Environmental Science Notes Outline
1.
What is the hydrologic cycle ?
2.
Define each of these steps in the hydrologic cycle: a.
Evaporation – b.
Transpiration – c.
Condensation – d.
Precipitation – e.
Runoff – f.
Infiltration –
3.
Fill out the following tables of water distribution on Earth:
Percent Type of
Water
Saltwater
Freshwater
Total
Freshwater
Frozen
Groundwater
Surface Water
Percent
Unit 8: Water Pollution
4.
Define water withdrawal –
5.
Define water consumption –
6.
What makes up the majority of water withdrawal and consumption?
Surface
Freshwater
Lakes
Soil Moisture
Water Vapor
Percent
Rivers
Living
Organisms aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 1

Environmental Science Notes Outline
7.
How many bathtubs full of water does it take to produce the following? a.
A cup of coffee – b.
A bottle of coke – c.
A loaf of bread – d.
A dozen eggs – e.
1 lb of cheese –
8.
List some advantages of withdrawing groundwater: f.
A hamburger – g.
A t-shirt – h.
Blue jeans – i.
A small car – j.
A medium sized house –
9.
List some disadvantages of withdrawing groundwater:
Unit 8: Water Pollution aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 2

Environmental Science Notes Outline Unit 8: Water Pollution
10.
What does it mean to be experiencing water scarcity ?
11.
Label the zone of aeration, zone of saturation, and water table on the figure below.
12.
What is an aquifer?
a.
What makes an aquifer confined?
13.
Define each of these consequences of overconsumption: b.
Where are aquifers refilled? a.
Cone of depression – b.
Saltwater intrusion – c.
Subsidence –
14.
List some ways groundwater depletion could be prevented:
15.
List some ways groundwater depletion could be controlled: aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 3

Environmental Science Notes Outline
16.
List some ways that irrigation water waste could be reduced:
17.
What is desalination ? a.
What is the downside of using this as a source of fresh water?
18.
Who regulates tap water? a.
What law establishes drinking water standards?
19.
Who regulates bottled water?
20.
Define each of these classifications of bottled water: a.
Artesian – b.
Distilled – c.
Purified – d.
Spring –
21.
What is the single biggest domestic use of fresh water?
Unit 8: Water Pollution
22.
List some ways that overall water waste could be reduced:
23.
List some ways that individuals (such as yourself) could help prevent wasting water: aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 4

Environmental Science Notes Outline Unit 8: Water Pollution
Water Pollution
24.
Define water pollution –
25.
What is the most common source of nutrient pollution?
a.
What is the effect of excess nutrients in water?
26.
Explain how an algae bloom can actually reduce the dissolved oxygen level of a body of water.
27.
What is biological oxygen demand (BOD) a measurement of? a.
What food source can cause an increase in BOD?
28.
Give an example of nonpoint source pollution.
29.
Give an example of point source pollution .
30.
What is a watershed ?
31.
What did the Clean Water Act of 1977 change about water pollution?
32.
Define these causes of impaired waters: a.
What are impaired waters ? a.
Pathogens – b.
Oxygen-depleting pollution – aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 5

Environmental Science Notes Outline Unit 8: Water Pollution c.
PCBs – d.
Sediment Pollution –
33.
List ways that groundwater pollution could be prevented:
34.
List ways that groundwater pollution could be cleaned up: e.
Acid pollution –
35.
What are the two biggest sources of pollution in the ocean?
36.
List the biggest sources of oil in the ocean. Which is the largest? a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
37.
What changes did the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 make following the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
38.
What was the worst oil spill?
39.
Plastic is non-degradable. What does this mean?
40.
Where does plastic pollution in the ocean end up? aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 6

Environmental Science Notes Outline
41.
List ways that coastal water pollution could be prevented:
42.
List ways that coastal water pollution could be cleaned:
Water Treatment
43.
In the waste treatment process, what does screening do?
44.
What happens during primary treatment of sewage?
Unit 8: Water Pollution a.
Where does the collected sludge go?
45.
How does secondary treatment remove additional organic matter from sewage?
46.
What contaminant is removed by tertiary treatment ? aurumscience.com/environmental/10_water/lecture.html 7