| A | B |
|---|
| watershed | entire area of land that is drained by a river. |
| ground water | water that seeps down in this way and is stored underground. |
| aquifer | large amounts of groundwater may be stored in underground rock formation. |
| recharge zone | the area of land from which the groundwater originates. |
| desalinization | process in which salt is removed from salt water, as from the oceans, rendering the water fit for drinking and cooking. |
| water pollution | Introduction of chemical, physical, or biological material into water that degrades the quiality of the water. |
| point pollution | pollution that is discharged from a single source such as a factory. |
| non-point pollution | pollution that comes from many sources rather than from a single specific site. |
| bio-accumulation | accumulation of larger and longer amounts of a toxin within the tissues of organisms at each succesive tropic level. |
| artificial eutrophication | introduction of inorganic plant nutrients into a body of water through sewage and fertilizer run off. |
| thermal pollution | addition of excessive amounts of heat to the body of water such as in runoff from industrial cooling systems. |
| surface water | fresh water that is above ground such as lakes, rivers, streams, etc. |
| dam | structure built across a river or stream that prevents most of the water to drain down. |
| pathogens | disease causing organisms such as bacteria, virus, and parasites. |
| radioactive waste | from power plants or nuclear processing and defense facilties. |
| organic matter | biodegradeable remains of animals and plants including feces. |
| inorganic chemicals | acids, salts, toxic metals. |
| toxic chemicals | chemicals that are poisonous to living things. |
| physical agents | heat and suspended solids such as oil. |
| water cycle | the continuing process in which water circulates into atmoshpere and the earth. |
