aquifers, surface waters, and regulatory vocab (aquatic science)

aquifer

an underground supply of water that is stored in sediment layers (sand or gravel)

caverns

these are formed

ground water

water that is found beneath the earth’s surface and in places such as aquifers. it can be extracted through wells.

percolation

the slow act of water moving through the pores in coil or permeable rock

permeable

allowing for water to pass through holes and pores (flowing water)

porosity

having holes or pores that are able to hold water

recharge zone

an area on land where water moves into a specific body of water

subsidence

texas groundwater

water table

water well

headwaters

perennial stream

river

spring

watershed

playa lakes

clean water act

eutrophication

impairments

non-point source pollution

pollution

point source pollution

water pollution that comes from one place. it is typically a regulated happening- sewage plant etc

turbidity

in relation to the sediments suspended in a body of water. (cloudy water, muddy water, etc)

waters of the united states (WOTUS)

all the bodies of water that are in the United States’ federal jurisdiction. they are covered by the clean water act