agents overwhelmed by the amount of work.
C)The federal laws preventing water pollution did not apply to this specific state,where this occurred.
D)These industries that polluted the water had been repeatedly fined for polluting and simply continued to ignore the laws.

Question 8

In the regions of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico just west of the Mississippi River delta,oxygen levels are

A)highest at the bottom of the ocean,where the algae do not get enough sunlight to survive.
B)highest at middle ocean depths,where plants produce the most oxygen.
C)highest at the ocean surface,away from oxygen depleting bacteria.
D)lowest at the ocean surface,where fertilizers bind to and remove the oxygen.

Question 9

Noticing large amounts of algal growth in her small farm pond,a farmer adds about 20 grass carp to feed on the abundant algae and plants.After several years,the carp grow large,exceeding 20 pounds each in size.Late one summer,the farmer notices that the carp and most of the other fish are dead.The water also smells very bad.Which one of the following is the most likely explanation for the death of these fish?

A)the algae overgrew the pond and produced toxic levels of ozone
B)the large carp grew so large that they could not get enough oxygen
C)bacteria feeding on the large volume of carp feces depleted the oxygen
D)carbon dioxide released by the carp and algae eventually suffocated the fish in the pond

Question 10

Good health in the modern world,with few cases of bacterial infection,is largely the result of

A)the development and widespread use of new immunizations.
B)clean water supplies and proper treatment of sewage.
C)widespread use of bleach,antibiotics,and antibacterial soaps.
D)frequent bathing and washing of clothing and dishes.

Question 11

Based upon the history of the U.S.federal government's involvement in controlling water pollution,which one of the following scenarios would have most likely occurred?

A)In 1908,federal inspectors reported unacceptably high levels of petroleum products in a river.
B)In 1926,a city receives a federal grant for one million dollars to improve its handling of industrial wastes draining into a nearby river.
C)In 1947,agents of the federal Environmental Protection Agency fined a company for dumping industrial waste into a local stream.
D)In 1952,federal agents advised a city on the best way to handle its sewage and storm water.

Question 12

This fire on the Cuyahoga River in 1969 most likely resulted from

A)nonpoint source pollution from street and storm water runoff.
B)point industrial source pollution.
C)the uncontrolled growth of plants from fertilizer runoff.
D)the failure of a city to treat its sewage before entering this river.

Question 13

The best way to reduce the pollution of agricultural fertilizer runoff from farm fields is to

A)treat the water before it reaches streams or rivers.
B)reduce the amount fertilizer leaving the farm fields through such techniques as no-till cultivation.
C)add chemicals into the rivers and streams that neutralize the fertilizers.
D)raise crops in the rivers and streams that use the fertilizers.

Question 14

About one hundred years ago,cities began to address the problems of sewage disposal by dumping sewage into nearby rivers via storm water drainage systems.One of the results of this strategy was that

A)cities no longer needed to treat drinking water that was drawn from nearby river systems.
B)the quality of the water in the local rivers and streams greatly improved.
C)people living upriver of these cities were more likely to experience contamination of their drinking water sources.
D)people living downriver of these cities were more likely to experience contamination of their drinking water sources.

Question 15

When cities dumped sewage into natural waterways with limited capacity for dilution,

A)oxygen levels were severely lowered and most aquatic life died.
B)the extra organic matter fertilized the region,which quickly filled in with new plants.
C)the extra organic matter created fertile areas that attracted wildlife including migratory birds.
D)bacterial growth greatly increased and the sewage was safely recycled into soil.

Question 16

The Cuyahoga River in Ohio had been so polluted that it caught fire repeatedly from 1868-1969,including a 1952 fire that resulted in nearly $1.5 million in damages.Amazingly,other rivers in the United States also caught fire during this period.
These fires on the Cuyahoga River raised concerns that contributed to

A)the formation of the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.
B)the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972.
C)laws requiring the separation of sewage and storm water in cities.
D)the passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

Question 17

Lake Springfield in the city of Springfield,Illinois,is a busy place where people swim and fish.The lake also supplies drinking water for Springfield residents and cooling water to a nearby coal-fired power plant.Beautiful homes surround most of the lake.Over the past 15 years,the bacterium Leptospira,commonly found in agricultural animal waste,has been detected in this lake water,and some people have become sick.The contamination of the lake by Leptospira may best be prevented by

A)better control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution of the lake.
B)doubling the amount of fluoride added to the city's public water supply.
C)restricting swimming in the lake to only weekends.
D)requiring the power company to find another source for its cooling water.

Question 18

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is primarily the result of

A)nonpoint sources of pollutants.
B)point sources of pollutants.
C)a natural cycle related to cold ocean currents.
D)industrial pollution by oil refineries in the New Orleans region.

Question 19

Devastating earthquakes struck Haiti in January 2010,forcing the native people to live under the most primitive of conditions.Which one of the following forms of immediate aid would most likely prevent the outbreak of cholera and dysentery in refugees who were not seriously harmed by the earthquakes?

A)a large supply of clothing,dish soap,and toiletries
B)large supplies of rice and pots to cook the rice in
C)water purification systems and supplies of bottled water
D)tents and blankets to help the people get away from the sun and keep warm at night

Question 20

A well-trained member of the Peace Corps is asked to provide assistance to a village in India that suffers greatly from typhoid fever.The best long-term solution to reduce the cases of this disease in this village is to

A)encourage people to always wash their hands using antibacterial soap.
B)clearly separate their sewage from drinking water sources.
C)teach the people to cover their coughs and sneezes to avoid disease transmission.
D)increase the amount of vitamins C and E in the diet of these villagers.

Question 21

Which of the following holds the highest levels of oxygen?

A)warm water near the surface of a marsh in Everglades National Park in May
B)warm water in a mud puddle along a dirt road in Nebraska in June
C)cold flowing water in a stream in Ontario in April
D)water at the base of a waterfall that is formed from melting snow in Oregon mountains in July

Question 22

Water that comes up positive after fecal coliform testing indicates health risks most commonly associated with

A)infection by E.coli.
B)heavy metals and toxic organic molecules.
C)radon and other radioactive materials.
D)a variety of pathogens in human sewage.

Question 23

On average in the United States,every day each person produces about

A)10-20 gallons of wastewater containing about a gallon of waste.
B)50-100 gallons of wastewater containing about three gallons of waste.
C)150-200 gallons of wastewater containing less than a half gallon of waste.
D)300-400 gallons of wastewater containing about 10 gallons of waste.

Question 24

If you collect a jar of muddy water from a puddle or ditch,and then let the mud settle out over many hours,you have separated much of the mud from the water using a process very much like the

A)grit chamber in a wastewater facility.
B)primary treatment in a wastewater facility.
C)secondary treatment in a wastewater facility.
D)trickling-filter system in a wastewater facility.

Question 25

Anaerobic conditions will most likely be generated in a natural water system with

A)high levels of DO that is contaminated by pollutants with high BOD values.
B)low levels of DO that is contaminated by pollutants with high BOD values.
C)high levels of DO that is contaminated by pollutants with low BOD values.
D)low levels of DO that is contaminated by pollutants with low BOD values.

Question 26

The fecal coliform test is used to determine if the water being tested could transmit

A)malaria.
B)dysentery and cholera.
C)has high levels of heavy metal in the water being tested.
D)has high levels of H1N1 virus.

Question 27

This small residential pond in the middle of this subdivision is most likely

A)a natural pond that happened to be in the region where the homes were built.
B)part of a storm-water management system,to reduce erosion from runoff.
C)constructed specifically as a source of water for people to use to irrigate their lawns.
D)part of the sewage treatment facility that serves the homes in this region.

Question 28

The carrot peelings you send down a garbage disposal represent which of the following types of wastewater pollutant?

A)debris and grit
B)dissolved inorganic material
C)colloidal and dissolved organic material
D)particulate organic matter

Question 29

A farmer extending his farm field bulldozes the banks of a creek,greatly disturbing the creek bed and stirring up clay and humus.The higher levels of clay and humus in the water just downstream will most likely result in

A)fewer plants,fewer fish,and cloudy water.
B)more plants but fewer fish and cloudy water.
C)more plants and more fish but cloudy water.
D)more plants and more fish and clearer water.

Question 30

Biochemical oxygen demanding wastes (BOD)include

A)phosphorus and nitrogen-based fertilizers.
B)sand,silt,and clay suspended in water.
C)fish,aquatic insects,algae and other live aquatic organisms.
D)organic biodegradable material that requires oxygen to be decomposed by bacteria.

Question 31

Some people become alarmed when they learn that the water they drink contains known carcinogens.These concerned people

A)are rightly alarmed,because all municipal drinking water should be free of any carcinogens.
B)should be somewhat alarmed,but might be comforted by knowing that some of these carcinogens are only known to cause cancer in mice.
C)should know that it is the concentration,and not the presence of carcinogens,that is of greatest concern.
D)should not be concerned,because it is the combination of carcinogens,and not the presence of any one carcinogen,that poses a health risk.

Question 32

About 100 meters downstream of a raw sewage discharge outlet we would expect to find

A)cloudy water,low levels of oxygen,and few,if any,fish.
B)cloudy water,high levels of oxygen,and abundant fish.
C)clear water,low levels of oxygen,and few,if any,fish.
D)clear water,high levels of oxygen,and abundant fish.

Question 33

In general,the strictest standards with the lowest acceptable levels are the

A)criterion continuous concentration (CCC)values.
B)criteria maximum concentration (CMC)values.
C)maximum contaminant levels.
D)standards for saltwater systems.

Question 34

The method illustrated in these figures is testing water for

A)eutrophicant fertilizers.
B)bacterial contamination.
C)fungal infections.
D)oxygen levels.

Question 35

What stage of wastewater treatment would remove a condom that had improperly been flushed down a toilet?

A)grit chamber
B)activated-sludge system
C)debris removal
D)anaerobic digestion

Question 36

Homeowners living in a heavily forested region surrounding a small 3-acre pond in Missouri decided to reduce air pollution in their neighborhood.In the fall,after the oak and maple leaves had fallen,the homeowners blew all of the dead leaves into the pond.About 8 months later,in July,they noticed a large number of dead fish in the pond.What is the most likely cause of the fish kill?

A)the dead leaves released poisons that killed the fish
B)the bacteria decomposing the leaves depleted the levels of oxygen
C)bacteria fed on the leaves and then the bacteria infected the fish
D)carbon dioxide from the decaying leaves reached toxic levels and killed the fish

Question 37

Although you should not flush a used condom down a toilet,if a person did,this type of wastewater pollutant would represent

A)debris and grit.
B)dissolved inorganic material.
C)colloidal and dissolved organic material.
D)particulate organic matter.

Question 38

A new gravel road is cut into the side of a mountain just north of Anchorage,Alaska.As the snow melts in June,the fine gravel and sand of the disturbed region quickly tumbles into the bottom of nearby streams.The addition of this fine gravel and sand changes the stream by

A)decreasing the number of plants and animals that live there.
B)decreasing the number of plants but increasing the number of animals that live there.
C)increasing the number of plants but decreasing the number of animals that live there.
D)increasing the number of plants and animals that live there.

Question 39

In downtown Philadelphia,water in storm drains most likely came from

A)sinks.
B)toilets.
C)lawns.
D)bathroom showers.

Question 40

In 2007,heavy rains accompanied an outbreak of cholera in children living in war-torn Iraq.What was the likely cause of the spread of this disease?

A)pollution of waterways by raw sewage
B)outbreaks of mosquitoes
C)lack of protection from the rain caused the children to be very cold
D)high levels of petroleum products in drinking water

Question 41

Which of the following processes requires an oxygen-free environment and produces large volumes of methane that can be used for fuel?

A)pasteurization
B)composting
C)centrifugation
D)anaerobic sludge digestion

Question 42

The trickling-filter system and the activated-sludge system both require

A)high levels of oxygen to promote aerobic decomposition.
B)high levels of carbon dioxide to adjust the pH of the water for bacterial action.
C)the addition of large amounts of chlorine to kill pathogens.
D)the addition of large amounts of ammonia as nutrients to support decomposers.

Question 43

Biological nutrient removal ultimately converts most of the organic materials in wastewater into

A)oxygen,ammonia,and carbon dioxide.
B)nitrogen,water,and carbon dioxide.
C)sugars,vitamins,and minerals.
D)proteins and carbohydrates.

Question 44

The space inside the two buildings with the egg-shaped tops

A)is filled with aerobic bacteria.
B)contains large amounts of ammonia.
C)is filled with biogas.
D)contains high levels of oxygen.

Question 45

The quality of the final treated secondary wastewater effluent from a modern treatment plant is typically

A)lower in organic and nutrient content than the body of water into which it is discharged.
B)lower in organic content but higher in nutrient content than the body of water into which it is discharged.
C)higher in organic and nutrient content than the body of water into which it is discharged.
D)higher in organic content but lower in nutrient content than the body of water into which it is discharged.

Question 46

Which of the following should not be flushed down the drain in a home with a septic tank?

A)human toilet wastes
B)vegetable fragments,organic detergents
C)toilet paper and other paper fragments
D)large amounts of bleach,feminine hygiene products,diapers,grease,and condoms

Question 47

The main difference between natural eutrophication and damaging cultural eutrophication is that in cultural eutrophication,the

A)speed of nutrient enrichment is faster.
B)oxygen levels tend to be higher.
C)water tends to be clearer.
D)submerged aquatic vegetation is completely suppressed.

Question 48

What do wastewater treatment facilities primarily depend upon for the breakdown of pathogenic organisms and organic materials in wastewater?

A)lots of chlorine bleach
B)decomposers and detritus feeders
C)the neutralizing effects of high levels of oxygen
D)large amounts of antibiotics and disinfecting chemicals

Question 49

In a small pond,which averages about 6 feet deep or less,eutrophication typically produces

A)low levels of dissolved oxygen and abundant amounts of submerged aquatic vegetation.
B)low levels of dissolved oxygen and no submerged aquatic vegetation.
C)high levels of dissolved oxygen and abundant amounts of submerged aquatic vegetation.
D)high levels of dissolved oxygen and no submerged aquatic vegetation.

Question 50

The objective of biological nutrient removal is to

A)reduce cultural eutrophication.
B)increase the BOD of the wastewater discharge into freshwater systems.
C)eliminate living bacteria in the wastewater discharge.
D)reduce the amount of grit and debris in wastewater.

Question 51

None of the three most popular methods for treating sludge and converting it into fertilizer is able to produce a final treated product that is

A)biodegradable.
B)sterile.
C)able to be used as a fertilizer.
D)free of heavy metals and non-biodegradable toxins.

Question 52

People with home septic systems often flush several cups of a powdered substance down their toilets every month or two to keep their systems healthy.These powdered substances most likely contain

A)bacteria and enzymes that help break down wastes.
B)chlorine and other disinfectants that help to prevent soil contamination.
C)chemicals that bind to heavy metals to keep them from leaching into the soil.
D)acids that help to clean the insides of the walls of the pipes and septic tank.

Question 53

A lake that averages 20 feet of water depth experiences extreme eutrophication.In this lake,we would expect to find

A)abundant fish,high oxygen levels,and very clear water.
B)abundant fish,high oxygen levels,but very cloudy water.
C)fewer fish than usual,lower oxygen levels,and very clear water.
D)some dead fish,low numbers of living fish,low oxygen levels,and very cloudy water.

Question 54

For more than 60 years,the city of Milwaukee,Wisconsin,has been selling its processed and sterile sludge as Milorganite® using the process of

A)pasteurization.
B)composting.
C)centrifugation.
D)anaerobic digestion.

Question 55

Which one of the following is not used to disinfect treated wastewater ready to be released into natural waterways?

A)chlorine gas
B)ammonia
C)ultraviolet light
D)ozone

Question 56

Composting toilet systems require

A)aerobic bacteria.
B)anaerobic bacteria.
C)large fungal colonies.
D)large volumes of water.

Question 57

Submerged aquatic vegetation will most likely thrive when water clarity is

A)low and dissolved nutrients are high.
B)low and dissolved nutrients are low.
C)high and dissolved nutrients are high.
D)high and dissolved nutrients are low.

Question 58

Although the use of wastewater effluents for irrigation can be very beneficial,it is essential that the effluents are

A)treated and free of pathogens.
B)mixed in with large amounts of phosphorus.
C)mixed in with large amounts of calcium carbonate.
D)not used in regions contacted by humans.

Question 59

In the region surrounding Orlando,Florida,effluent produced by secondary wastewater treatment is

A)routed through special oxidizing chambers before entering the St.Johns River system.
B)routed through wetlands before entering the St.Johns River system.
C)used to produce drinking water for the city of Orlando.
D)used for livestock drinking water in the nearby farms.

Question 60

During a spring flood,a small lake receives a large influx of nutrients.We would expect that in this lake,the growth of phytoplankton will

A)decrease and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will decrease.
B)decrease and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will increase.
C)increase and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will decrease.
D)increase and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will increase.

Question 61

Which of the following regions still struggles with severe cultural eutrophication?

A)Lake Michigan
B)water around the Florida Keys
C)Lake Washington,near Seattle
D)Chesapeake Bay

Question 62

According to the Environmental Protection Agency,the greatest current water-pollution challenge in the United States is

A)sewage-treatment effluent.
B)agricultural runoff.
C)fluids released from oil wells.
D)discharge of substances from factories.

Question 63

A small neighborhood pond averaging about 3 meters in depth reveals all the signs of cultural eutrophication,most likely from runoff of lawn fertilizers used by the residents.The water is very cloudy and oxygen levels remain very low,resulting in few fish that can survive.To provide some opportunities for the neighborhood kids to regularly catch fish,the neighborhood association decides to purchase,install,and run a large water fountain in the middle of the pond.
How could this water fountain help address the eutrophication of this pond? The water fountain will

A)kill most of the algae in the pond.
B)encourage the growth of submerged vegetation.
C)increase the oxygen levels of the pond.
D)remove nutrients from the pond.

Question 64

A small neighborhood pond averaging about 3 meters in depth reveals all the signs of cultural eutrophication,most likely from runoff of lawn fertilizers used by the residents.The water is very cloudy and oxygen levels remain very low,resulting in few fish that can survive.To provide some opportunities for the neighborhood kids to regularly catch fish,the neighborhood association decides to purchase,install,and run a large water fountain in the middle of the pond.
Instead of addressing the symptoms of cultural eutrophication,the neighborhood association could address the cause of the problem by

A)treating the pond with copper sulfate.
B)aerating the pond with underwater pipes.
C)reducing the use of lawn fertilizers.
D)draining the pond every few years.

Question 65

Eutrophication of Lake Washington near Seattle was largely addressed by limiting levels of

A)phosphate from nonpoint source discharges of pollution.
B)phosphate from point source discharges of pollution.
C)nitrates from nonpoint source discharges of pollution.
D)nitrates from point source discharges of pollution.

Question 66

Duckweed is a small,flowering plant that floats at the water's surface.It tends to grow best when nutrient levels are high.When duckweed is abundant,it forms tight mats that cover the surface of ponds and lakes.Consider a situation in which spring storms bring an influx of water and nutrients into a small 4-acre pond,and duckweed populations suddenly explode.Duckweed covers nearly all the surface of the pond,but is regularly washed over the spillway only to be replaced rapidly by the growth of new duckweed plants.
In this pond,experiencing cultural eutrophication,the growth of this duckweed will

A)add nutrients to the pond and encourage the growth of phytoplankton.
B)remove nutrients from the pond and encourage the growth of phytoplankton.
C)add nutrients to the pond and slow the growth of phytoplankton.
D)remove nutrients from the pond and slow the growth of phytoplankton.

Question 67

The EPA has recently set a strict policy of monitoring the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)of nutrients in order to reverse eutrophication in

A)the Mississippi River.
B)Everglades National Park.
C)Lake Michigan.
D)Chesapeake Bay.

Question 68

Which of the following is one of the most common factors contributing to cultural eutrophication of lakes near large cities?

A)runoff from parking lots
B)sewage-treatment effluent
C)using lake water for cooling coal-fired power plants
D)the use of gasoline engines on boats

Question 69

One of the most common sources of phosphate pollution that has led to eutrophication has resulted from the use of

A)dishwashing detergents.
B)gasoline additives.
C)toothpastes.
D)artificial sweeteners.

Question 70

The EPA's efforts to enforce the Clean Water Act for CAFOs,mountaintop removal mining,and storm water discharges have been opposed by

A)political interests supporting the industries affected by regulation.
B)fishing organizations.
C)supporters of the Endangered Species Act.
D)the CDC on the grounds that regulation will increase water-borne diseases.

Question 71

In 1994,because of concerns about cultural eutrophication,laundry detergent manufacturers voluntarily stopped producing detergents that contained

A)artificial dyes.
B)phosphates.
C)chlorine.
D)nitrogen

Question 72

Duckweed is a small,flowering plant that floats at the water's surface.It tends to grow best when nutrient levels are high.When duckweed is abundant,it forms tight mats that cover the surface of ponds and lakes.Consider a situation in which spring storms bring an influx of water and nutrients into a small 4-acre pond,and duckweed populations suddenly explode.Duckweed covers nearly all the surface of the pond,but is regularly washed over the spillway only to be replaced rapidly by the growth of new duckweed plants.
While the duckweed continues to cover the water's surface of this pond undergoing eutrophication,it is most likely that the water clarity will

A)be high and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will increase.
B)be high but the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will decrease.
C)decrease and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will increase.
D)decrease and the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation will decrease.

Question 73

Which one of the following represents a way to reduce point-source pollution contributing to cultural eutrophication?

A)increase the use of vegetated waterways
B)increase the use of contour farming and crop rotation
C)remove nutrients from sewage-treatment effluents
D)include runoff detention ponds in subdivisions

Question 74

As a new member of your city council,your small town realizes that the old wastewater treatment facility is resulting in unacceptable levels of cultural eutrophication.Relying upon provisions of the 1987 Water Quality Act,you suggest that the best way for your town to address this problem is to

A)merge the storm water and sanitary sewer systems to dilute the nutrients your town produces.
B)apply for grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to pay for herbicides to control phytoplankton growth.
C)seek a low-interest loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to pay for a new wastewater treatment facility.
D)apply for a grant from the federal Eutrophication Services Administration that will pay for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility.

Question 75

The ultimate responsibility for public policy legislation controlling the waters of the United States is the

A)EPA.
B)U)S.Congress.
C)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
D)United States Geological Services.

Question 76

Several students are discussing the role of governments and their ability to address major problems.With your experiences in environmental science,you speak up and note that one way the U.S.federal government has impacted our lives is by passing landmark legislation dramatically improving the quality of natural waterways.In fact,in 1972,one of the most important environmental laws ever passed was the

A)Lakes,Rivers,and Streams Act.
B)Water Pollution Control Act.
C)Rivers and Harbors Act.
D)Clean Water Act.

Question 77

The water conditions indicated in this figure reveal a body of water that most likely has

A)high levels of nutrients and high levels of oxygen.
B)low levels of nutrients and low levels of oxygen.
C)high levels of nutrients and low levels of oxygen.
D)low levels of nutrients and high levels of oxygen.

Question 78

Harmful algal blooms appear to be linked to unusually high levels of nutrient pollution.Which of the following is the most likely source of nutrient pollution in a river drainage system associated with an algal bloom?

A)a coal-fired power plant
B)a nuclear power plant
C)chicken and hog farms
D)a large shopping mall