Enviro 6.1

Groundwater

water found underground trapped in soil or porous rock

Surface water

any body of water found above the ground, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes

Water cycle

the movement of water through various water compartments such as surface waters, atmosphere, soil, and living organisms

Transpiration

the loss of water vapor from plants

Aquifer

an underground, permeable region of soil or rock that is saturated with water

Infiltration

the process of water soaking into the ground

Water table

the uppermost water level of the saturated zone of an aquifer

Saltwater intrusion

the inflow of ocean (salt) water into a freshwater aquifer that happens when an aquifer has lost some of its freshwater stores

Water wars

political conflicts over the allocation of water sources

Domestic water

indoor and outdoor water used by households and small businesses.

Water Scarcity

not having access to enough clean water

Potable

water that is clean enough for consumption

Safe Drinking Water Act

federal law that protects public drinking water supplies in the United States

Wastewater

used and contaminated water that is released after use by households, businesses, industry, or agriculture

Wastewater treatment

the process of removing contaminants from wastewater to make it safe enough to release into the environment

Dams

structures that blocks the flow of water in a river or stream

Reservoirs

artificial lakes formed when a river is impounded by a dam

Desalination

the removal of salt and minerals from seawater to make it suitable for consumption

Water footprint

the water consumed by a given group (that is, person or population) or appropriated and/or polluted by industry to produce products or energy