Ch. 11 Key Terms Flashcards
surface water
fresh water on Earth’s land surface.
River system
flowing network of water as streams and rivers move across the land
Watershed
The area of land that is drained by a river.
Groundwater
Water stored beneath the Earth’s surface in sediment and rock formations.
Aquifer
An underground formation that contains groundwater.
Porosity
The amount of space between the particles that make up a rock
Permeability
The ability of rock or soil t allow water to flow through it.
Recharge zone
The area of the Earth’s surface where water percolates down into the aquifer.
Potable
Safe to drink
Pathogens
Organisms that cause illness or disease such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasitic worms.
Irrigation
method of providing plants with water from sources other that direct precipitation.
Dam
structure built across a river to control the river’s flow.
Reservoir
formed when the river is dammed, an artificial lake.
Drip irrigation systems
promising step toward conservation which deliver small amounts of water directly to the plant roots by using perforated tubing.
Xeriscaping
landscaping involving minimal water usage
