Chapter 11

water that collects on the surface of the ground.

A large river and its tributaries considered as a single entity.

an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

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

a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.

Porosity is the quality of being porous, or full of tiny holes. Liquids go right through things that have porosity.

the state or quality of a material or membrane that causes it to allow liquids or gases to pass through it.

means the zone which contributes water to an aquifer, consisting of the catchment area of rainfall water and the area where such water flows to an aquifer by runoff on the ground and infiltration through soil;

safe to drink; drinkable

a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease

a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply.

a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.

the process of removing salt from seawater.

is defined as the presence in groundwater of toxic chemicals and biological agents that exceed what is naturally found in the water and may pose a threat to human health and/or the environment. Additionally, water pollution may consist of chemicals introduced into the water bodies as a result of various human activities. Any amount of those chemicals pollutes the water, regardless of the harm they may pose to human health and the environment.

means pollution discharged directly from a specific site such as a municipal sewage treatment plant or an industrial outfall pipe.

water that has been used in the home, in a business, or as part of an industrial process.

Artificial eutrophication is caused by humans. Eutrophication is a natural process when lakes and streams contain an abundance of nutrients.

Thermal pollution happens when the body of water, such as a lake or stream, increase. Thermal pollution can kill fish.

The buildup of pollutants at higher levels of the food chain.