Name: __________________________________ Period: ____________________ Date: _____________
Environmental Science Study Guide
Water and Water Pollution
Vocabulary
Understand and be able to apply each of these terms.
1. Hydrologic Cycle –
2. Water Table –
3. Water scarcity –
4. Aquifer 5. Desalination –
6. Watershed –
7. Water Pollution 8. Sediment Pollution –
9. Impaired waters –
10. Gyre -
Critical Thinking
Be able to read, analyze, and give complete answers to questions like these.
1. Label each of these steps of the hydrologic cycle with the appropriate term.
a. Water passes through a plant and is released through its leaves.
______________
b. Water returns to the Earth as snow, ice, or rain.
______________
c. Water soaks into the soil.
______________
d. Heat from the sun converts liquid water to water vapor.
______________
e. Water moves down a surface, eventually draining into a river, lake, etc.
______________
2. Most of the water in the world is (saltwater / freshwater).
3. Most of the fresh water is found in __________________ and in _____________________.
4. Give an example of a country experiencing water scarcity or stress due to its arid ecosystem. Give
another example due to population density.
Environmental Science Worksheets and Resources
http://www.aurumscience.com
Page 1
5. Label the zone of aeration, zone of saturation, and water table on this diagram.
6. Explain the difference between water withdrawal and consumption.
7. When is an aquifer considered a confined aquifer? Where does the water come from that fills confined
aquifers?
8. Subsidence, saltwater intrusion, and a cone of depression are all possible outcomes of overwithdrawal of
groundwater. Explain how each could impact people who have dug wells to access the groundwater.
9. Why are the testing standards for tap water and bottled water so different? Which agency regulates
each? Which is more strict?
10. You are looking at a selection of bottled water in a grocery store. Your choices are listed below. What
is the difference between each?
a. Artesian water –
b. Distilled water c. Purified water –
d. Spring water –
11. A family is looking to conserve water in their home. What is probably their biggest domestic use of
water?
12. What is eutrophication, and how does it affect water? What form of pollution causes it?
13. A drainage pipe is constructed to release raw sewage into a river. What impact would this pollution
have on the levels of dissolved oxygen immediately downstream of the pipe? Explain why this would
happen.
14. What is the difference between point and non-point source pollution? Give an example of each.
15. What event sparked the public demand that eventually led to the passage of the Clean Water Act of
1977? What specific changes occurred as a result of this law?
16. What is PCB pollution, and why is it such a human health concern?
17. What is the largest source of oil pollution in the ocean?
18. Oil spills are especially damaging to ecosystems because the resulting pollution is so concentrated. Give
two examples of specific impacts the oil has on animal life.
19. What disaster led to the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990? How must oil tankers be constructed
differently now?
20. What is the largest (by volume) oil spill ever to occur in the United States?
21. Plastic is a non-degradable form of pollution. What actually happens to it in the ocean? Where does it
end up?
22. Describe what happens in each of these steps in the wastewater treatment process:
a. Screening –
b. Primary Treatment –
c. Secondary Treatment –
d. Tertiary Treatment –