Waterways and Natural Water Cycle Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the natural water cycle, groundwater systems, water supply infrastructure, wastewater treatment stages, and types of pollution based on lecture notes.

Transpiration

The process of evaporation of water specifically from plants into water vapor in the atmosphere.

Condensation

The process where water vapor in the atmosphere transforms into liquid water, forming fog or clouds.

Precipitation

Any form of water falling to the ground, including rain, snow, and hail.

Surface water

Precipitation that runs off the ground surface (runoff) and flows into creeks, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Groundwater

Precipitation that soaks into the soil and fills underground permeable rock layers.

SF Bay Delta

The location where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers empty into the San Francisco Bay, where massive pumps divert water into aqueducts.

Snowpack

The accumulated snow that builds up in mountain ranges during winter each year, melting each spring and summer to supply runoff to rivers and reservoirs.

Aquifer

A porous layer of rock underground saturated with water, containing 99% of all liquid fresh water on Earth.

Ogallala aquifer

A massive underground water body supplying water to one-fifth of irrigated land in the U.S., largely composed of non-renewable fossil water recharged during the last Ice Age.

Percolation pond

A constructed basin (also known as a Groundwater Recharge Facility) designed to allow water to sink into the ground and recharge aquifers in urban areas.

Reservoir

A natural or artificial lake where water is collected and stored for use as a water supply, typically created by building a dam across a river.

Aqueduct

A network of canals, tunnels, and pipelines that transports water from its source or reservoirs to local treatment facilities or storage areas.

Primary treatment

The first stage of wastewater processing at a treatment plant where solid waste materials are physically removed.

Secondary treatment

The stage of wastewater treatment where bacteria decompose and eat organic waste matter.

Tertiary treatment

The final phase of wastewater treatment involving filtration and addition of chlorine before water is reused or discharged.

Point source pollution

Pollution that enters water bodies directly from a single, identifiable source.

Non-point source pollution

Pollution arising from many indirect sources that is washed off surfaces by rainwater runoff into waterways.