Ch 11 Key terms Flashcards
surface water
water that collects on the surface of the ground
river system
a river and its tributaries
watershed
An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single body of water
groundwater
water that fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers
aquifer
A body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater.
porosity
The percentage of the total volume of a rock or sediment that consists of open spaces.
permeability
Ability of rock or soil to allow water to flow through it
recharge zone
an area in which water travels downward to become part of an aquifer
potable
suitable for drinking
pathogen
An organism that causes disease
dam
a structure built across a river to control the river’s flow
reservoir
Natural or artificial lake used to store water
a lake that stores water for human use
desalination
A process of removing salt from ocean water
water pollution
the addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or the living things that depend on the water
point-source pollution
pollution that comes from a specific site
