Water and it's management Flashcards
Sanitation
The conditions necessary for health, such as providing clean drinking water and the safe disposal of sewage.
Evaporation
The process in which liquid water turns into vapour
the opposite of condensation
Condensation
The process in which water vapour turns into liquid water
the opposite of evaporation
Precipitation
The process in which liquid water (as rain) or ice particles (as snow or hail) fall to the Earth due to gravity
Transpiration
The movement of water up plants and it’s subsequent loss as water vapour from their leaves
Surface run-off
The process by which water runs over the ground into rivers
Interception
The process by which precipitation is stopped from reaching the ground surface by the presence of trees and other plants
Groundwater flow
The process by which infiltrated water flows through rocks
Through flow
The process by which infiltrated water flows through the soil
Infiltration
The process by which water seeps into the ground
What are the three categories of water usage?
- Domestic
- Industrial
- Agricultural
What is the largest use of water in the ‘industrial world’?
The cooling process in the production of electricity
What is water often described as?
Water is often described as the universal solvent
What is the largest use of water in the ‘agricultural world’?
The largest use of water in agriculture is for irrigation
What are two things farmers mainly need water for? (Think: Arable AND Pastoral)
Crop irrigation and domestic animal drinking
Surface water
Water in lakes, rivers and swamps.
Groundwater
Water in the soil, and in rocks under the surface of the ground.
Aquifer
Water stored in porous rocks under the ground.
Potable
Safe to drink.
Desalination
The removal of salt from water.
Reservoir
An artificial lake where water can be stored.
Service reservoir
A type of reservoir where potable water is stored.
Water tower
A type of reservoir where potable water is stored for immediate use.
Cistern
A vessel in which water, usually potable, is stored, forming a type of covered reservoir.
Well
A hole bored or dug into rock to reach water stored there.
Artesian aquifer
An aquifer in which the water is under pressure.
Distillation
The purification of a liquid by boiling a solution so that the liquid evaporates and can be collected when it condenses at a lower temperature.
Reverse osmosis
The purification of water by pumping it at high pressure through a fine membrane.
What are two types of porous rocks that store groundwater in aquifer’s?
Limestone and sandstone.
Physical water scarcity
A situation in which there is simply not enough water for human needs.
For example: because of low rainfall and/or high levels of evaporation.
Economic water scarcity
A situation in which there is enough water available but the money does not exist to extract and/or treat enough of it for human needs.
Sewage
Waste matter that is carried away in sewers or drains from domestic (or industrial) establishments
Pathogen
An organism, including bacteria and viruses, that can cause disease
Vector
An organism that carries a disease-producing organism, such as the mosquito which carries the malarial parasite.
Effluent
A discharge of liquid waste
Chlorination
Adding chlorine-based substances to water
