A home gets its water from the public supply

A home gets its water from the public supply. Which of the following would be the best way for the homeowner to obtain a water-quality report?

Purchase a home sampling kit on the Internet Record observations made by smelling and tasting the tap water Request data from the local water treatment facility Ask neighbors for a sample of their water to compare

Question 2 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following is a common source of groundwater pollution?

Oil dumping and oil spills Tossing candy bar wrappers into a stream Flushing household chemicals down the toilet Leaking storage containers outside factories

Question 3 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following is a major cause of waterborne diseases?

Bacteria Particulates Dissolved gases Sediments

Question 4 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which organization is responsible for enforcing clean-water legislation governing water use and quality in the Everglades?

Everglades Police Agency Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Agency Florida Waterway Patrol

Question 5 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following is caused by pollutants from farm runoff, feedlots, or septic tanks?

Increased fecal coliform Low dissolved oxygen Temperatures greater than 45°C pH below 6.5

Question 6 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

How would a person most likely become ill from overly acidic water?

The water may contain toxic heavy metals. Low pH is associated with cancer in newborns. Low pH can make water cloudy with suspended particles. There are no ill effects of acidity in water.

Question 7 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following is an action that people in Florida could take to help decrease the turbidity of coastal waters?

Build dams along rivers leading to the coast Reduce erosion by planting trees along the shore Remove photosynthesizing plants from coastal waters Build housing developments on land that borders water bodies

Question 8 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following would most likely be considered nonpoint source pollution?

Animal waste from a local horse farm seeping into the ground Increased turbidity from erosion A car repair shop dumping used oil in the ground A leaky underground oil tank

Question 9 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following is an indicator of good water quality?

High levels of nitrates High levels of phosphates Zero turbidity All of the above

Question 10 (Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)

 

Which of the following is typically associated with a reduction in photosynthesizing plants in a water supply?

An increase in dissolved oxygen A decrease in dissolved oxygen An increase in phosphates A decrease in phosphates

Question 11 (Essay Worth 5 points)

 

<object:standard:la.910.2.2.3>Summarize your findings from the Water Quality Lab. Be sure to include your observations and the sources of each water-quality issue you investigated.

 

Question 12 (Essay Worth 5 points)

 

<object:standard:sc.912.n.1.1; ma.912.s.3.2=””>Dan took three samples of water from the creek behind his house once a month for the last six months. He tested the water and reported the results in the following data table.

Water Quality Indicator Test Results
Dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen levels in the last three months decreased rapidly.
Fecal coliform Fecal coliform ranges from a low of 89 colonies per liter to 102 colonies per liter over the six-month period.
Nitrates Nitrate levels ranged from 6 to 7 mg/L.
Phosphates Phosphate levels were between 0.01 mg/L and 0.3 mg/L.
pH The average pH was 6.9.
Turbidity The water was clear in the first few months, but it became increasingly cloudy over time.

Which water-quality indicators would be of concern in this situation? Explain your response. Be sure to discuss any implications these water-quality indicators could have on the environment and human health.