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Surface-Water Quality Issues

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Water Quality Questions & Answers

What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? It can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Here at the Water...
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Water Quality Questions & Answers

What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? It can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Here at the Water...
Learn More

Urbanization and Water Quality

There's no end to the effects that urbanization can have on water bodies. Millions of people; landscape manipulation; waste material; dumping of chemicals and fertilizers; withdrawing water for peoples' uses. As you expect, urbanization rarely improves water quality, but in order to prevent problems, one needs to understand how urbanization affects the local waters.
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Urbanization and Water Quality

There's no end to the effects that urbanization can have on water bodies. Millions of people; landscape manipulation; waste material; dumping of chemicals and fertilizers; withdrawing water for peoples' uses. As you expect, urbanization rarely improves water quality, but in order to prevent problems, one needs to understand how urbanization affects the local waters.
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Urban Water Quality: Sewage Overflows

Wastewater and sewage treatment are important topics in any society, all throughout history and into today. Improperly disposed of or treated sewage can cause disease and harm the ecosystem. That is why when a sewage overflow occurs it garners negative news attention.
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Urban Water Quality: Sewage Overflows

Wastewater and sewage treatment are important topics in any society, all throughout history and into today. Improperly disposed of or treated sewage can cause disease and harm the ecosystem. That is why when a sewage overflow occurs it garners negative news attention.
Learn More

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Water

You don't often think that water bodies contain oxygen, but water does contain a small amount of dissolved oxygen. A small amount, but it is essential for life in the water. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) generally represents how much oxygen is needed to break down organic matter in water.
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Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Water

You don't often think that water bodies contain oxygen, but water does contain a small amount of dissolved oxygen. A small amount, but it is essential for life in the water. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) generally represents how much oxygen is needed to break down organic matter in water.
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Bacteria and E. Coli in Water

Water, like everything else on Earth, including you, is full of bacteria. Some bacteria are beneficial and some are not. Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) bacteria, found in the digestive tract of animals, can get into the environment, and if contacted by people, can cause health problems and sickness. Find out the details here.
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Bacteria and E. Coli in Water

Water, like everything else on Earth, including you, is full of bacteria. Some bacteria are beneficial and some are not. Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) bacteria, found in the digestive tract of animals, can get into the environment, and if contacted by people, can cause health problems and sickness. Find out the details here.
Learn More
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