GCSE Water quality and pollution management

Terms in this set (15)

Water quality
the chemical, biological, and physical status of a body of water
Eutrophication
An increase in the amount of nutrients, such as nitrates from farm fertilisers, in a water body like a river
Drinking water
Water that is safe to drink
Agricultural runoff water
Water that picks up chemical pesticides and insecticides, nitrates and phosphates (found in fertilisers) and run into our lakes and rivers
Historical wastes
Water running through old mine workings and old industrial sites can pick up hazardous heavy metals
Runoff from roads and motorways
Can pollute water via salt used for gritting, oil and heavy metals from car engines and exhausts
Sewage waste
Our own human waste water can end up in our water courses, despite our attempts to clean it
An impact of sewage is
It contains bacteria which can spread disease
Heavy metals and toxins
Can poison wildlife. These toxins can then end up in people as they work their way up through the food chain in a process of bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation
An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time
Insect and animal life
such as bees can be killed unintentionally by pesticides and insecticides, affecting food chains
Water education
Campaigns for the public to show them the need to use as little water as possible and to not dispose of inappropriate items in our waste water.
Water treatment
The process of purifying or clarifying water to make it more potable
Water treatment plant
A facility that treats water to remove contaminants so that it can be safely used.
Pollution trap
An area where sediment and other pollutants can be trapped before entering a river. Often downstream of old sources of pollution such as old mine workings
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