Glossary

A

acid drainage

A process which occurs naturally (or can be human-induced) by the interaction of acidic compounds in water with vegetation, soil and bedrock (slate), resulting in acid runoff. This acid runoff can alter the chemical quality in a receiving body of water.

acid rain

Rain water that has been contaminated with chemicals introduced into the atmosphere through industrial, automobile, and/or other emissions, causing the acidity of the rain to be increased from that of unaffected rain water.

aeration

Exposure to mechanical or chemical action of air; charged with carbonic gas.

algae

Simple plants containing chlorophyll or other photosynthetic pigments: found widely in water and other damp environments.

aquaculture

The organized cultivation of marine plants and animals for human use and consumption; provision of artificially-controlled fish habitats and food supplies.

aquifer

A geological formation through which water may percolate slowly and for long distances, eventually yielding groundwater to springs and wells. Underground water is stored in dozens of reservoir-like layers. Most of the water in aquifers is contained in beds of sand, gravel or other materials and can be pumped to the surface.

atmosphere

Layer of gases and air surrounding the Earth.

B

bacteria

Large group of unicellular (one-celled) filamentous microscopic organisms lacking chlorophyll that multiply rapidly by simple fissure (division).

buffer zone

Sometimes referred to as a "Green Belt". A variable width of land adjacent to watercourses and wetlands, established to protect water from adjacent land uses. The criteria used to determine the width and type of vegetative cover for the buffer zone is based on the soil, geology, slope and sensitivity of the water and the proposed use of the adjacent land.

C

chlorination

The use of chlorine to disinfect water.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chlorine and fluorine particles attached to carbon molecules, which attack ozone molecules, ripping off an oxygen atom, thereby changing ozone's composition to oxygen; found primarily in blowing agents used to make Styrofoam, propellants for aerosols, coolants and cleaners.

clean water

Water from any source that can be safely used by humans, domestic animals and wildlife.

climate

Weather conditions of a place or region, averaged over a long period of time.

cloud

A visible mass of minute water and/or ice particles in the atmosphere.

conservation

The thoughtful use of Earth's renewable and non-renewable resources; preservation and enhancement of areas and resources that contribute to science, education, aesthetics, recreation and the protection of wildlife.

contamination

A condition or state of the environment that represents danger to life because of the presence of live pathogenic bacteria or toxic chemicals. Any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance found in a water source. Contaminants can be naturally occurring, or human-made.

D

dam

A structure made of earth, rock, concrete or other materials designed to retain water, creating a pond, lake or reservoir.

dehydration

The process of deprivation of water.

depletion

Water supplies that are being used up; gradually in most cases; without being replaced.

dew

Droplets of water condensed from the air onto warmer surfaces.

domestic sewage

Wastes carried by flushing water from kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, floor drains, etc.

E

ecology

The study of the relations of animals and plants to one another and their surroundings.

ecosystem

A system made up of a community of animals, plants and bacteria along with the physical and chemical environment with which the system is related; the natural community of plant, animal and bacteria populations and their physical and chemical environment.

effluent

A liquid, solid or gaseous product that is discharged either treated or untreated by homes, communities and industries.

environment

A collective term referring to the factors, conditions and influences that affect an organism or its community.

erosion

The process by which rock particles and soil are detached, transported and deposited from their original site to a new site.

estuary

Any confined coastal water body which acts as a transition zone between fresh and salt water.

eutrophication

A natural process by which lakes and ponds become enriched with dissolved nutrients, resulting in increased growth of algae and other microscopic plants.

evaporation

The process by which a liquid is changed into a vapour.

evapotranspiration

The process which combines evaporation and transpiration in the Earth's hydrologic cycle.

F

fertilizer

Materials that stimulate the growth of crops when added to soil or water.

floodplain

Relatively flat or lowland area adjoining a river, stream, watercourse, lake, ocean or other body of standing water which has been or may be covered temporarily with floodwater during storms of specified frequency.

food chain

The order or organisms that feed upon each other, from lowest plant life forms, to fish and animals, to humans. Toxins present in lower forms tend to become more concentrated as they climb the food chain.

G

global warming

The general warming of the Earth's climate caused by a build-up of greenhouse gases (greenhouse effect) – a major result of which will be a severe change in the distribution of the world's water supply.

groundwater

Water the occupies the pores and crevices of rock and soil; water located below ground level. Groundwater is usually obtained from a well or spring.

H

habitat

The native environment of a plant or animal.

hardness

A characteristic of water representing the total concentration of calcium and magnesium ions.

health

A general condition describing the physical, mental and social well-being of humans and other organisms – or of the ecosystem in general.

hydrogeology

The science that deals with subsurface waters and related geologic aspects of surface waters.

hydrologic cycle

The continual exchange of water between the Earth and its atmosphere. This cycle uses the same amount of water now as a million years ago.

hydrology

The study of the waters of the Earth, including their properties, circulation and distribution; environmental and economic aspects.

I

intertidal zone

The coastal area which lies between the highest and lowest points reached by the tides.

ion

An electrically-charged atom.

L

limnology

The study of the physical, chemical and biological condition(s) of lakes, ponds and streams.

limnologist

One who studies limnology.

M

meteorology

The study of the structure, physical characteristics and phenomena of the atmosphere.

O

ozone

A molecule of oxygen containing three atoms (O³); the oxygen we breathe in the lower atmosphere contains two atoms (O²).

ozone layer

The region of concentration of ozone molecules located in the stratosphere at an altitude of 15 to 35 kilometres that shields all biological life forms on Earth from most of the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

P

pathogen

A bacterium that produces disease.

pest

Any plant, animal or organic function of a plant or animal which may be noxious, injurious or troublesome.

pesticide

The collective name for a variety of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, fumigants and rodenticides; any substance or mixture of substances which directly or indirectly prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate the damage caused by any pest.

pH

Refers to the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

photosynthesis

The process by which plants containing chlorophyll use light as an energy source to absorb carbohydrates from atmospheric carbon dioxide and water, while simultaneously releasing oxygen to the atmosphere.

photosynthetic

An organism which facilitates photosynthesis.

plankton

Minute forms of aquatic plant and animal life inhabiting oceans, seas, rivers, ponds or lakes which swim weakly or drift.

pollution

Deterioration of the quality of the environment caused by the introduction of undesirable substances, organisms or energy.

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Synthetic chemical compounds consisting of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products (mainly industrial transformers and capacitors) that are very hazardous to the environment because of their extreme resistance to chemical and biological breakdown by natural processes (Note: the production of PCBs in North America was banned in 1977, by which time 635 000 tons had already been produced. Canada imported some 40 000 tons, 24 000 tons of which are currently in use or storage – most of the remainder is assumed to have entered the environment).

potable

Anything considered "fit for human consumption".

precipitation

Water falling in liquid or solid state from the atmosphere onto a land or water surface.

predators

Animals which feed mainly on other animals.

preservation

The action of maintaining life forms, natural resources, structures and environments that exist on Earth or in space.

protection

Steps taken to protect current or future releases into the ground or groundwater.

Q

quartz

A crystal form of silica which is the principal component of sand.

R

recharge

Putting water back into the ground, via rainfall or melting snow. Water from passing rivers and streams also percolates downward.

recycling

The return of discarded or waste materials to the production system for use in the manufacture of goods for economic gain and the conservation of resources.

resource management

The exploration of approaches to safeguard the future of renewable resources and uphold the principle of sustained yield, including the introduction of enforcement restraints and technical practices.

S

saturation

The point at which one substance absorbs or holds the greatest possible amount of another substance (for example: the point at which a sponge has absorbed all the water it can hold). The region below the ground's surface in which all pore spaces are filled with water. The upper surface of this zone is known as the water table.

soil

Naturally occurring, loose material that forms the upper layer of the Earth – made up primarily of very small particles of inorganic and organic mineral matter.

storm water

Water which runs off the land during and after rainfall.

surface water

Water found in rivers, streams, lakes, oceans.

T

toxic

Refers to anything capable of killing, injuring or impairing an organism through chemical action.

toxin

A substance that is toxic.

transpiration

The process by which water, absorbed by plants (usually through the roots) is evaporated into the atmosphere from the plant's surface (usually through the leaves).

turbidity

Muddiness, thickness, lack of clarity of a liquid or colour.

V

vector

A carrier of disease or infection.

W

waste

Liquid, solid or gaseous energy or matter left over from human activities or rejected as useless or worthless.

wastewater

Industrial, municipal and domestic effluent which includes sewage, wash water, and process water.

water

An odourless, colourless, tasteless liquid formed by the combination of two hydrogen (H₂) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom, forming a water molecule.

water mining

If you take more water out of the ground each year than you put in, you are mining water.

water table

The surface of an underground body of water that defines the zone of saturation within a soil or subsoil. The term "water table" refers to the position of the underground water or the depth to which you must drill to reach it. The water table may be a few feet down or hundreds of feet. The depth depends in part on the amount of water that has been removed (see mining).

watercourse

A natural, well defined channel produced entirely or in part by intermittent or continuously flowing water.

watershed

The area drained by, or contributing water to, a stream, lake or other body of water. Imagine a maple leaf. The stalk in the leaf is a river. The veins threading into the stalk are the tributaries flowing into the river. The complete leaf represents a river drainage system, or watershed.

watershed management

Administration and control of all the resources in a watershed for the production of water, including the control of water quality, streamflow, and floods.

wetlands

Land in which the soil is saturated with water throughout the year. They may be associated with rivers, lakes, streams, or coastal habitats. The types of wetlands usually described are marshes (fresh or saltwater), bogs, fens, swamps, sloughs and ponds. Wetlands have the ability to provide an improvement to water quality, preserve water quantity or moderate a flood event and provide wildlife habitat.

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