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| GLOSSARY
OF WATER TERMINOLOGY |
A
acid
- a substance that has a pH value between 0
and 7
acid deposition (“acid rain”) - water
that falls to or condenses on the Earth’s surface
as rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, hail, dew, frost,
or fog with a pH of less than 5.6
acre-foot - the amount of water needed
to cover one acre of land one foot deep; about
326,000 gallons
adhesion - the attraction between molecules
that causes matter to cling to or stick to other
matter
adjudication - a court determination
of water rights for a groundwater basin or a
stream; adjudication sets priorities during
shortages
aeration - the addition of air to water
or to the pores in soil
aesthetic - sensitive to beauty
alkaline - the quality of being bitter
due to alkaline content (pH is greater than
7)
alluvial - sediment deposited by flowing
water, such as in a riverbed
alum - aluminum sulfate: a chemical,
which is mixed into water to cause particles
in the water to clump together so they can be
removed
anadramous - any fish which spends a
portion of its life cycle in freshwater and
a portion in the sea
aquifer - an underground layer of rock,
sediment or soil that is filled or saturated
with water
aquifer system - a heterogeneous body
of introduced permeable and less permeable material
that acts as a water-yielding hydraulic unit
of regional extent
aqueduct - man-made canal or pipeline
used to transport water
B
bacteria
- any of a number of one-celled organisms, some
of which cause disease
base - a substance that has a pH value
between 7 and 14
basin - a groundwater reservoir defined
by the overlying land surface and underlying
aquifiers that contain water stored in the reservoir
benefit - an advantage to be gained in
a trade-off
benefit/cost analysis - a process of
evaluating the advantages and disadvantages
of a proposed purchase or project
BMPs (Best Management Practices) - structural
or management practices which are implemented
to reduce pollution (e.g., using a permeable
material for parking lots to reduce urban runoff)
boiler scale - mineral deposits from
water, such as those found inside pipes or teakettles
bond - a promise to repay money borrowed,
plus interest, over a specified period of time
bond issue - a means of raising large
amounts of money for major projects by selling
bonds
brackish - water containing too much
salt to be useful to people but less salt than
ocean water
by-products - something produced in addition
to the principal product
C
capillarity
- the process by which water rises through rock,
sediment or soil caused by the cohesion between
water molecules and an adhesion between water
and other materials that “pulls” the water upward
capital cost - all the implements, equipment,
machinery and inventory used in the production
of goods and services
cesspool - a covered hole or pit for
receiving sewage
chloramination - the treatment of a substance,
such as drinking water, with chlorine and ammonia
(chloramines) in order to kill disease-causing
organisms
chlorination - the treatment of a substance,
such as drinking water, with chlorine in order
to kill disease-causing organisms
cloud - a mass of suspended water droplets
and/or ice crystals in the atmosphere
cloud droplets - the tiny liquid pieces
of water that many clouds are made of. When
cloud droplets join together and become heavy
enough they form raindrops.
coagulation - the process, such as in
treatment of drinking water, by which dirt and
other suspended particles become chemically
“stuck together” so they can be removed from
water
cohesion - the ability of a substance
to stick to itself and pull itself together
coliform - a group of bacteria used as
indicators of microbiological contamination
colloidal suspension - a method of sediment
transport in which water turbulence (movement)
supports the weight of the sediment particles,
thereby keeping them from settling out or being
deposited
condensation - water vapor changing back
into liquid
condensation surfaces - small particles
of matter, such as dust and salt suspended in
the atmosphere, which aid the condensation of
water vapor in forming clouds
confined aquifer - an aquifer that is
bound above and below by dense layers of rock
and contains water under pressure
conjunctive use - the planned use of
groundwater in conjunction with surface water
to optimize total water resources
conservation - saving; not wasting; using
water wisely
constituents - parts of a whole; components
consumer - one who consumes or uses economic
goods or services
contaminate - to make unfit for use;
to pollute
contractor - a water agency that signs
a contract to acquire given amounts of water
from another agency, usually under specified
conditions
contour plowing - plowing done in accordance
with the natural outline or shape of the land
by keeping the furrows or ditches at the same
elevation as much as possible to reduce runoff
and erosion
cost - the outlay or expenditure (as
of money, effort or sacrifice) made to achieve
an object or advantage
cost-effective - able at least to pay
for itself or make a profit
county water authority - a public water
district serving a county-wide area
cubic foot of water - the amount of water
needed to fill a cube that is one foot on all
sides; about 7.5 gallons
D
dam
- a structure built to hold back a flow of water
debt service - the repayment of borrowed
money, plus interest
deficit - the amount by which a sum of
money falls short of an expected amount
delta - fan-shaped area at the mouth
of a river (where seas are relatively calm)
demand - the quantity of goods or services
that consumers are willing and able to buy at
a given price
deposition - the process of dropping
or getting rid of sediments by an erosional
agent such as a river or glacier; also called
sedimentation
desalination - the process of removing
salt from seawater or brackish water
dew - moisture in the air that condenses
on solid surfaces when the air is saturated
with water vapor
dew point - the temperature at which
the air becomes saturated with water vapor
discharge - the amount of water flowing
past a location in a stream/river in a certain
amount of time - usually expressed in liters
per second or gallons per minute
disinfect - to destroy harmful microorganisms
dissolve - to enter into a solution
divert - to direct a flow away from its
natural course
divide - a ridge or high area of land
that separates one drainage basin from another
drainage basin - all of the area drained
by a river system
drought - a prolonged period of below-average
precipitation
E
economic
benefit - a gain that can be measured in
dollars
economic cost - a cost involved in a
trade-off that requires spending money
ecosystem - an interacting network of
groups of organisms together with their non-living
or physical environment
efficiency - effective operation as measured
by a comparison of production with cost
endangered species - a species of animal
or plant threatened with extinction
environment - the surroundings that affect
the growth and development of an organism
environmental impacts - factors that
affect organisms and the surroundings of organisms
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) - a
state-mandated written summary of the positive
and negative effects on the environment caused
by the construction and operation of a project
erosion - the processes (including soil
erosion) of picking up sediments, moving sediments,
shaping sediments, and depositing sediments
by various agents; erosional agents include
streams, glaciers, wind and gravity
Escherichia coli (E. coli) - a common
bacterium found in fecal matter; member of the
coliform group
evaporation - water changing into vapor
and rising into the air
exchange - the act of trading goods or
services for those produced by people who are
located elsewhere
expense - something spent (such as money,
time or effort) to secure a benefit or bring
about a result
F
factors
of production - the resource inputs involved
in the production of goods and services: for
example, labor, land and capital
feces - waste excreted from the bowels
of humans and animals
filtration - passing water through coal,
sand and gravel to remove particles
filtration plant - place where water
is cleaned and made safe to drink
financing cost - the fees charged by
financial specialists and the interest charged
on money borrowed to pay for a project
fish ladder - a device to help fish swim
around a dam
fishery - the aquatic region in which
a certain species of fish lives
floc - clumps of impurities removed from
water during the purification process; formed
when alum is added to impure water
flocculation - a step in water filtration
in which alum is added to cause particles to
clump together
floodplain - area formed by fine sediments
spreading out in the drainage basin on either
side of the channel of a river as a result of
the river’s fluctuating water volume and velocity
fog - clouds that form at the Earth’s
surface
frost - the ice that forms on surfaces
as a result of the temperature of that surface
reaching freezing before the air becomes saturated
with water
G
gallon
- a unit of measure equal to four quarts or
128 fluid ounces
geyser - a thermal spring that erupts
intermittently and to different heights above
the surface of the Earth; eruptions occur when
water deep in the spring is heated enough to
turn into steam, which forces the liquid water
above it out into the air
glacial striations - lines carved into
rock by overriding ice, showing the direction
of glacial movement
glacier - a large mass of ice formed
on land by the compacting and recrystallization
of snow; glaciers survive from year to year,
and creep downslope or outward due to the stress
of their own weight
groundwater - water under ground, such
as in wells, springs and aquifiers
gullying - small-scale stream erosion
H
habitat
- the place or type of site where a plant or
animal naturally or normally lives and grows
hail - transparent or layered (ice and
snow) balls or irregular lumps of solid water
hardness - a characteristic of water
determined by the levels of calcium and magnesium
hatcheries - a place for hatching fish
eggs
humus - decomposed bits of plant and
animal matter in the soil
hydroelectric plant - a power plant that
produces electricity from the power of rushing
water turning turbine-generators
hydrologic cycle - the natural recycling
process powered by the sun that causes water
to evaporate into the atmosphere, condense and
return to earth as precipitation
hydrology - the scientific study of the
behavior of water in the atmosphere, on the
Earth’s surface and underground
I
iceberg
- large chunks of ice that break off of coastal
glaciers and float away
igneous - rock solidified from a molten
state, such as lava and obsidian
impermeable - having a texture that does
not permit water to move through quickly
imported water - water brought into an
area from a distant source, such as from one
part of a state to another via an aqueduct
impound - to confine in an enclosure,
such as impounding water in a reservoir
impurity - any component which causes
another substance to become contaminated
indicator - a device or substance used
to show the presence of another substance
infiltration (also called percolation)
- the entrance or flow of water into the soil,
sediment or rocks of the Earth’s surface
inorganic - chemicals not containing
the element carbon
interest - payments made to an investor
for the use of borrowed money
intrusion - the entrance of an unwanted
element, such as saltwater, into freshwater
supplies
inundation - covering over or flooding,
such as flood waters covering a valley
irrigation - supplying water to agriculture
by artificial means, such as pumping water onto
crops in an area where rainfall is insufficient
L
labor
- the mental and/or physical talents contributed
by people for the production of goods or services
lactose - a white organic substance made
from milk that is used in infant foods, bakery
products and confections; also used as a “culture”
in laboratories
landfill - an open area where trash is
buried
leach - to remove components from the
soil by the action of water trickling through
levees - dikes or other embankments which
contain water within a given course
local runoff - water running off a local
area, such as rainfall draining into a nearby
creek
M
manufacturer
- one who makes a product
marginal land - land which, in its natural
state, is not well suited for a particular purpose,
such as raising crops
member agency - one of 27 member public
water providers associated with the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California, from
which it purchases water and on whose board
it is represented
microorganism - an organism of microscopic
size, such as bacterium
migratory - moving from one area to another
on a seasonal basis
mitigation - a way in which an agency
may offset negative environmental impacts of
a project or make the impacts less serious
mulch - material spread on the ground
to reduce soil erosion and evaporation of water;
include hay, plastic sheeting and wood chips
municipal water district - a public water
provider, owned and operated by more than one
city government, which supplies water to its
member cities
N
natural
environment - all living and nonliving things
that occur naturally on the earth; not made
nomad - a wanderer, a person or animal
which moves from place to place
non-economic benefit - a gain resulting
from a trade-off that cannot be measured in
dollars
nonpoint source pollution - pollution
which comes from diffuse sources such as urban
and agricultural runoff
NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System) permits - permits issued to point
sources for the purpose of limiting pollution
in discharges
O
organic
- any chemical containing the element carbon
overdraft - condition that occurs in
a groundwater basin when pumping exceeds the
amount of replenishment over a period of years
ozone - a gas that is bubbled through
water to kill germs
P
pathogenic
- capable of causing disease
percolation - water soaking into the
ground
perennial yield - maximum quantity of
water that can be annually withdrawn from a
groundwater basin over a long period of time
(during which water supply conditions approximate
average conditions) without developing an overdraft
condition
permeability - the capacity or ability
of a porous rock, sediment, or soil to allow
the movement of water through its pores
PEROXONE - a combination of peroxide
and ozone used to kill germs in water
pH - a relative scale of how acidic or
basic (alkaline) a material is; the scale goes
from 0 to 14; 7 is neutral, acids have pH values
less than 7 and bases have pH values higher
than 7
photosynthesis - process in which chlorophyll-containing
cells convert light into chemical energy, forming
organic compounds from inorganic compounds
pipeline - carries water underground
to homes and businesses
plankton - minute plants and animals
floating in bodies of water; often a major source
of nutrition for larger aquatic life forms
pollutant - any inorganic or organic
substance that contaminates air, water or soil
point source pollution - pollution which
comes from a well-defined source such as sewage
treatment plant effluent from industrial dischargers.
. .for purposes of the Clean Water Act, agricultural
return flows are not regulated as a point source
pore spaces - the open areas, or spaces,
in soil, sediments, and rocks that are filled
by air or water
porosity - a measure of the ratio of
open space within a rock or soil to its total
volume
POTWs (Public Owned Treatment Works)
- sewage treatment plants
precipitation - water falling toward
the Earth’s surface in the form of rain, drizzle,
hail, sleet, or snow
pumping lift - distance water must be
lifted in a well from the pumping level to the
ground surface
pumping plant - facility that lifts water
up and over hills
R
reclaimed
water - wastewater that has been cleaned
so that it can be reused for most purposes except
drinking
recharge - increases in groundwater storage
from precipitation, infiltration from streams,
or human activity (artificial recharge), such
as putting surface water into spreading basins
relative humidity - the ratio of the
amount of moisture in the air to the maximum
amount of moisture the air could hold under
the same conditions; usually expressed as a
percentage
reservoir - a pond or lake where water
is collected and stored until it is needed
rills - small grooves, furrows, or channels
in soil made by water flowing down over its
surface; also another name for a stream - usually
a small stream
runoff - liquid water that travels over
the surface of the Earth, moving downward due
to the law of gravity; runoff is one way in
which water that falls as precipitation returns
to the ocean
S
saltation
- the movement of sand or fine sediment by short
jumps above a streambed under the influence
of a water current too weak to keep it permanently
suspended in the moving water
salinity - saltiness
saturation - the condition of being filled
to capacity
sea ice - solid water that forms when
ocean or sea water freezes
section 319 grants - grants for nonpoint
source pollution programs
sediments - fragments of material produced
by weathering and erosion of rocks
sedimentation - the process of particles
in water settling to the bottom of a tank
selenium - a non-metallic element in
the same chemical group as sulfur; its compounds
are harmful to wildlife or people when found
above certain levels in water
septic tank - a sewage disposal tank
in which bacteria decompose waste
sheet wash - a flow of rainwater that
covers the entire ground surface with a thin
film and is not concentrated into streams
sleet - precipitation that consists of
clear pellets of ice; sleet is formed when raindrops
fall through a layer of cold air and freeze
snow - precipitation that consists of
frozen flakes formed when water vapor accumulates
on ice crystals, going directly to the ice phase
soil - sediment on or near the Earth’s
surface that is formed by the chemical and physical
weathering of rocks as well as the decay of
living matter
soil subsidence - the lowering of the
normal level of the ground, usually due to overpumping
of water or oil from wells
spawn - to produce or deposit eggs, as
those of aquatic animals
spring - groundwater seeping or flowing
out of the Earth’s surface; springs occur where
the water table reaches the surface
SRF (State Revolving Fund) - funding,
in the form of loans, available for the control
of point and nonpoint source pollution
steam - water vapor that rises from boiling
water
stream - the type of runoff where water
flows in a channel downhill because of the pull
of gravity
sublimation - formation of a gas from
a solid, or vice-versa, without passing through
the liquid phase
subsidence - sinking of the land surface
due to a number of factors, of which groundwater
extraction is one
subsurface water - all water - solid, liquid
or gaseous - that occurs beneath the Earth’s
surface; located below the water table in the
zone of saturation
surface runoff - water flowing along
the ground into rivers, lakes, and oceans
surface water - all water, fresh and
salty, on the Earth’s surface
suspended - the state of floating in
water rather than being dissolved in it
suspension - a method of sediment transport
in which air or water turbulence supports the
weight of the sediment particles, thereby keeping
them from settling out or being deposited
T
thermal
spring - a warm or hot water spring; many
occur in regions of recent volcanic activity
and are fed by water heated by contact with
hot rocks far below Earth’s surface
till - a deposit of sediment formed under
a glacier, consisting of an unlayered mixture
of clay, silt, sand, and gravel ranging widely
in size and shape
topsoil - the top layer of soil; topsoil
can grow better crops partly because it has
more organic matter (humus), allowing it to
hold more water than lower soil layers
toxic - poisonous; harmful to living
organisms
transpiration - evaporation of water
through the leaves of plants
trihalomethanes, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene
- organic compounds which may be harmful to
health at certain levels in drinking water
turbidity - the state of having sediment
or foreign particles suspended or stirred up
in water
U
unconfined
aquifer - an aquifer that discharges and
recharges with an upper surface that is the
water table
unsaturated zone - the subsurface zone,
usually starting at the land surface and ending
at the water table, that includes both water
and air in spaces between rocks
usable storage capacity - the quantity
of groundwater of acceptable quality that can
be economically withdrawn from storage
W
wastewater
- water that has waste material in it
wastewater treatment - cleaning wastewater
water cycle - the movement of water from
the air to and below the Earth’s surface and
back into the air
water quality - the condition of water
as it relates to impurities
water reclamation - treating wastewater
so that it can be used again
water table - (1) the boundary in the
ground between where the ground is saturated
with water (zone of saturation) and where the
ground is filled with water and air (zone of
aeration); (2) the upper surface of the saturated
zone that determines the water level in a well
in an unconfined aquifer
water vapor - the gaseous state of water
watershed - a geographical portion of
the Earth’s surface from which water drains
or runs off to a single place like a river;
also called a drainage area
well - a hole or shaft drilled into the
earth to get water or other underground substances
X
xeriscape
- landscaping that doesn’t require a lot of
water
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