Environmental Science Water Resources

Question 1

What percentage of Earth's water is freshwater available for human use (in rivers, lakes, and accessible groundwater)?

Accepted Answer

About 1%

Answer

About 70%

Answer

About 30%

Answer

About 10%

Question 2

Which U.S. law establishes the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into navigable waters?

Accepted Answer

Clean Water Act

Answer

Safe Drinking Water Act

Answer

Rivers and Harbors Act

Answer

Water Resources Development Act

Question 3

What is an aquifer?

Accepted Answer

A layer of permeable rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater

Answer

A type of water treatment plant

Answer

A surface water reservoir

Answer

A water filtration membrane

Question 4

What is the primary cause of saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater aquifers?

Accepted Answer

Over-pumping of groundwater

Answer

Storm surges during hurricanes

Answer

Increased rainfall

Answer

Sea turtle migrations

Question 5

Which watershed management concern arises when agricultural irrigation water evaporates, leaving minerals behind in soil?

Accepted Answer

Salinization

Answer

Eutrophication

Answer

Sedimentation

Answer

Turbidity

Question 6

What does BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) measure in water quality assessment?

Accepted Answer

The amount of oxygen consumed by microbes decomposing organic matter

Answer

The amount of dissolved oxygen in water

Answer

The biological diversity of a water body

Answer

The concentration of nitrogen compounds