Groundwater

Question 1

Aquifers are _______.a.located below the water tableb.important sources of freshwaterc.located in the saturated zoned.all of the above

Revolt · Accepted Answer

D: D

Question 2

Groundwater overdraft occurs when _______.a.the location of the water table changes due to seasonb.aquifers become pollutedc.the rate of use exceeds the rate of replenishmentd.trees are planted

Revolt · Accepted Answer

C: C

Question 3

Explain the importance of groundwater as a source of freshwater.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Groundwater is the largest reservoir of readily available freshwater on Earth; it supplies nearly half of all drinking water in the United States, supports crop irrigation, maintains stream base flow, and is a critical buffer during droughts.

Question 4

Human use of groundwater has _______ over time.a.increasedb.decreasedc.decreased and then increasedd.remained the same

Revolt · Accepted Answer

A: A

Question 5

Explain how groundwater overdraft occurs and its likely consequences.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Groundwater overdraft occurs when the rate of pumping from an aquifer exceeds its natural recharge rate. Likely consequences include falling water tables, dry wells, land subsidence, reduced stream flow, and saltwater intrusion in coastal areas.

Question 6

What are some ways that groundwater is used in the United States currently?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

In the United States today, groundwater is used primarily for irrigation (about 70%), public drinking-water supply, and industrial and thermoelectric power uses.

Question 7

Why has groundwater use increased over time?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Groundwater use has increased because of population growth, expanded irrigation for food production, industrial development, and the need for reliable year-round water supplies in growing urban areas.

Question 8

Compare the use of groundwater in preindustrial times to industrial times.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

In preindustrial times, groundwater was used mainly for small-scale domestic wells and limited irrigation. In industrial times, large-scale pumping supports cities, factories, and extensive agriculture, often exceeding recharge rates.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a source of groundwater pollution?a.landfillsb.septic tanksc.smoke stacksd.fertilizer

Revolt · Accepted Answer

C: C

Question 10

What approximate percentage of the Earth’s freshwater is groundwater?a.10%b.20%c.30%d.40%

Revolt · Accepted Answer

C: C

Groundwater Answers

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