Water Resources & Agricultural Irrigation – Review Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering irrigation methods, water treatment, plumbing materials, billing structures, global water issues, and related agricultural terms discussed in the lecture.

Evapotranspiration

The combined loss of water to the atmosphere through evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants.

Transpiration

Process in which water vapor is released from plant leaves, mainly through pores called stomata.

Stomata

Microscopic openings on the underside of leaves that regulate gas exchange and release water vapor.

Flood Irrigation

Traditional irrigation method that releases large volumes of water across a field; inexpensive but water-wasteful due to evaporation.

Sprinkler (Center-Pivot) Irrigation

High-pressure irrigation system that rotates around a central point, spraying water like a yard sprinkler; vulnerable to wind drift and evaporation.

Drip (Sub-surface) Irrigation

Low-pressure, below-ground system that slowly ‘drips’ water through polycarbonate lines directly to roots, reducing waste.

Polyfiber (Polycarbonate) Tubing

Durable plastic tubing used in drip systems that can adjust flow via sensors to match soil moisture needs.

Low-Flow Toilet (1.6 gpf)

Modern fixture limited to 1.6 gallons per flush (or 1.28 gpf for high-efficiency models) versus 5–7 gpf pre-1980s.

Low-Flow Dishwasher

Appliance using roughly 3.2 gallons per cycle, compared with >16 gallons in pre-1980s models.

Flint Water Crisis

2014 event where switching to Flint River water corroded lead pipes, causing lead contamination and Legionella outbreaks.

Lead Contamination

Presence of lead in drinking water; stores in human bones and can poison fetuses when mobilized for calcium.

Legionella

Bacteria that can proliferate in contaminated water systems, causing Legionnaires’ disease.

Copper Pipe

Durable, corrosion-resistant plumbing material; expensive and difficult to bend.

PVC Pipe

White plastic plumbing pipe; cheap and malleable but brittle over time.

Galvanized Pipe

Steel pipe coated with zinc; threaded fittings common, prone to corrosion once coating degrades.

Brass Pipe

Red-brown copper–zinc alloy pipe; long-lasting but very costly.

Threaded Fittings

Screw-type pipe connections most commonly used with galvanized piping.

Tiered Water Rates

Billing system linking a household’s water price to its income (e.g., Philadelphia TAP).

Block Water Rates

Pricing that changes with quantity used; blocks may increase or decrease cost per gallon as usage rises.

Water Surcharge

Flat fee added to all customers’ bills to fund infrastructure regardless of consumption.

Catchment Area

Roof or ground surface (ft²) that collects rainfall for harvesting calculations.

First-Flush Diverter

Device that routes initial dirty roof runoff away before clean rainwater enters a storage tank.

Ozonation

Water treatment that injects unstable ozone (O₃) gas, which oxidizes and kills microorganisms, leaving only oxygen.

UV Disinfection

Water-purification method using ultraviolet light; effectiveness depends on bulb intensity, which is hard to monitor visually.

Chlorination

Adding chlorine to water to kill pathogens such as Giardia; credited with massive reductions in waterborne disease.

Human Right to Water (UN 2010)

United Nations declaration recognizing safe, accessible, affordable water as indispensable for life and dignity.

Amazon River

One of the two longest rivers; delivers ~20 % of freshwater entering the oceans.

Sargassum

Floating brown seaweed carried by currents from the Amazon outflow, forming the Sargasso Sea mass.

Turbidity

Measure of water cloudiness; high turbidity blocks light and may indicate contamination.

Cash Crop

Crop (e.g., cotton, tobacco, tea) grown mainly for sale rather than local consumption.

Food Crop

Staple crop (e.g., corn, rice) primarily grown for local or family consumption.

Tanzania Agriculture Profile

Sector employs ~75 % of workforce yet contributes only ~30 % of GDP, indicating low mechanization and wages.

WASH Initiative

Global effort focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene education—often teaching hand-washing to improve health.

Monsoon

Seasonal wind pattern bringing heavy rains (summer monsoon) or dry conditions (winter monsoon) to South Asia.

Giardia

Parasitic protozoan causing gastrointestinal illness; neutralized by chlorine or proper filtration.