Briefing Document: Water Systems and Pollution

Hydrological Cycle

The continuous circulation of water on, above and below the Earth's surface, driven by solar energy.

Water Budget

A quantitative estimate of the amounts of water in different storages and flows within the hydrological cycle.

Water Scarcity

The lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of a region.

Aquifer

An underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that contains groundwater.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

An area extending 200 nautical miles from a nation's coastline, within which it has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources.

Fisheries

The industry or activity of catching, processing, or selling fish and other seafood.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed, under controlled conditions.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

The largest average catch that can be taken from a fish stock year after year, without causing a decline in the population.

Water Pollution

The contamination of water bodies with substances that negatively affect water quality and harm ecosystems.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that enters a water body from a specific, identifiable location, such as a pipe discharge.

Non-Point Source Pollution

Pollution from diffuse sources, such as agricultural runoff or urban stormwater, which makes it difficult to pinpoint a single origin.

Turbidity

A measure of the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by suspended particles.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

The amount of oxygen gas dissolved in water, essential for the survival of aquatic organisms.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

A measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms in the process of decomposing organic matter in water.

Indicator Species

Organisms whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects specific environmental conditions and can be used to assess ecosystem health.

Biotic Index

A scale that uses the presence and abundance of indicator species to assess the overall health or quality of an aquatic ecosystem.

Eutrophication

The excessive enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, leading to algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and ecosystem degradation.

Pollution Management Strategies

Methods and approaches aimed at preventing, reducing, or mitigating water pollution.

Access to Freshwater

The availability of sufficient freshwater resources for human consumption, agriculture, and sanitation.

Aquatic Food Production Systems

Systems that involve the cultivation of aquatic organisms for food, including fisheries and aquaculture.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

A process promoting the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare.

Water Footprint

A measure of the amount of freshwater utilized in the production of goods and services, including consumption and direct use.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Sections of oceans where human activity is restricted to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Salinization

The accumulation of soluble salts in soil or water to levels that adversely affect agricultural productivity and water quality.

Source Water Protection

Strategies aimed at safeguarding the sources of drinking water from contamination and depletion.

Aquaponics

A sustainable food production system combining aquaculture and hydroponics, where fish waste provides nutrients for plants.

Wastewater Treatment

The process of removing contaminants from wastewater, making it safe for discharge or reuse.

Catchment Area

The land area from which rainfall and runoff are collected and channeled into a water body.