Environmental Studies · General Awareness

Water Quality and Pollution

1,303 Questions

Water Quality and Pollution examines the sources, mechanisms, and impacts of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. It covers crucial environmental concepts like eutrophication, biochemical oxygen demand, and thermal pollution. This subject frequently appears in general science and environmental studies sections of various examinations.

Eutrophication CausesThermal Pollution EffectsBiochemical Oxygen DemandSynthetic Fertilizer ImpactsWastewater SourcesAquatic Ecosystem Toxicity

Water Quality and Pollution Questions

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Which one of the following is not a bioindicator of water pollution?

  1. Sludge-worms

  2. Blood-worms

  3. Stone flies

  4. Sewage fungus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Any organism which indicates the level of pollution in water is called as bioindicator.
Sludge worms, blood-worms, and sewage fungus are indicators of water pollution. As sludge-worms and blood-worms can survive in water with less oxygen and indicates the presence of organic matter in the water body like sewage fungus.
Stoneflies are found worldwide in running water and cannot survive in polluted water so, their presence indicates the good quality of water.
Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Polluted waters do not contain

  1. Stone fly larvae

  2. Sewage fungus

  3. <p>Water Hyacinth</p>

  4. Cyanobacteria
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Insecta plecoptera (stonefly) is a sensitive insect that produces larvae in the water while the adults live on the land. The stonefly larvae are the indicators to the water pollution caused by the increase in the biological oxygen demand and the rise in temperature. Whenever there is an increase in the organic mass, the dissolved oxygen will decrease and the high rate of respiration of the algal bloom would also increase the temperature. Both these conditions are intolerable by the stonefly larvae and they die quickly. They need a high concentration of dissolved oxygen and normal temperature to survive.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Stone Fly Larvae'.

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Which is not a bioindicator of water pollution?

  1. Blood worms

  2. Stone flies

  3. Sewage fungus

  4. Sludge worms
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Stoneflies are the aquatic insects that also live on land as adults. These lay their eggs in water and the larvae hatch in the water itself. These larvae are highly sensitive to water pollution as they need a high concentration of dissolved oxygen to respire. They also show sensitivity to the temperature and as the temperature rises, they begin to die. So, when the water is polluted and has low dissolved oxygen and high temperature due to decomposition, the stoneflies will not be seen. Similarly, overgrowth of sewage fungi and sludge worms in the water body indicates a high concentration of organic pollution. Bloodworms are the endoparasite in the human body. 

Hence, the correct answer is 'Bloodworms'.

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

High amount of Escherichia coli in water is an indicator of

  1. Hardness of water

  2. Industrial pollution

  3. Sewage pollution

  4. Presence of chlorine in water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Escherechia coli is present in the intestines and is released with the faecal matter. Their presence in the water is indicative of the sewage mixup in the water source.

A. Hardness of water is indicated by the mineral ions concentration.

B. Industrial pollution is indicated by the presence of heavy metals, toxins etc.

C. Escherechia coli presence indicates sewage pollution in water.

D. Chlorine is added for the treatment or purification of water.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Sewage Pollution'.

Multiple choice physics heat - measurement application of various thermometric scales different types of thermometers measuring temperature introduction to temperature

People boil water as safe measure to drink because:

  1. Boiled water is tasty

  2. Boiled water is more powerful

  3. Heating water is fashionable

  4. Excessive heat kills the microorganisms present in the water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

People boil water as safe measure to drink because excessive heating kills the microorganisms present in the water and becomes safe to drink it.

Multiple choice evs rain: where does it come from sources of water and water cycle availability and forms of water the water cycle

Which of the following is the most important factor in balancing the amount of freshwater on earth?

  1. Water cycle

  2. Greenhouse effect

  3. Waste water treatment plant

  4. Transpiration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Water cycle is a continuous cycle in which water changes from water vapour in the atmosphere, through liquid water through condensation and precipitation and then back to water vapour through evaporation, transpiration and respiration. 

Among the given options, $A$ is the correct one. 

Multiple choice commercial applications sources of water conservation of natural and energy resources energy conservation and sources importance of the conservation of natural resources reduce, recycle, reuse

If water pollution continues at its present rate, it will eventually

  1. Prevent precipitation

  2. Stop the water cycle

  3. Make oxygen molecules unavailable to aquatic life

  4. Make nitrates unavailable to aquatic life
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Water pollution is the condition in which there is an increase in the concentration of the undesirable compounds in the water resources. The pollutants are the organic compounds. The microbes use up the oxygen which is present in the water bodies for the degradation of the organic matter in the pollutants. This lowers the amount of oxygen which is available for the aquatic plants and animals.

Thus, the correct answer is option C. 

Multiple choice zoology environmental pollution primary air pollutants air pollution - types and sources not for breathing not for drinking

In pollution, the term 'synergism' is used for

  1. Biomagnification of nondegradable pollutants

  2. Dangerous effect when two pollutants are present together

  3. Decreasing effect to a degradable pollutant

  4. Formation of more potent secondary pollutant from primary pollutants
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Synergism means the process of acting together. In pollution, the synergism is seen when the primary pollutants are less harmful but they combine to form a more potent secondary pollutant. For example, the presence of ozone in the troposphere is undesired and this ozone has come due to the combination of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (both are primary pollutants).

Hence, the correct answer is 'Formation of more potent secondary pollutant from primary pollutants'

Multiple choice zoology structural organization of animals structural organization of leech phylum annelida annelida structural organization of rabbit

Presence of Tubifex in water body indicates its

  1. Purity

  2. High salt content

  3. Toxic metals

  4. Organic loading
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

#Answer is option D.


#Tubifex worms mainly like nutrient-rich water, where bacterial growth is highest. Worms feed on bacteria and sludge.
#Bacterial growth takes place in water which has high organic loading. like, household organic waste, industrial organic waste, and agricultural waste.
#At this kind of places worms get food and places to hide from predators.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution introduction to environmental pollution introduction to pollution environment and pollution

The amount of oxygen required by bacteria to break down the organic matter present in a certain volume of a sample of water, is called ________

  1. BOD

  2. ABE

  3. COD

  4. Standard amount of oxygen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The amount of oxygen required by bacteria to break down the organic matter present in a certain volume of a sample of water is called Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD)
                             
The amount of BOD in the water is a measure of the amount of organic material in the water, in terms of how much oxygen will be required to break it down biologically.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution introduction to environmental pollution introduction to pollution environment and pollution

This process in which nutrient enriched water bodies support a dense plant population, which kills animal life by depriving it of oxygen and results in subsequent loss of biodiversity is known as ________.

  1. green-house effect

  2. eutrophication

  3. land pollution

  4. none of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rain can carry and deposit the nitrogen in some pollutants on rivers and soils. This will adversely affect the nutrients in the soil and water bodies. This can result in algae growth in lakes and water bodies, and make conditions for other living organism harmful.this is called eutrophication.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution introduction to environmental pollution introduction to pollution environment and pollution

'Thermal pollution' means dumping heat in an ecological system, like a lake or a pond. Thermal power plants have to throw some heat into a 'sink' because of they:

  1. get overheated

  2. have special anti-pollution laws

  3. follow the local sanitation laws

  4. follow the second natural law of thermodynamics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Thermal pollution is the degradation of the quality of water due to a sudden change of its temperature. A primary source of thermal pollution is the discharge of heated water from the power plants. The unused heat, generally around $60$% of the input energy which is unable to be used in the process, is then returned to a sink, such as water.

Multiple choice bio-chemistry organization of life concept of metabolism metabolism in animals metabolism

Water we take in, plays an important role in?

  1. Metabolic processes

  2. Provide energy

  3. Prevents dehydration

  4. More than one correct answer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Water is the medium for all metabolic processes in living organisms, acting as a solvent for biochemical reactions. While it helps prevent dehydration, its primary biological role is facilitating the chemical reactions that sustain life.

Multiple choice biology environmental pollution control of water pollution protecting our environment rules are for everyone

Toxicity of chemical pollutant in water increases, with increase in

  1. Waste

  2. Water

  3. Temperature

  4. Air
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The toxicity of many chemical pollutants increases with temperature because higher temperatures can increase the metabolic rate of organisms, leading to faster uptake of toxins, and can also decrease dissolved oxygen levels.

Multiple choice biology environmental pollution control of water pollution protecting our environment rules are for everyone
Water pollution can be decreased by treating industrial wastes to yield safe effluents.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Water pollution can be decreased by treating industrial wastes to yield safe effluents.
  • Recycling, Renovation, Recharge and Reuse (4R concept) of waste water:
The waste water consisting of domestic sewage industrial effluents, thermal and radioactive pollutants receive some sort of treatment before mixing into water bodies. Urban sewage and sludge, etc, may be recycled and reused to generate cheaper fuel, gas and electricity.
  • Cooling methods:
For preventing thermal pollution such methods are used like cooling waste water effluent, evaporation tower, cooling ponds, dry cooling towers, wet cooling towers etc.
  • Using chemical methods:
Several chemical methods have been devised for the treatment of industrial effluents before discharging them in water bodies.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.