Title: Unit 10 Glossary
Course: BIS 105 Environmental Biology > Section: BIS 105 Environmental Biology

Unit 10 Glossary

Terms

Term | Definitions
aquifer | A geologic formation that stores water, aquifers may yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs and this water is often utilized as a primary source for municipal, industrial, irri ...
biochemical oxygen demand | The amount of oxygen used by aerobic (in presence of oxygen) bacterial decomposition of organic matter.
combined sewer system | A single set of underground pipes used to collect both sewage and. storm water runoff from streets for wastewater treatment.
cone of depression | The shape of the water table in the area immediately surrounding a pumping well. The water draws down in a radial cone-shape around the pumping well, with the deepest drawdown immediately at the w ...
confined aquifer | An aquifer which is overlain by a confining bed (aquitard) of significantly lower hydraulic conductivity which retards the vertical movement of water.
constructed wetland | Marsh built to treat contaminated water.
contaminant plume | A large body of flowing polluted groundwater.
cultural eutrophication | Rapid aquatic plant growth, particularly algae, in a surface water body. Can often result in low oxygen levels due to the amount of decomposition that occurs.
groundwater | Water in the ground that is in the zone of saturation from which wells, springs, and groundwater run-off are supplied.
hard water | Water with abundant calcium and magnesium, which reduces its ability to develop soapsuds and enhances scale; hard water does not have negative health effects in people.
heat | A type of water pollutant that causes a drop in the dissolved oxygen content, which can stress fish.
hypoxia | Very low oxygen water due to prolific growth of algae, algal death, and then decomposition, also called dead zone.
nonpoint source | Large and diffuse location where a pollution source occurs.
pathogen | A disease-causing microorganism, e.g., viruses, bacteria, parasitic worms, and protozoa, which cause a variety of intestinal diseases such as dysentery, typhoid fever, hepatitis, and cholera.
point source | Readily identifiable and relatively small location where a pollution source occurs.
residence time | A measure of the average time an individual water molecule stays in a particular reservoir.
sediment | A type of water pollutant that degrades drinking water and can kill underwater plants that need sunlight for photosynthesis.
septic tank system | An individual sewage treatment system for homes in rural and even some urban settings.
sewage treatment plant | A facility that processes wastewater with the main goal of removing organic matter (oxygen-demanding waste) and killing bacteria.
sludge | Concentrated organic solid produced during primary and secondarytreatment of sewage treatment.
water pollution | Contamination of water by an excess amount of a substance that can cause harm to human beings and the ecosystem.