Water Resources and Waste Management Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for reviewing key terms from lecture notes on Water Resources and Waste Management.

Colorado River

The 2300-kilometer river that once flowed deep and wide across the Southwest to Mexico’s Gulf of California.

Colorado River Compact

An agreement made in 1922 where seven states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—have relied on the river’s water for human use.

Fresh Water

A renewable and limited resource that is distributed unequally on Earth.

Surface Water

Includes still bodies of water and river systems.

Watershed

All of the land area that supplies water to a river system.

Groundwater

Water that seeps through the soil and becomes contained in underground layers.

Aquifers

Permeable layers of rock and soil that hold water.

Water Table

Separates the zone of saturation from the zone of aeration.

Agricultural Water Use

Using fresh water for irrigation of crops.

Industrial Water Use

Using fresh water for cooling of machinery.

Personal Water Use

Using fresh water in cities and residencies.

Virtual Water

Water used to produce food and other products.

Surface Water Diversion

Diverting surface water by canals and dams causing significant surface water depletion leading to water scarcity.

Groundwater Mining

When groundwater is withdrawn from the ground faster than it can be replaced, turning groundwater into a nonrenewable resource.

Desalination

Making fresh water by removing salt from saltwater.

Agricultural Water Conservation

Using drip-irrigation and climate-appropriate plants to decrease demand in agriculture.

Personal Water Conservation

Using xeriscaping and water conservation techniques to decrease water demand in personal use.

Point-Source Pollution

Pollution from a discrete location, like a factory or sewer pipe.

Nonpoint-Source Pollution

Pollution from many places spread over a large area, such as when snowmelt runoff picks up pollutants along its path.

Nutrient Pollution

Excess phosphorous and other nutrients in the water.

Eutrophication

Occurs naturally where nutrients build up in water leading to increased algae and aquatic plant growth, which in turn decreases dissolved oxygen levels as organisms die and decompose.

Cultural Eutrophication

Nutrient pollution that accelerates eutrophication.

Toxic Chemical Pollution

When harmful chemicals are released into waterways.

Sediment Pollution

Unusually large amounts of sediment that change an aquatic environment.

Thermal Pollution

A heat source that raises the temperature of a waterway.

Biological Pollution

Occurs when pathogens enter a waterway.

Natural Seeps

The largest single source of oil pollution in the ocean.

Bioaccumulation

When ocean organisms accumulate mercury pollution.

Nutrient Pollution in Oceans

Nutrient pollution that causes red tides.

Clean Water Act

Set water pollution standards, required permits to release point-source pollution, and funded sewage treatment plant construction.

Drinking Water Treatment

A process that removes pollutants before humans consume it.

Wastewater Treatment

A process that removes pollutants before human-used water is released back to the environment.

Septic Systems

The most popular method of wastewater disposal in rural areas of the U.S.

Waste

Any unwanted material or substance that results from a human activity or process.

Municipal Solid Waste

Waste from homes and businesses.

Industrial Waste

Waste resulting from manufacturing, agriculture, and mining.

Hazardous Waste

Waste that is toxic, reactive, flammable, and corrosive.

Wastewater

Includes used, discarded water and runoff.

Sanitary Landfills

Waste buried in the ground or carefully piled into mounds designed to prevent groundwater contamination and minimize soil and air pollution.

Landfill Capping

When full, landfills are capped and The land can be used for recreation.

NIMBY

Few communities are willing to host landfills.

Incineration

Burning solid waste at extremely high temperatures, heating water in a boiler turning it to steam, to reduce waste and generate electricity.

Waste Reduction by Incineration

Incinerating waste reduces its weight by up to 75% and volume by up to 90%.

Waste-to-Energy

Heat from burning trash can be used to generate electricity.

Composting

Conversion of organic waste into mulch or humus by decomposition.

Recycling

Collection and reprocessing of waste materials.

Ignitable Waste

Can catch fire.

Corrosive Waste

Can damage or destroy metals.

Reactive Waste

Chemically unstable; can explode or produce fumes when combined with water.

Toxic Waste

Harmful or fatal when inhaled, ingested, or touched.

Organic Compounds

Can act as mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, and endocrine disruptors.

Heavy Metals

Many cause neurological damage over time.

E-waste

Contains heavy metals and toxic chemicals, but mostly treated as conventional solid waste.

Hazardous Waste Landfills

Specifically designed to keep hazardous waste contained.

Surface Impoundment

Liquid waste poured into shallow lined pits; water evaporates and solid waste is transported elsewhere.

Deep-Well Injection

Wastes injected into deep, confined porous rock layers.

Radioactive Waste

Waste that gives off harmful radiation.

Low-Level Radioactive Waste

Less harmful radioactive waste produced by hospitals, labs, uranium mines.

High-Level Radioactive Waste

More harmful radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Sets standards for hazardous waste management by states; requires industry to track hazardous material “cradle to grave”.

Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), or “Superfund” Act

Federal program for cleaning up sites polluted by hazardous waste; culprits held liable for damage caused by their pollution