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Figure 2: Representation of the water cycle
Runoff from agricultural land can result in excess nutrients entering water bodies.
Outline one indirect measure of organic pollution.
State one management strategy that could control the release of agricultural runoff.
Figure 6(e): Daldykan River in Norilsk
Figure 6(e): Daldykan River in Norilsk (continued)
Figure 6(d): The Nadezhda smelting plant in Norilsk
- Opened in 1979.
- The plant may be a possible source of water discolouration.
Describe a practical strategy using a biotic index to provide evidence that the Daldykan River (Figures 6(d) and 6(e)) is damaged by effluent from the metal processing plant.
When measuring levels of pollution, state one advantage and one disadvantage of using a biotic index compared to measuring the pollutants directly.
Advantage
Disadvantage
Figure 11(b): Coliform bacteria one day after untreated sewage release
Using Figure 11(b), estimate the highest concentrations of coliform bacteria (in units/ 100 mL ) found in the St Lawrence River one day after the untreated sewage was released.
Outline an environmental problem that may result from the release of untreated sewage into a river.
Figure 11(a): Coliform bacteria before untreated sewage release
Figure 10: Untreated sewage release into the St Lawrence River
Figure 10: Montreal discharged 5-8 billion litres of untreated sewage into the St Lawrence River in November 2015; river pollution returned to normal within 4-10 days.
Quebec discharged 110 million litres in November 2016; nationally, 205 billion litres of untreated sewage are released into Canadian rivers and oceans each year.
With reference to Figures 10, 11(a) and 11(b), describe a method to monitor the impact of the release of untreated sewage into the St Lawrence River ecosystem.
Distinguish between point and non-point sources of pollution with reference to named examples.
For a named water pollutant, evaluate two management strategies to maintain the sustainability of water sources.
| Pollutant | Unit | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | kt | 32.80 | 32.60 | 31.30 | 37.10 | 32.90 |
| Phosphate | kt | 4.50 | 4.40 | 4.00 | 4.80 | 4.40 |
| Lead | kg | 186.18 | 215.91 | 201.00 | 41.21 | 3.57 |
| Chromium | kg | 508.68 | 460.10 | 438.05 | 266.65 | 93.59 |
Figure 9(d): Pollutants in wastewater discharged into Beijing rivers, 2011-2015
With reference to Figure 9(d), identify the year in which eutrophication was most likely to have occurred.
Outline one advantage of using the data in Figure 9(d) compared to using a biotic index for assessing pollution.
Outline one advantage of using a biotic index compared to using the data in Figure 9(d) for assessing pollution.
Outline, using examples, the differences between primary and secondary pollution.
Explain the causes and effects of acid deposition on natural ecosystems.
To what extent is pollution impacting human food production systems?
Outline one method for measuring the impact of a build-up of dead organic matter in an aquatic ecosystem.