Chapter 11 Flashcards
surface water
water that collects on the surface of the ground.
river system
A large river and its tributaries considered as a single entity.
watershed
an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
groundwater
water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock.
aquifer
a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.
porosity
Porosity is the quality of being porous, or full of tiny holes. Liquids go right through things that have porosity.
permeability
the state or quality of a material or membrane that causes it to allow liquids or gases to pass through it.
recharge zone
means the zone which contributes water to an aquifer, consisting of the catchment area of rainfall water and the area where such water flows to an aquifer by runoff on the ground and infiltration through soil;
potable
safe to drink; drinkable
pathogen
a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease
dam
a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply.
reservoir
a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
desalination
the process of removing salt from seawater.
water pollution
is defined as the presence in groundwater of toxic chemicals and biological agents that exceed what is naturally found in the water and may pose a threat to human health and/or the environment. Additionally, water pollution may consist of chemicals introduced into the water bodies as a result of various human activities. Any amount of those chemicals pollutes the water, regardless of the harm they may pose to human health and the environment.
point-source pollution
means pollution discharged directly from a specific site such as a municipal sewage treatment plant or an industrial outfall pipe.
