Water Pollution Flashcards
Reservoir
A large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
River
A natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river.
Aquifer
An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well.
pollutant
A substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource.
Point source pollution
Any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack
non-point source pollution
Unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, pollution that comes from many diffuse sources. Pollution that is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground.
Algal bloom
A rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae (typically microscopic) in a water system
Oxygen depletion
A phenomenon that occurs in aquatic environments as dissolved oxygen (DO) becomes reduced in concentration to a point where it becomes detrimental to aquatic organisms living in the system
Eutrophication
The process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive growth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish.
Acid rain
precipitation that is unusually acidic, it can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure
Sewage
Waste water and excrement conveyed in sewers
Definition of Toxic Pollution
Contamination of water by materials that cause death, disease, or birth defects.
Definition of Sediment Pollution
Pollution by sand, soil, and other minerals that are washed into streams and rivers after rainfall
Definition of Nutrient Pollution
Contamination of water by excessive nutrients, usually nitrogen and phosphorus.
Definition of Bacterial Pollution
Contamination of water by bacteria
