Chapter One: Introduction to Water
Distribution Exam Questions &
Answers 100% Correct
Acid Rain - ANSWER-Precipitation that has been rendered acidic by airborne
pollutants
Water Cycle - ANSWER-The process of evaporation of water into the air and its
return to earth by precipitation (rain or snow). This process also includes
transpiration from plants, groundwater movement, and runoff in to rivers, streams,
and the ocean. Also called the hydrologic cycle.
Direct Runoff - ANSWER-Water that flows over the ground surface directly into
streams, rivers, or lakes. Also called storm runoff.
Impermeable - ANSWER-Not easily penetrated. The property of a material or soil
that does not allow, or allows only with great difficulty, the movement or passage of
water.
Soft Water - ANSWER-Water having a low concentration of calcium and magnesium
ions. According to US Geological Survey guidelines, soft water is water having a
hardness of 60 milligrams per liter or less.
Turbidity - ANSWER-The cloudy appearance of water caused by the presence of
suspended and colloidal matter. Technically, turbidity is an optical property of the
water based on the amount of light reflected by suspended particles. Turbidity
cannot be directly equated to suspended solids because white particles reflect more
light than dark colored particles and many small particles will reflect more light than
an equivalent large particle.
Stratification - ANSWER-The formation of separate layers (of temperature, plant, or
animal life) in a lake or reservoir. Characteristics within each layer are similar; for
instance, all water in the same layer has the same temperature.
Overturn - ANSWER-The almost spontaneous mixing of all layers of water in a
reservoir or lake when the water temperature becomes similar from top to bottom.
This may occur in the fall/winter when the surface waters cool to the same
temperature as the bottom waters and in the spring when the surface waters warm
after the ice melts. Also called turnover.
Algal Bloom - ANSWER-Sudden, massive growths of microscopic and macroscopic
plant life, such as green or blue-green algae, which can develop in lakes, reservoirs,
and lagoons under the proper conditions.
Distribution Exam Questions &
Answers 100% Correct
Acid Rain - ANSWER-Precipitation that has been rendered acidic by airborne
pollutants
Water Cycle - ANSWER-The process of evaporation of water into the air and its
return to earth by precipitation (rain or snow). This process also includes
transpiration from plants, groundwater movement, and runoff in to rivers, streams,
and the ocean. Also called the hydrologic cycle.
Direct Runoff - ANSWER-Water that flows over the ground surface directly into
streams, rivers, or lakes. Also called storm runoff.
Impermeable - ANSWER-Not easily penetrated. The property of a material or soil
that does not allow, or allows only with great difficulty, the movement or passage of
water.
Soft Water - ANSWER-Water having a low concentration of calcium and magnesium
ions. According to US Geological Survey guidelines, soft water is water having a
hardness of 60 milligrams per liter or less.
Turbidity - ANSWER-The cloudy appearance of water caused by the presence of
suspended and colloidal matter. Technically, turbidity is an optical property of the
water based on the amount of light reflected by suspended particles. Turbidity
cannot be directly equated to suspended solids because white particles reflect more
light than dark colored particles and many small particles will reflect more light than
an equivalent large particle.
Stratification - ANSWER-The formation of separate layers (of temperature, plant, or
animal life) in a lake or reservoir. Characteristics within each layer are similar; for
instance, all water in the same layer has the same temperature.
Overturn - ANSWER-The almost spontaneous mixing of all layers of water in a
reservoir or lake when the water temperature becomes similar from top to bottom.
This may occur in the fall/winter when the surface waters cool to the same
temperature as the bottom waters and in the spring when the surface waters warm
after the ice melts. Also called turnover.
Algal Bloom - ANSWER-Sudden, massive growths of microscopic and macroscopic
plant life, such as green or blue-green algae, which can develop in lakes, reservoirs,
and lagoons under the proper conditions.
