MODULE 3 WATER QUALITY EXAM SCRIPT
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ water quality indicators Answer: E. Coli & Fecal Coliform Bacteria
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Nutrients
pH
Chlorine
Total Dissolved Solids
Hardness
Invasive species
Algal cover
Turbidity
Bioindicators (Macroinvertebrates)
◉ dissolved oxygen Answer: The amount of oxygen gas that is found in
water and is available to aquatic organisms. Cool water holds more and
warm water holds less. Also referred to as DO.
◉ water temperature Answer: Intensity of thermal energy in water.
Affects dissolved oxygen levels: cool has higher DO, warm has lower
DO
, ◉ nutrients Answer: Phosphorus and nitrogen which are essential for
plant growth. Excess nutrients can speed up eutrophication.
◉ eutrophication Answer: A process by which nutrients, particularly
phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of
water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or
cyanobacteria. Decreases DO.
◉ how humans increase nutrient (nitrate) levels Answer: Runoff from
farms and yards of fertilizer, manure. Release from septic systems.
Removing vegetation near streams.
◉ pH scale Answer: It is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of
water. Scale from 0-14, with small numbers being acids and larger
numbers being bases.
◉ normal pH range for drinking water Answer: 6.5-8.5
◉ problems associated with high pH Answer: Changes in pH can
influence animals' health and fish egg production. It can also influence
how other chemicals react in water. For example, heavy metals dissolve
in acidic water.
◉ how humans increase pH Answer: Acid rain, increasing concentration
of carbon dioxide in atmosphere, industrial pollution, mining
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ water quality indicators Answer: E. Coli & Fecal Coliform Bacteria
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Nutrients
pH
Chlorine
Total Dissolved Solids
Hardness
Invasive species
Algal cover
Turbidity
Bioindicators (Macroinvertebrates)
◉ dissolved oxygen Answer: The amount of oxygen gas that is found in
water and is available to aquatic organisms. Cool water holds more and
warm water holds less. Also referred to as DO.
◉ water temperature Answer: Intensity of thermal energy in water.
Affects dissolved oxygen levels: cool has higher DO, warm has lower
DO
, ◉ nutrients Answer: Phosphorus and nitrogen which are essential for
plant growth. Excess nutrients can speed up eutrophication.
◉ eutrophication Answer: A process by which nutrients, particularly
phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of
water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or
cyanobacteria. Decreases DO.
◉ how humans increase nutrient (nitrate) levels Answer: Runoff from
farms and yards of fertilizer, manure. Release from septic systems.
Removing vegetation near streams.
◉ pH scale Answer: It is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of
water. Scale from 0-14, with small numbers being acids and larger
numbers being bases.
◉ normal pH range for drinking water Answer: 6.5-8.5
◉ problems associated with high pH Answer: Changes in pH can
influence animals' health and fish egg production. It can also influence
how other chemicals react in water. For example, heavy metals dissolve
in acidic water.
◉ how humans increase pH Answer: Acid rain, increasing concentration
of carbon dioxide in atmosphere, industrial pollution, mining
