Surface Water Study Guide: Hydrology, Watersheds & Water
Resources Notes
Examples of surface water - correct answer ✔✔lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, reservoirs, canal,
aqueducts
watershed - correct answer ✔✔region or land area that separates water flowing to different
river basins and seas
Hydrologic cycle - correct answer ✔✔precipitation, runoff, transpiration, evaporation, drains
into groundwater
Lake Turnover - correct answer ✔✔when the lake essentially flips, warms well mixed layer and
cold stagnant layer flip
Lake Turnovers effect on water quality - correct answer ✔✔Turbidity
Organics NOM
Gases get mixed up
Organics could increase chance of DBP
Circulation Zone - correct answer ✔✔Warm top layer of water, wind and waves mix this zone up
(epilmion)
Stagnant Zone - correct answer ✔✔Cold, hypolimnion layer stagnant, not well mixed
When does water become stratified - correct answer ✔✔39.2 Degrees F
Factors Controlling Runoff Volume Rate - correct answer ✔✔Ground Cover (veg)
,impervious surfaces (manmade)
soil composition
slope of the ground
soil moisture
duration of rainfall
rainfall intensity
Harmful waterborne microbiological organisms and diseases they cause - correct answer
✔✔Shigella causes bacillary dysentery
Salmonella Typhosa causes typhoid
Entamoeba Histolytica causes Amebic Dysentery
Giardia Lambia causes giardiasis
vibrio cholera causes cholera
gastroenteritis causes diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, and nausea
infectious hepatitis causes hep A and causes infection
Types of unwanted chemicals found in surfaces water - correct answer ✔✔herbicides,
pesticides, and fertilizers -> from agr
organic and inorganic chemicals from WWTP discharges and storm water runoff
Industrial chemicals from spills and dishcharges
Colloidal - correct answer ✔✔for drinking water they are finely divided solids which will not
settle; the particles are so small that weak electrostatic charges of the particles prevent them
from coming together and settling.
Sedimentation - correct answer ✔✔In even simpler terms, subsidence and deposition of
suspended matter (floc) by gravity.
, Characteristics of Primary drinking water standards - correct answer ✔✔limit the
concentrations of substances that are harmful to health when consumed in drinking water. Exp-
Cryptosporidium, Giardi Lamblia, Heterotrophic plate count, Legioella, Total Coliforms, Turbidity,
and Viruses.
Characteristics of Secondary drinking water standards - correct answer ✔✔intended as
guidelines for states regarding aesthetic qualities of drinking water. Exp-aluminum, chloride,
color, copper, corrosivity, fluoride, foaming agents, iron, manganese, odor, pH, silver, sulfate,
TDS, and zinc.
What is an exemption - correct answer ✔✔allow water systems time to achieve regulatory
compliance with new National Primary Drinking Water Standards (NPDWRs), while continuing
to provide acceptable levels of public health protection. Exemptions do not allow water systems
to violate NPDWRs; rather, they allow additional time to find compliance solutions.
What is a Conditional Waver - correct answer ✔✔A conditional waiver for non microbial
contaminants may be given if it is too expensive to upgrade technology to meet the MCL, the
plant was already running when the MCL was enacted, and the waiver won't pose an
unreasonable health risk. The waiver can be granted for up to 3 years if all of these criteria are
met.
What is a Compliance Agreement - correct answer ✔✔Specifically for Wisconsin, a compliance
agreement may be negotiated to allow a temporary violation of a MCL until new facilities are
constructed or treatment is installed.
Why are DBP (TTHMs) and (HAA5) problems in drinking water - correct answer ✔✔Risk of
cancer and reproductive problems
How are (TTHMs) and (HAA5) formed - correct answer ✔✔They are formed when NOM and
disinfection agents are combined together to form disinfection by products like the two above.
Resources Notes
Examples of surface water - correct answer ✔✔lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, reservoirs, canal,
aqueducts
watershed - correct answer ✔✔region or land area that separates water flowing to different
river basins and seas
Hydrologic cycle - correct answer ✔✔precipitation, runoff, transpiration, evaporation, drains
into groundwater
Lake Turnover - correct answer ✔✔when the lake essentially flips, warms well mixed layer and
cold stagnant layer flip
Lake Turnovers effect on water quality - correct answer ✔✔Turbidity
Organics NOM
Gases get mixed up
Organics could increase chance of DBP
Circulation Zone - correct answer ✔✔Warm top layer of water, wind and waves mix this zone up
(epilmion)
Stagnant Zone - correct answer ✔✔Cold, hypolimnion layer stagnant, not well mixed
When does water become stratified - correct answer ✔✔39.2 Degrees F
Factors Controlling Runoff Volume Rate - correct answer ✔✔Ground Cover (veg)
,impervious surfaces (manmade)
soil composition
slope of the ground
soil moisture
duration of rainfall
rainfall intensity
Harmful waterborne microbiological organisms and diseases they cause - correct answer
✔✔Shigella causes bacillary dysentery
Salmonella Typhosa causes typhoid
Entamoeba Histolytica causes Amebic Dysentery
Giardia Lambia causes giardiasis
vibrio cholera causes cholera
gastroenteritis causes diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, and nausea
infectious hepatitis causes hep A and causes infection
Types of unwanted chemicals found in surfaces water - correct answer ✔✔herbicides,
pesticides, and fertilizers -> from agr
organic and inorganic chemicals from WWTP discharges and storm water runoff
Industrial chemicals from spills and dishcharges
Colloidal - correct answer ✔✔for drinking water they are finely divided solids which will not
settle; the particles are so small that weak electrostatic charges of the particles prevent them
from coming together and settling.
Sedimentation - correct answer ✔✔In even simpler terms, subsidence and deposition of
suspended matter (floc) by gravity.
, Characteristics of Primary drinking water standards - correct answer ✔✔limit the
concentrations of substances that are harmful to health when consumed in drinking water. Exp-
Cryptosporidium, Giardi Lamblia, Heterotrophic plate count, Legioella, Total Coliforms, Turbidity,
and Viruses.
Characteristics of Secondary drinking water standards - correct answer ✔✔intended as
guidelines for states regarding aesthetic qualities of drinking water. Exp-aluminum, chloride,
color, copper, corrosivity, fluoride, foaming agents, iron, manganese, odor, pH, silver, sulfate,
TDS, and zinc.
What is an exemption - correct answer ✔✔allow water systems time to achieve regulatory
compliance with new National Primary Drinking Water Standards (NPDWRs), while continuing
to provide acceptable levels of public health protection. Exemptions do not allow water systems
to violate NPDWRs; rather, they allow additional time to find compliance solutions.
What is a Conditional Waver - correct answer ✔✔A conditional waiver for non microbial
contaminants may be given if it is too expensive to upgrade technology to meet the MCL, the
plant was already running when the MCL was enacted, and the waiver won't pose an
unreasonable health risk. The waiver can be granted for up to 3 years if all of these criteria are
met.
What is a Compliance Agreement - correct answer ✔✔Specifically for Wisconsin, a compliance
agreement may be negotiated to allow a temporary violation of a MCL until new facilities are
constructed or treatment is installed.
Why are DBP (TTHMs) and (HAA5) problems in drinking water - correct answer ✔✔Risk of
cancer and reproductive problems
How are (TTHMs) and (HAA5) formed - correct answer ✔✔They are formed when NOM and
disinfection agents are combined together to form disinfection by products like the two above.
