One Earth- Water Pollution Terms

water pollution

The addition of any substance to a body of water that might degrade its quality

stormwater runoff

The addition of any substance to a body of water that might degrade its quality

thermal pollution

the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature

point source pollution

pollution whose discharge source can be clearly identified (ex: ship, factory smokestack)

effluent

Wastewater discharged into the environment

nonpoint source pollution

pollution whose discharge source can not be clearly identified (from land runoff, percipitation)

sediment pollution

eroded soil that is washed into the water through runoff

dissolved oxygen (DO)

the amount of oxygen in the water

hypoxia

A situation in which a body of water contains inadequate levels of oxygen, compromising the health of many aquatic organisms

dead zones

Waters so depleted of oxygen that aquatic life suffers

eutrophication

A process in which excess nutrients in aquatic ecosystems feed biological productivity, ultimately lowering the oxygen content in the water.

cyanobacteria

a division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. They are prokaryotic and represent the earliest known form of life on Earth.

watershed

The land area surrounding a body of water over which water, such as rain can flow and potentially enter that body of water

water table

The uppermost water level of the saturated zone of an aquifer

Clean Water Act (1972)

U.S. federal legislation that regulates the release of point source pollution into surface waters and sets water quality standards for those waters. It also supports best management practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution

performance standards

The levels of pollutants allowed to be present in the environment or released over a certain time period

citizen suit provision

A provision that allows a private citizen to sue, in federal court, a perceived violator of certain U.S. environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, in order to force compliance

watershed management

Management of what goes on in an area around streams and rivers

total maximum daily loads

The maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody so that the waterbody will meet water quality standards

riparian areas

The land areas close enough to a body of water to be affected by the water’s presence (e.g., areas where water-tolerant plants grow) and that affect the water itself (e.g., provide shade