MIEH 300: Protecting Water Quality - Challenges and Solutions
uses for water - correct answer ✔✔-Agriculture to grow plants and raise animals
-Hydroelectric plant
-for cooling in thermoelectric and nuclear power plants
-Mining & industry
-to produce goods and products
-Recreation (swimming, boating, fishing)
-food production & processing
-to survive: it's just an important as air
Two main sources of drinking water - correct answer ✔✔surface water and groundwater
surface water - correct answer ✔✔rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, oceans; all water on the surface
groundwater - correct answer ✔✔water that is contained in interconnected pores in an aquifer
any water that is stored naturally underground or flows through rock and soil supplying springs or wells
aquifer - correct answer ✔✔layer or section of earth or rock that contains freshwater
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1948 - correct answer ✔✔The first federal action regarding water
pollution
Provided technical assistance but nothing else
1972 Clean Water Act - correct answer ✔✔-basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into
the waters of the US
-Regulates quality standards for surface waters
-Made it unlawful to discharge from a point source into waters
-Funded sewage treatment plants
, Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 - correct answer ✔✔-Establishes minimum standards to protect drinking
water in public water systems
-Protects drinking water against contaminants
-Requires owners or operators of public water systems to comply with primary standards
-minimum standards for state programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from
underground injection of fluids
-Does not regulate private drinking water wells
bottled water - correct answer ✔✔-Regulated by FDA
-Must be tested meet regulatory standards before it can be sold
-Label must identify the type of water bottled and third party certifications
-sales are increasing
chlorinated drinking water - correct answer ✔✔significant public health measure, highly effective at
eliminating bacteria, decreased waterborne infection in the US
Fluoridation of water - correct answer ✔✔-McKay conducted observational studies at his dental practice
-fluoride defended teeth from tooth decay
-1945 field trial studies: 50-70% reduction in prevalence of cavities
natural causes of water contamination - correct answer ✔✔-Microbial organisms
-Soils, decaying leaves, trees, branches
-Silt in the water
-Natural rock and soil formations may introduce chemicals, radionuclides, heavy metals, and nitrogen
compounds
Human Health Effects of Microorganisms in Drinking Water - correct answer ✔✔-Fecal contamination
from waste
-Parasites: diarrhea; in compromised immune system can be life threatening
uses for water - correct answer ✔✔-Agriculture to grow plants and raise animals
-Hydroelectric plant
-for cooling in thermoelectric and nuclear power plants
-Mining & industry
-to produce goods and products
-Recreation (swimming, boating, fishing)
-food production & processing
-to survive: it's just an important as air
Two main sources of drinking water - correct answer ✔✔surface water and groundwater
surface water - correct answer ✔✔rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, oceans; all water on the surface
groundwater - correct answer ✔✔water that is contained in interconnected pores in an aquifer
any water that is stored naturally underground or flows through rock and soil supplying springs or wells
aquifer - correct answer ✔✔layer or section of earth or rock that contains freshwater
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1948 - correct answer ✔✔The first federal action regarding water
pollution
Provided technical assistance but nothing else
1972 Clean Water Act - correct answer ✔✔-basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into
the waters of the US
-Regulates quality standards for surface waters
-Made it unlawful to discharge from a point source into waters
-Funded sewage treatment plants
, Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 - correct answer ✔✔-Establishes minimum standards to protect drinking
water in public water systems
-Protects drinking water against contaminants
-Requires owners or operators of public water systems to comply with primary standards
-minimum standards for state programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from
underground injection of fluids
-Does not regulate private drinking water wells
bottled water - correct answer ✔✔-Regulated by FDA
-Must be tested meet regulatory standards before it can be sold
-Label must identify the type of water bottled and third party certifications
-sales are increasing
chlorinated drinking water - correct answer ✔✔significant public health measure, highly effective at
eliminating bacteria, decreased waterborne infection in the US
Fluoridation of water - correct answer ✔✔-McKay conducted observational studies at his dental practice
-fluoride defended teeth from tooth decay
-1945 field trial studies: 50-70% reduction in prevalence of cavities
natural causes of water contamination - correct answer ✔✔-Microbial organisms
-Soils, decaying leaves, trees, branches
-Silt in the water
-Natural rock and soil formations may introduce chemicals, radionuclides, heavy metals, and nitrogen
compounds
Human Health Effects of Microorganisms in Drinking Water - correct answer ✔✔-Fecal contamination
from waste
-Parasites: diarrhea; in compromised immune system can be life threatening
