| Term | Definition |
| WATER CYCLE | the process that water takes as it moves from the atmosphere to land and back into atmosphere is called the |
| SURFACE WATER | Fresh water on Earth's land surface, found in lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands |
| RIVER SYSTEM | This is formed as streams and rivers move across the land forming a flowing network of
water; examples include the Mississippi, Amazon, Nile |
| WATERSHED | The area of land that is drained by a river; amount that enters varies throughout the year |
| GROUNDWATER | Water that is found beneath Earth's surface in the spaces in sediment and rock
formations |
| WATER TABLE | The level where the rocks and soils are saturated with water beneath the rocks and soil |
| AQUIFER | An underground formation that contains groundwater, water table forms upper
boundary |
| POROSITY | the percentage of the total volume of a rock that has spaces or pores; water in an aquifer
is stored in the pores and flows from one to another |
| PERMEABILITY | ability of rock or soil to allow the flow of water through it; gravel is permeable, clay or
granite are impermeable |
| RECHARGE ZONE | An area of Earth's surface from which water percolates down into an aquifer;
environmentally sensitive areas because any pollution in this area can enter the aquifer |
| WELL | a hole that is dug or drilled to reach groundwater |
| IRRIGATE CROPS | What is most fresh water in the world used for? |
| POTABLE | term means safe to drink water |
| PATHOGENS | organisms that cause illness or disease |
| IRRIGATION | method of providing plants with water from sources other than direct precipitation |
| DAMS / RESEVOIRS | structures built across rivers to control their flow; creates an artificial lake behind it |
| DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS | method of irrigation that releases water into soil at a controlled rate; helps to conserve
water loss |
| XERISCAPING | designing a landscape that requires minimal water use; way to help with water
conservation |
| DESALINATION | process of removing salt from salt water |
| WATER POLLUTION | introduction of chemical, physical, or biological agents into water that degrade water
quality and harm the organisms that depend on the water |
| POINT-SOURCE POLLUTION | pollution discharged from a single source; septic tank leaks, unlined landfills, pollution
from mines |
| NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION | pollution that comes from many different sources that are difficult to identify; chemicals
from salt decing agents, pesticides runoff; soil runoff from construction sites |
| WASTEWATER | water that contains waste from homes or industry |
| SEWAGE SLUDGE | solid material that remains after wastewater treatment |
| ARTIFICIAL EUTROPHICATION | occurs from excess phosphorus and nitrogen entering the water supply from sewage and
fertilizer runoff from human activities |
| THERMAL POLLUTION | occurs when power plants and other industries use water in their cooling systems and
then discharge the warm water into water supply |
| BIOMAGNIFICATION | buildup of pesticides in the tissues of organisms as the food chain increases |
