3.1 (NYC Water Story Vocab)

an area of land that collects freshwater and drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody

• above ground freshwater storage (lake, river, stream)

method of transporting water from watershed to city

These facilities chlorinate and add UV light to the water to disinfect it before drinking and household purposes.

The downhill flow of water creates enough pressure to shoot the water as high as six stories in most parts of the city without electricity or pumping.

Field scientists test the water for lead and other heavy metals, as well as other indicators of water quality such as pH and turbidity (cloudiness)

Use ONLY cold water for drinking and cooking (hot water is more likely to pull lead from old pipes).

Used water from sinks and toilets and stormwater from rain and snow enter here.

• mixed heavy rain and snow fall • During certain rain storms, the sewer system and wastewater treatment plants cannot handle the amount of combined sewage. • discharges some of the combined sewage into waterways WITHOUT treatment

• Removed fecal and other wastes • Primary Treatment: removes trash and large objects and then into chambers and tanks where smaller particles settle out • Secondary Treatment: wastewater flows into large tanks filled with microbes that break down organic wastes • End: goes through disinfection

Cleaned effluent (waste) is discharged into a waterbody.

• The solids that are collected are processed in large digester tanks which act as stomachs. • Once digested, the resulting sludge can be put to beneficial use as fertilizer, if it meets STRICT contaminant levels. • If not, it is typically disposed of at a landfill

a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater underground reservoir

water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices (cracks) in rock.

a hole drilled into the ground to access water contained in an aquifer

water resource formed on the side of a hill

Wastewater or other liquid flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant.

adding chlorine to drinking water to disinfect it and kill germs.

place where freshwater meets saltwater

Heavy rain and snowfall combined with wastewater