Watersheds

Watershed

an area of land where all the water in an area drains from higher areas to lower areas and into the same body of water

Groundwater

Water held underground in the soil or in pores in rock.

Surface water

Water that collects on the surface of the ground

Water Pollution / Wastewater

The contamination of water bodies. Any water that has been affected by human use (from domestic, industrial, commercial, or agricultural activities), runoff, or sewer infiltration

Runoff

The draining of water (and substances carried in the water) from the surface of an area of land

Discharge Zone

The place where groundwater becomes surface water

Recharge Zone

The place where precipitation or surface water replenishes the groundwater

Aquifer

A body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows it to flow

Water Table

The upper surface of underground water

Spring

Results from an aquifer being filled until the water overflows onto the surface

Well

A pit or hole sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water

River

A natural flowing watercourse( usually freshwater) flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake, or another river

Stream

A body of water with surface water flowing within the beds and banks of a channel

Channel

The path that a stream follows

Pond

An area filled with water that is smaller than a lake (may be natural or artificial)

Lake

An area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land

Gulf

A deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land

Estuary

The tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream

Wetland/Swamp/Marsh

An area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects; the land is fully saturated with water

Stream Load

Materials carried by a stream

Tributary

A smaller stream that feeds into a river system

Divide (watershed)

A ridge or area of higher ground that separates watersheds

Porosity

The percentage of water composed of pores (spaces between rock/sediment)

Permeability

A measure of how easily water can flow through an aquifer

Percolation

The process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter (like porous rock)