1. Water Resources Vocabulary

2. Watershed
All the land area that supplies water to a particular river system

3. Permeable
Having spaces or pores that allow water or other substances to pass through

4. Impermeable
Not allowing water or other substances to pass through

5. Aquifer
A sponge-like formation of rock, sand or gravel that holds water

6. Water Table
the boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation in an aquifer

7. Recharge Zone
an area where surface water soaks into the ground and reaches an aquifer

8. Well
a channel dug into an aquifer to reach groundwater

9. Water Division
the process of moving water from its source to places where humans can use it

10. Reservoir
an artificial lake where water for human use is stored

11. Desalination
the process of removing salt from seawater

12. Point Source Pollution
Direct pollution that comes from a specific location

13. Nonpoint Source Pollution
Indirect pollution that comes from many places over a large area

14. Wastewater
water that has been used in households, businesses, industries, or public facilities and drained or flushed down the pipes as well as the polluted runoff from streets and storm drains

15. Algal Bloom
the rapid growth of algae in an area that can cover the surface of the water and block sunlight from reaching plants below

16. Septic System
a method of wastewater disposal