3.1 (NYC Water Story Vocab)

Question 1

Watershed

Answer 1

an area of land that collects freshwater and drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody

Question 2

Reservoirs

Answer 2

• above ground freshwater storage (lake, river, stream)

Question 3

Aqueducts & Tunnels

Answer 3

method of transporting water from watershed to city

Question 4

Disinfection

Answer 4

These facilities chlorinate
and add UV light to the
water to disinfect it before
drinking and household
purposes.

Question 5

Municipal Pipes

Answer 5

The downhill flow of water creates enough pressure to shoot the water as high as six stories in most parts of the city without electricity
or pumping.

Question 6

Water Sampling

Answer 6

Field scientists test the
water for lead and other
heavy metals, as well as
other indicators of water
quality such as pH and
turbidity (cloudiness)

Question 7

Water Conservation

Answer 7

Use ONLY cold water for
drinking and cooking (hot
water is more likely to pull
lead from old pipes).

Question 8

Down the Drain

Answer 8

Used water from sinks and toilets and stormwater from rain and snow enter here.

Question 9

Combined Sewage System

Answer 9

• mixed heavy rain and snow fall
• During certain rain storms, the sewer system and wastewater treatment plants cannot handle the amount of combined sewage.
• discharges some of the combined sewage into waterways WITHOUT treatment

Question 10

Wastewater Treatment

Answer 10

• Removed fecal and other wastes
• Primary Treatment: removes trash and large objects and then into chambers and tanks where smaller particles settle out
• Secondary Treatment: wastewater flows into large
  tanks filled with microbes that break down organic wastes
• End: goes through disinfection

Question 11

Effluent

Answer 11

Cleaned effluent (waste) is discharged into a
waterbody.

Question 12

Sludge

Answer 12

• The solids that are collected are processed in large digester tanks which act as stomachs.
• Once digested, the resulting sludge can be put to beneficial use as fertilizer, if it meets STRICT contaminant levels.
• If not, it is typically disposed of at a landfill

Question 13

Aquifer

Answer 13

a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater

underground reservoir

Question 14

Groundwater

Answer 14

water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices (cracks) in rock.

Question 15

Well

Answer 15

a hole drilled into the ground to access water contained in an aquifer

Question 16

Spring

Answer 16

water resource formed on the side of a hill

Question 17

Influent

Answer 17

Wastewater or other liquid flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant.

Question 18

Chlorination

Answer 18

adding chlorine to drinking water to disinfect it and kill germs.

Question 19

Estuary

Answer 19

place where freshwater meets saltwater

Question 20

Combined Sewage Overflow

Answer 20

Heavy rain and snowfall combined with wastewater