Deck 16: Freshwater Resources Toilet to Tap

Question 1

Refer to Infographic 2.Explain the steps and processes in the water cycle as water moves from the ocean to the atmosphere to land and back to the ocean.

Answer 1

Water in the ocean is heated by solar energy,causing it to evaporate.As this water rises and cools,it condenses over land to form clouds.This cloud water eventually falls back to Earth as precipitation.On the Earth's surface,precipitated water can travel down a couple of paths.If it soaks into the ground,or infiltrates,it can enter the groundwater supply,which will eventually bring it back to the ocean.Also,infiltrated water can be absorbed by plants,transpired through them,and released back to the atmosphere.If water lands on the surface and flows over the surface rather than infiltrating,it becomes runoff and can flow into a lake,river,or other body of water,eventually making its way back to the ocean.On the surface or from any body of water,water can evaporate,condensate,and then re-precipitate.

Question 2

What is one important quality of an aquifer?

A)Bacteria and other contaminants are filtered out of the water by rocks and soil.
B)The water supply is replenished through infiltration of rain and snowmelt.
C)It is a source of potable water.
D)Individual homes can access the water supply by digging wells into the aquifer.
E)All of these answer choices are important qualities of aquifers.

Answer 2

All of these answer choices are important qualities of aquifers.

Question 3

Out of all of the water on Earth,how much is usable by humans?

A)50%
B)10%
C)5%
D)1%
E)less than 1%

Answer 3

less than 1%

Question 4

Refer to Infographic 2.Explain how salty ocean water can be recycled to become usable freshwater.

Question 5

Water that has a low level of dissolved ions in it can be found in ____________.

A)glaciers
B)streams
C)lakes
D)groundwater
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 6

The action by which plant roots pull water from the soil and then release some of it into the atmosphere is known as _______________.

A)evaporation
B)transpiration
C)evapotranspiration
D)infiltration
E)condensation

Question 7

Refer to Infographic 1.Which of the following contains the most surface freshwater?

A)groundwater
B)glaciers and ice caps
C)soil moisture
D)rivers
E)lakes

Question 8

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Ocean water is toxic to humans in large doses.
B)Each region around the world faces unique water challenges.
C)Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada Mountain could increase as a result of climate change.
D)Up to 75% of the human body consists of water.
E)Nearly 80% of freshwater on the planet is trapped in ice caps at the poles and on glaciers.

Question 9

The largest potential source of freshwater is found in ________________.

A)groundwater
B)lakes
C)oceans
D)polar ice caps and glaciers
E)rivers

Question 10

Of all the freshwater on the Earth,approximately ________________ is trapped as ice.

A)10%
B)80%
C)50%
D)8%
E)60%

Question 11

An aquifer that is separated by impermeable rock is called a(n)_____________ aquifer.

A)confined
B)unconfirmed
C)confirmed
D)unconfined
E)nonporous

Question 12

Refer to Infographic 1.Even though the planet is 75% water,only _________ of this water is freshwater.

A)10%
B)20%
C)less than 1/100th of 1%
D)3%
E)5%

Question 13

Which of the following contribute to the formation of precipitation?

A)cold air in the upper atmosphere
B)solar energy
C)the movement of groundwater
D)evaporation
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 14

Which of the following would reduce the amount of infiltration of water into an aquifer?

A)paved roads
B)monoculture lawns
C)cement driveways
D)buildings
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 15

The top of a rain-saturated region that may rise or fall seasonally is called the _____________.

A)unconfined aquifer
B)confined aquifer
C)water table
D)infiltrator
E)porous rock

Question 16

Predict whether the water table would be higher or lower in New Mexico at the height of summer.

A)higher
B)lower

Question 17

Gravity "powers" all of the following processes of the hydrological cycle EXCEPT ________________.

A)runoff
B)infiltration
C)precipitation
D)transpiration
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 18

Why is deforestation a problem in regard to the Earth's freshwater supply?

Question 19

Groundwater in aquifers is naturally replenished by _____________.

A)runoff
B)transpiration
C)infiltration
D)seepage from sewers
E)evaporation

Question 20

What is an aquifer?

A)an area in which saltwater intrudes on freshwater supplies
B)a species of conifer that can live underwater
C)an underground region of permeable soil or rock saturated with water
D)the very top region of an underground water reservoir
E)a human-made underground water reservoir system

Question 21

Which of the following countries has the greatest domestic water use per capita?

A)United States
B)Australia
C)Canada
D)China
E)France

Question 22

What is a consequence of too much water being removed from an aquifer?

A)saltwater intrusion
B)dry wells
C)cones of depression
D)lowered water table levels
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 23

Problems associated with poor sanitation include _______________.

A)disease transmission
B)exposure to toxins
C)dehydration
D)premature death
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 24

Water scarcity can lead to _______________.

A)a short life span
B)malnutrition
C)conflict over water rights
D)cultural turmoil
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 25

How might global warming and climate change affect water scarcity in the future?

Question 26

What happens when the water table drops below sea level in aquifers near the ocean?

A)saltwater intrusion
B)seawater conversion to freshwater
C)freshwater intrusion
D)contamination of the entire aquifer with saltwater
E)There is no consequence to this.

Question 27

Which practice requires the greatest amount of water input?

A)flushing the toilet
B)taking a shower
C)making a cotton T-shirt
D)washing dishes
E)producing 1 pound of beef

Question 28

Which statement about water use is INCORRECT?

A)The United Nations estimates that 2.8 billion people lack sufficient access to clean water.
B)As the population increases,water scarcity and sanitation issues will also increase.
C)Because of their unsustainable practices,per capita water use in developing countries is far greater than in developed nations.
D)In some areas of the world,there is enough water,but people do not have enough money to purchase or dig wells to access it.
E)Middle Eastern nations are among the most water-stressed countries in the world.

Question 29

In the Southwestern United States,the use of water is approaching or exceeding sustainable limits.This is a good example of _______________.

A)economic water scarcity
B)physical water scarcity
C)inadequate sanitation
D)All of these answer choices are correct.
E)None of these answer choices are correct.

Question 30

Compare and contrast physical and economic water scarcity.How might solutions to water scarcity differ for these two causes?

Question 31

Globally,what is the biggest user of freshwater?

A)agriculture
B)industry
C)domestic
D)mining
E)thermoelectric power plants

Question 32

Which of the following lists the path of water correctly?

A)surface → soil → water table → aquifer
B)surface → saturated zone → soil → aquifer → water table
C)surface → water table → soil
D)lake → soil → aquifer → water table
E)infiltration → soil → aquifer → water table

Question 33

How did the Orange County Water District solve the problem of saltwater intrusion into unconfined coastal aquifers?

A)It built a dam to block the seepage of saltwater into the aquifers.
B)It stopped using those aquifers as public water supplies.
C)It installed desalination plants to purify the water coming out of the aquifers.
D)It began to pump highly treated sewage wastewater into infiltrated wells.
E)It built sea walls along coastal areas to keep out advancing waves.

Question 34

What are some potential impacts of global warming on aquifers?

Question 35

What is the most likely reason that more communities do not use the potable water stored in confined aquifers?

A)It is usually contaminated with salt water.
B)It is impossible to access.
C)Bacteria are not filtered out of this water.
D)It is too expensive to reach and pump out.
E)Most aquifers are unconfined.

Question 36

What is one way you can help protect,or advise others in order to protect,your local aquifer?

Question 37

Refer to Infographic 3.Explain how the deeper well to the larger house affects the water supply to each of the smaller houses.

Question 38

Not having access to enough clean water supplies is known as _______________.

A)drought
B)freshwater debt
C)groundwater depletion
D)water scarcity
E)none of these answers

Question 39

Refer to Infographic 3.Explain the relationships between the saturated and unsaturated zones,precipitation and infiltration,and the water table.

Question 40

Which of the following continents has the greatest water scarcity?

A)North America
B)South America
C)Africa
D)Antarctica
E)Europe

Question 41

To ensure an ongoing water source,communities construct _____________,which in turn create ______________.

A)wetland sewage filtration systems; reservoirs
B)reservoirs; aquifers
C)dams; reservoirs
D)water tables; aquifers
E)reverse osmosis plants; dams

Question 42

Which of the following areas has the lowest percentage of its population with access to improved sanitation?

A)rural Latin America
B)urban East Asia
C)rural sub-Saharan Africa
D)urban South-Central Asia
E)None of these answer choices are correct.

Question 43

How do traditional wastewater treatment plants differ from wastewater treatment plants that mimic nature?

Question 44

What could be some of the potential problems related to using wastewater treatment plants that mimic nature in colder environments?

Question 45

When treatment marshes are used by sewage treatment facilities to treat wastewater,the treatment marsh is acting as a form of ____________ treatment.

A) primary
B)secondary
C)tertiary
D)potable
E)clarifier

Question 46

Which of the water projects discussed in this chapter was designed to produce potable water?

A)Arcata
B)Orange County
C)Three Gorges Dam
D)both a and b
E)none of these answers

Question 47

While dams are important,they lose large amounts of water every day due to _____________.

A)infiltration
B)evaporation
C)runoff
D)transpiration
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 48

To make wastewater ___________,or clean enough for consumption,it is put through a process called reverse osmosis.

A)sanitary
B)desalinated
C)effluent
D)intrusive
E)potable

Question 49

Many countries have constructed dams and reservoirs as a method to solve water shortages.What are some of the problems associated with dams and reservoirs?

Question 50

Desalination,the process that removes ________________ from water,is _______________.

A)bacteria; cheap
B)salt and other minerals; expensive
C)pollution; a biomimicry process
D)sewage; mandated by the federal government
E)organic matter; facilitated by reverse osmosis

Question 51

Our per capita use of water is known as our ________________.

A)water footprint
B)ecological footprint
C)water scarcity
D)aquifer
E)ecosystem service

Question 52

__________ treatment is a physical process that removes large particles with a screen.

A) Primary
B)Secondary
C)Tertiary
D)Potable
E)Clarifier

Question 53

In January 2008,Orange County implemented the Groundwater Replenishment System,which reclaimed water that normally would have been wasted as ____________.

A)evaporation
B)runoff
C)ocean
D)landfill

Question 54

_____________ treatment is a biological process that uses microorganisms to break down organic matter.

A) Primary
B)Secondary
C)Tertiary
D)Potable
E)Clarifier

Question 55

Wetland filtration systems differ from traditional high-tech filtration systems in that _____________.

A)they create water that is not potable
B)they depend on nature to help purify sewage
C)they require a higher energy input than high-tech methods
D)none of these answers
E)they both create water that is not potable and depend on nature to help purify sewage

Question 56

Why are two sets of marshes used in the Arcata wetland sewage treatment system?

Question 57

One of the first steps in the Orange County project for cleaning up water supplies relied upon _______________.

A)wetlands
B)microfiltration
C)reverse osmosis
D)UV exposure
E)none of these answers

Question 58

Final treatment of wastewater in the United States normally involves treatment with ___________ to make it safe.

A)alcohol
B)radon
C)nitrogen
D)antibiotics
E)chlorine

Question 59

One of the ways wastewater in Orange County is treated is by using reverse osmosis,UV light,and hydrogen peroxide.What does each process do in the treatment of wastewater?

Question 60

Refer to Infographic 8.Which of the following represents the largest single use of water in a typical U.S.household?

A)leaks
B)baths
C)showering
D)washing clothes
E)toilets

Question 61

What uses the greatest percentage of water in a U.S.household?

A)showering
B)washing clothes
C)flushing the toilet
D)leaks

Question 62

Which statement about recycled water projects is true?

A)Public perception of recycled water projects is,for the majority,negative.
B)Public perception of recycled water projects depends on how plagued a community is by water-scarcity issues.
C)When it comes to citizens' understanding,the "toilet to tap" phrase is the best explanation of recycled water projects.
D)Most recycled water projects are unsuccessful.
E)A statewide survey in Arizona,a drought-stricken state,found that residents did not support recycled water projects.

Question 63

How many more gallons of water does it take to produce a pair of blue jeans than a cotton T-shirt?

A)2,100
B)1,440
C)660
D)350

Question 64

We can save the most water by using which type of electricity production?

A)nuclear energy
B)coal fired power plants
C)hydroelectric energy

Question 65

Your job is to help households improve water conservation.What are some of the recommendations you would make?

Question 66

Explain why it is cheaper to conserve water than it is to purify it or build a dam.

Question 67

Refer to the table.List two conservation strategies that individuals can use to reduce their water use,and provide examples.Why are small changes important?

Question 68

One recommendation you can make to businesses in your city to improve infiltration to recharge the local aquifer is

A)withdrawing more water for industry use.
B)constructing a new parking lot using traditional asphalt.
C)planting a rain garden in the front of the building.
D)All of these will improve infiltration of the aquifer.

Question 69

Switching to water-saving irrigation methods not only saves water but also _______________.

A)limits water loss to evaporation
B)reduces runoff
C)protects surface water
D)prevents soil salinization
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 70

Currently,several states are using recycled water for nonpotable uses,including _______________.

A)irrigating landscapes
B)irrigating crops
C)filling fountains
D)flushing toilets
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 71

To conserve the most water,people should eat less

A)corn.
B)bread.
C)pork.
D)beef.

Question 72

Refer to the table.Explain how using less energy saves water.

Question 73

How much less water do newer Energy Star washing machines use compared with older models?

A)10%
B)25%
C)50%
D)75%
E)90%

Question 74

How much water could be saved in gallons per minute if you use a low-flow faucet instead of a traditional faucet?

A)5
B)1.5
C)4.5
D)3.5
E)6

Question 75

Globally,the biggest use of freshwater is from

A)domestic water use.
B)agricultural irrigation.
C)industrial use for thermoelectric plants.
D)These all use the same amounts of freshwater.

Question 76

As part of your job,you have to know the distribution of water available on Earth.You report that of the available freshwater,only ___% is available for use by humans.

A)10
B)1
C)0.01
D)0.001

Question 77

You are working in Africa to help developing nations with water scarcity.To decrease the number of people dying each day from waterborne diseases,you propose a program which will

A)install pit latrines away from water sources.
B)build a treatment plant for decontamination of waste water.
C)support the local community to improve water management.
D)these are all parts of your program which would decrease waterborne diseases.

Question 78

Explain how the choice of crops or ornamental plants to plant can help conserve water.

Question 79

You are asked to talk to a school group about the importance of water conservation.Which of the following would not be a conservation method you could talk about?

A)Farmers using irrigation methods to limit loss to evaporation and runoff.
B)Choosing to plant crops more suited to the environment they are growing in.
C)Reducing use of our resources and being aware of our consumer choices.
D)All of these answer choices are ways in which we can conserve water.

Question 80

Which of the following is a cheap way to maintain water supplies?

A)not waste so much water
B)use water-saving irrigation methods
C)create groundwater replenishment systems
D)install high-tech water filtration systems
E)both not waste so much water and use water-saving irrigation methods