Watershed

Watershed

an area of the land that water flows through, around or over- found EVERYWHERE

Water quantity

How much water is available- affected by climate, time of year and human activity

Water quality

rating based upon levels of contaminants and pollutants in the water.

Point pollution

type of pollution where a definite source can be found

Non-point pollution

type of pollution where NO definite source can be found

Ground water

Water found under the surface or in the ground

Aquifer

a area of the bed rock where water can be held

Unconfined aquifer

an aquifer that can be recharged from the surface

Confined aquifer

an aquifer that cannot be recharged from the surface

Spring

an area where an aquifer bubbles to the surface through a fault

Impermeable

water is NOT able to flow through

Permeable

water is able to flow through

Infiltration

Water moving through the ground to reach an aquifer

Percolation

water having impurities removed as it moves through the sediments

Watershed uses

recreation, travel, transportation, shipping

Factors that affect quality

run-off, sanitation, vegetation, pollution

Precipitation or thawing

How water enters a watershed

Manure

How livestock impair water quality- bacterial

Exhaust

How cars impair water quality- toxic

Nutrient pollution

fertilizers

Bacterial pollution

bacterial waste

Toxic pollution

lead, mercury, arsenic

Sediment pollution

excess soil run-off

Karst aquifer

cave

Artesian Well

well into a confined aquifer

Adaptations for Karst aquifer

blindness, heightened sense of smell