Chapter 9 Vocab Flashcards
aquifer
an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be extracted
unconfined aquifer
an aquifer made up of porous rock covered by soil through which water can easily flow in and out of
confined aquifer
an aquifer surrounded by a layer of impermeable rock or clay, which impedes water flow to or from the aquifer
water table
The uppermost level at which the water in a given area fully saturates the rock or soil
groundwater recharge
in a confined aquifer, an opening at the land’s surface of the impermeable layer that allows water to flow in
spring
Water from some aquifers naturally comes up, natural source of freshwater
artesian well
groundwater under pressure, flows out easily, no pump required
cone of depression
an area where there is no longer any groundwater
saltwater intrusion
a common problem in coastal areas, this process is the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, which can lead to contamination of drinking water sources and other consequences. It occurs naturally to some degree in most coastal aquifers, owing to the hydraulic connection between groundwater and seawater. Because saltwater has a higher mineral content than freshwater, it is denser and has a higher water pressure. As a result, saltwater can push inland beneath the freshwater
floodplain
an area of land adjacent to a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge. It includes the floodway, which consists of the stream channel and adjacent areas that actively carry flood flows downstream, and the flood fringe, which are areas inundated by the flood, but which do not experience a strong current. In other words, a floodplain is an area near a river or a stream which floods when the water level reaches flood stage.
impermeable surface
pavement or buildings that do not allow water penetration
levee
an enlarged bank built up on each side of a river to prevent flooding
dike
man made banks to prevent overflow of ocean water
dam
a barrier that funs across a river to control the flow of the water
reservoir
water storage area behind a dam
fish ladder
built to allow migrating fish species to climb the face of a dam
aqueduct
a canal or ditch used to transport water from one location to another
desalination
the removal of salt from salt water-a method of obtaining fresh water by water-poor countries. Two methods are distillation or reverse osmosis
reverse osmosis
a method of desalination that uses pressure to force pure water through a semipermeable membrane, leaving the salt behind
water footprint
Total daily per capita use of fresh water
hydroponic agriculture
plants grow in water without soil
tiered water-pricing systems
a system in which the required amount of needed water costs very little, however increases of water use cost increasingly more money
xeriscaping
a method of landscaping that uses plants that are well adapted to the local area and are drought resistant; reduces water use by 30-85% and sharply reduces needs for labor, fertilizer, and fuel
gray water
waste water from baths, showers, bathroom sinks and washing machines
contaminated water
wastewater from toilets, sinks and dishwashers
