Cameron Mitchell

Freshwater Pollution Guided Notes

Holt Environmental Science Section 5.2, pg. 131
1.What is water pollution?
Water pollution is the introduction of chemical, physical, or
biological agents into water that degrades the waters quality.

2.What are the major causes of water pollution?

Pathogens, organic matter, organic chemicals, inorganic
materials, toxic materials, physical agents and radioactive
waste.

3.What is point pollution? Provide one example.

Pollution discharged from a single source ex. From a Factory

4.What is nonpoint pollution? Provide one

example.
Pollution coming from many sources rather than one specific
site ex. Runof

5.Why is nonpoint pollution a more serious

problem?
It is harder to treat many pollution sites rather than just one.

6.

What is sludge and

how do we deal with it?

Sludge is the solid material left over after treatment, and is toxic.
Sludge is mainly incinerated.

7.What are pathogens? List some examples.

Pathogens are disease causing organisms. ex. Bacteria, viruses,
and parasites

8.How can biological magnification affect

polluted aquatic ecosystems?
It spreads throughout the ecosystems afecting almost
everything there.

9.What is thermal pollution and why is it a

problem?

Excessive amounts of heat added to water is called thermal

pollution and can kill many fish and other living things.

10. What is the Clean Water Act? When was it

passed?
The clean water act had the goal of making surface water clean
enough to fish and swim.

11. Why will groundwater pollution be a longlasting problem?

Because it is hard to decontaminate aquifers so deep in the
ground, and also groundwater takes a long time to recharge.

12. Where does most bottled water come

from?
Tap water that has been filtered and changed with chemicals.