Chapter 15 - Freshwater Systems and Resources

Question 1

watershed

Answer 1

the entire area of land from which water drains into a given river

Question 2

water table

Answer 2

the upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifer

Question 3

unconfined aquifer

Answer 3

a water-bearing, porous layer of rock, sand, or gravel that lies atop a less-permeable substrate. The water in an unconfined aquifer is not under pressure because there is no impermeable upper layer to confine it.

Question 4

confined (artesian) aquifer

Answer 4

a water-bearing, porous layer of rock, sand, or gravel that is trapped between an upper and lower layer of less-permeable substrate, such as clay. The water in a confined aquifer is under pressure because it is trapped between to impermeable layers.

Question 5

ground water

Answer 5

water held in aquifers underground

Question 6

surface water

Answer 6

water located atop Earth’s surface

Question 7

floodplain

Answer 7

the region of land over which a river has historically wandered and periodically floods

Question 8

wetland

Answer 8

a system in which the soil is saturated with water that generally features shallow standing water with ample vegetation. these biologically productive systems include fresh water marshes, swamps, bogs, and seasonal wetlands such as vernal pools

Question 9

dam

Answer 9

any obstruction placed in a river of stream to block the flow of water so that water can be stored in a reservoir. dams are built to prevent floods, provide drinking water, facilitate irrigation and generate electricity

Question 10

reservoir

Answer 10

(1) an artificial water body behind a dam that stores water for human use (2) a “pool”

Question 11

flooding

Answer 11

the spillage of water over a river’s banks due to heavy rain or snowmelt

Question 12

sinkhole

Answer 12

an area where the ground has given way with little warning as a result of subsidence caused by depletion of water from an aquifer

Question 13

nonconsumptive use

Answer 13

fresh water use in which the water from a particular aquifer or surface body either is not removed or is removed only temporarily and then returned. the use of water to generate electricity in hydroelectric dams is an example

Question 14

consumptive use

Answer 14

use of fresh water in which water is removed from a particular aquifer of surface body water and is not returned. irrigation for agriculture is an example.

Question 15

desalination (desalinization)

Answer 15

the removal of salt from seawater

Question 16

non-point source

Answer 16

a diffuse source of pollutants, often consisting of many small sources.

Question 17

point source

Answer 17

a specific spot where large quantities of air pollutants or water pollutants are discharged

Question 18

pollution

Answer 18

the release of matter or energy into the environment that causes undesirable affects for living organisms. pollution can be physical, chemical, or biological, and it can affect water, air, or soil

Question 19

water pollution

Answer 19

the act of polluting water, or the condition of being polluted by water pollutants

Question 20

septic system

Answer 20

a wastewater disposal method, common in rural areas, consisting of an underground tank and series of drainpipes. wastewater runs from the house to the tank, where solids precipitate out. the water proceeds downhill to a drain field of perforated pipes laid horizontally in f=gravel-filled trenches. where microbes decompose the remaining waste

Question 21

primary treatment

Answer 21

a stage of wastewater treatment in which contaminants are physically removed. wastewater glows into tanks which sewage solids, grit, and particulate matter settle to the bottom. Greases and oils float to the surface and can be skimmed off

Question 22

secondary treatment

Answer 22

a stage of wastewater treatment in which biological means are used to remove contaminants remaining after primary treatment. wastewater is stirred up in the presence of aerobic bacteria, which degrade organic pollutants in the water. the wastewater then passes to another settling tank, where remaining solids drift to the bottom

Question 23

waste water

Answer 23

any water that is used in house holds, businesses industries, or public facilities and is drained or flushed down pipes, as well as the polluted runoff from streets and storm drains