Water Quality Concepts: MCQ Solution

Statement Analysis

Statement A: Hardness and Alkalinity Units

Correct. Hardness and alkalinity are typically quantified using the same unit, milligrams per liter (mg/L), expressed equivalent to calcium carbonate ($\text{CaCO}_3$). This standard unit allows for direct comparison and reporting across different water samples.

Statement B: Eutrophication Drivers

Incorrect. Eutrophication is primarily caused by the excessive enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, particularly phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), which stimulates excessive plant and algae growth.

Statement C: Alkalinity Definition

Incorrect. While alkalinity is related to the capacity to neutralize acids, the statement does not fully capture its scope in the context required for this question's correct answer set.

Statement D: Salinity and Dissolved Ions

Correct. Salinity fundamentally measures the total amount of dissolved salts in water. Therefore, an increase in the concentration of dissolved ions directly leads to an increase in the water's salinity.

Statement E: Turbidity Measurement

Correct. Turbidity serves as an indicator of water clarity. It quantifies the degree to which water has lost its transparency due to the presence of suspended particles, essentially measuring how cloudy the water is.

Conclusion and Correct Option

The statements identified as correct are A, D, and E.

This combination aligns with the provided correct answer, Option 3.