Glossary extracted starting with automatic seeds, with PTM for the domain env and language EN

feedlot	A confined area for the controlled feeding of animals
absorption	the uptake of water, other fluids, or dissolved chemicals by a cell or an organism (as tree roots absorb dissolved nutrients in soil).
sand	Small substrate particles, generally referring to particles less than 2 mm in diameter
holding time	the maximum amount of time a sample may be stored before analysis.
et	evapotranspiration
outfall	A location where safe, treated wastewater is discharged into a river, ocean or other body of water
non-selective pesticide	a product that kills or controls a wide range of organisms or related organisms; e.g., a non-selective herbicide is one that would kill many types of plants.
hypomelanistic	An animal having less black and/or brown color than a wild-type.
streambank stabilization	Natural geological tendency for a stream to mold its banks to conform with the channel of least resistance to flow
watermaster	An employee of a water department who distributes available water supply at the request of water right holders and collects hydrographic data.
powdered activated carbon	Activated carbon in particle sizes predominantly smaller than 80 mesh.
duf6	Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride
eco-bus	a bus which uses a combination of diesel and electric power.
added risk	The difference between the
climax	The final stage of vegetation succession; a climax community reproduces itself and is in equilibrium with the existing environment.
aqueous	(1) Relating to, similar to, containing, or dissolved in water; watery
mrf	Materials Recovery Facility
head ditch	The water supply ditch at the head end of an irrigated field.
estuary	mouth of a river, where fresh river water mixes with the seawater.
watertight	So tightly made that water cannot enter or escape.
operational concept	Mode of operating a canal with respect to location of priorities; usually supply oriented (upstream concept) or demand oriented (downstream concept).
small stream flooding	Nuisance flooding of very small creeks and streams due to excessive rainfall over small drainage areas
cir	credit interpretation request
density	Dioxin
exposure	A combination of the level of a pollutant and the amount of time a person spends in the presence of a pollutant
unsaturated zone	The area above the water table where soil pores are not fully saturated with water.
parameter	A variable, measurable property whose value is a determinant of the characteristics of a system; e.g
monitoring	Process whereby the quantity and quality of factors that can affect the environment or human health are measured periodically to regulate and control potential impacts.
landscape diversity	The size, shape, and connectivity of different ecosystems across a large area.
scabland	(Geography) An elevated area of barren, rocky land with little or no soil cover, often crossed by dry stream channels.
sustainable development	An approach to progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
bog	a type of wetland that accumulates appreciable peat deposits
meteoric water	Ground water derived primarily from precipitation and the atmosphere.
phase	A state of matter
back pressure	a pressure that can cause water to Backflow into the water supply when a user's waste water system is at a higher pressure than the public system.
pitot tube	An instrument used to measure the velocity of flowing water, with the velocity head of the stream an index of velocity
management plan	Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), a document that each Local Education Agency is required to prepare, describing all activities planned and undertaken by a school to comply with AHERA regulations, including building inspections to identify asbestos-containing materials, response actions, and operations and maintenance programs to minimize the risk of exposure.
section 404 permit	The Wetland dredge and fill permit issued under regulations written to conform to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
pressure sewers	A system of pipes in which water, wastewater, or other liquid is pumped to a higher elevation.
spawn	to deposit sperm or eggs into the water
sullage	(1) Silt deposited by a current of water
advisory	A non-regulatory document that communicates risk information to those who may have to make risk management decisions.
armoring	(1) the natural process of forming an erosion-resistant layer of relatively large particles on the surface of the stream bed; (2) the artificial application of various materials to strengthen stream banks against erosion (see also revetment).
carbonates	Chemical compounds related to carbon dioxide.
water table aquifer	an aquifer confined only by atmospheric pressure (water levels will not rise in the well above the confining bed).
combustion product	Substance produced during the burning or oxidation of a material.
supply augmentation	Alternative water management programs such as conjunctive use, water banking, or water project facility expansion that increase supply.
eligible costs	The construction costs for waste-water treatment plants upon which U.S
suspended load	specific sediment particles maintained in the water column by turbulence and carried with the flow of water.
cycloid scales	Scale resembling a circle.
scrap	Materials (principally metallic) discarded from manufacturing operations that may be suitable for reprocessing.
butt end	The bottom end of a cutting taken from a riparian plant that will root if planted in soil (it is opposite the budding tip's end of the cutting).
inundation	The covering by water of lands not normally so covered.
senile	(Geology) Worn away nearly to the base level, as at the end of an erosion cycle.
depression	In meteorology, it is another name for an area of low pressure, a low, or trough
pool	A reach of stream that is characterized by deep, low-velocity water and a smooth surface.
fossil fuel	A carbon or hydrocarbon fuel formed in the ground from the remains of dead plants and animals
saplings	Live trees 1.0 inch through 4.9 inches dbh.
intermittently exposed	A water regime in wetland classification in which surface water is present throughout the year except in years of extreme drought.
morbidity	Rate of disease incidence.
thermoregulation	The act of controlling body temperature
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon	A class of organic compounds with a fused-ring aromatic structure
waterfall	A place where the river course is interrupted by a tall step.
flow augmentation	The addition of water to a stream, especially to meet instream flow needs.
apm	Aquatic Plant Management
critical bed depth	The minimum depth of an adsorbent bed requited to contain the mass transfer zone.
first flush	The first portion of a rain event washed out approximately 90% of the pollutants in the first part of a rain event.
submerged aquatic vegetation	Vegetation such as sea grasses that cannot withstand excessive drying and therefore live with their leaves at or below the water surface
logging debris	The unutilized and generally unmarketable accumulation of woody material, such as large limbs, tops, cull logs and stumps, that remain as forest residue after timber harvesting.
rapid drawdown	Lowering the elevation of water against a bank faster than the bank can drain, leaving a pressure imbalance that may cause the bank to fail.
erosion	the wearing away of rock or soil by water, rain, waves, wind or ice; the process may be accelerated by human activities Evaporation
dyke	An artificial embankment constructed to prevent flooding.
hygroscopic nuclei	piece of dust or other particle around which water condenses in the atmophere
cultivar	Plant form originating from under cultivation.
equal discharge increment	A method used in measuring suspended sediment in a stream wherein samples are obtained at the centroids of equal discharge increments
hydrocarbons	Binary carbon and hydrogen composites
in-situ	In the original place
water energy dissipation	in reference to a structure in construction design to aid in erosion control.
piezometer	a nonpumping well, generally of small diameter, for measuring the elevation of a water table.
snow flurry/flurries	Light showers of snow, generally very brief without any measurable accumulation
water column	An imaginary column extending through a water body from its floor to its surface.
dry dock	(Nautical) A large dock in the form of a basin from which the water can be emptied or pumped, used for building or repairing a ship below its water line.
osmosis	the passage of a liquid from a weak solution to a more concentrated solution across a semi-permeable membrane that allows passage of the solvent (water) but not the dissolved solids.
void	the pore space or other openings in rock
the clean water act	A federal law of 1977 enforced by U.S
base	A substance which releases hydroxyl ions which when dissolved in water
cutback irrigation	Water applied at a faster rate at the beginning of the irrigation period and then reduced or cutback to a lesser rate, usually one-half the initial rate or that amount to balance with the intake rate.
pharmacokinetics	The dynamic behavior of chemicals inside biological systems; it includes the processes of uptake, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
needle punched	A term for nonwoven materials that have been processed with reciprocating banks of needles. The needles have barbed ends that drag fibers in a direction perpendicular to the normal orientation of the fibermat. Needling greatly improves the dimensional stability and tensile strength of nonwoven fibrous webs. Felt is a material commonly formed using needling.
margin of safety	Maximum amount of exposure producing no measurable effect in animals (or studied humans) divided by the actual amount of human exposure in a population.
quality assurance	Evaluation of quality-control data to allow quantitative determination of the quality of chemical data collected during a study
ionizing radiation	Radiation that can strip electrons from atoms; e.g
project farm headgate requirement	The project farm headgate requirement is that amount of water (in acre-feet per year) required at all farm headgates of the project
headcutting	The action of a bedscarp or headward erosion of a locally steep channel or gully.
lithosphere	The solid, outer portion of the earth's crust coupled to the rigid upper mantle
hazard identification	Determining if a chemical or a microbe can cause adverse health effects in humans and what those effects might be.
total organic carbon	(Water Quality) A measure of the amount of organic materials suspended or dissolved in water
hydrostatic pressure	pressure exerted by or existing within a liquid at rest with respect to adjacent bodies.
topography	The physical features of a surface area including relative elevations and the position of natural and man-made features
herbivore	An animal that feeds on plants.
disaccharides	The class of compound sugars that yields two monosaccharide units upon hydrolysis; examples are sucrose, maltose, and lactose.
colluvium	A general term used to describe loose and incoherent deposits of rock moved downslope by gravitational force in the form of soil Creep, slides, and local wash
cloning	In biotechnology, obtaining a group of genetically identical cells from a single cell; making identical copies of a gene.
ffa	Federal Facilities Agreement When a site is listed on the NPL and becomes a Superfund site, federal law requires that responsible state and federal agencies enter into a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA)
ambient air	The surrounding air.
orographic	pertaining to mountains, in regard to their location and distribution; said of the precipitation caused by the lifting of moisture-laden air over mountains.
binder	Chemicals that hold short fibres together in a cartridge filter.
silt	Sedimentary materials composed of fine or intermediate-sized mineral particles.
gpg	Abbreviation for "grain(s) per gallon".
dewatering	removing water from an area.
magnesium	This light metal and its derivatives are used in aerospace alloys, in incendiary devices such as flares, and elsewhere. When scrap magnesium is thinly shaved or powdered, it is considered to be a hazardous waste, as it ignites easily and burns with an intense, white flame. It is also a nutritionally essential trace metal.
spray irrigation	application of finely divided water droplets to crops using artificial means.
monomictic	Lakes and reservoirs which are relatively deep, do not freeze over during winter, and undergo a single stratification and mixing cycle during the year (usually in the fall).
reservoir	Any natural or artificial holding area used to store, regulate, or control water prior to distribution into homes and businesses.
fluoride	Fluoride can be found in water as natural mineral or as an additive to public or municipal supplies
snow depth	The actual depth of snow on the ground at any instant during a storm, or after any single snowstorm or series of storms.
sandstone	a medium-grained sedimentary rock composed of abundant fragments of sand that are more or less firmly united by a cementing material.
hypothesis	fen: A wetland that develops in cool and wet climates, but is less acidic and more productive than a bog because it has a better nutrient supply
suspended sediment	Sediment that is transported in suspension by a stream.
petrochemicals	Chemical substances produced from petroleum in refinery operations
ripple	(1) To form or display little undulations or waves on the surface, as disturbed water does
cancer risk	A number, generally expressed in exponential form (i.e., 1 x 10 -6 , which means one in one million), which describes the increased possibility of an individual developing cancer from exposure to toxic materials
feedback	Flow Control
open-loop recycling	A recycling system in which a product made from one type of material is recycled into a different type of product (e.g., used newspapers into toilet paper)
drying off	The process of reducing moisture to induce dormancy or a rest period in plants.
ohsas 18001	Specification OHSAS 18001 augments and is compatible with ISO 14001
sediment	Particles, derived from rocks or biological materials, that have been transported by a fluid or other natural process, suspended or settled in water.
diversion dam	A barrier built to divert part or all of the water from a stream into a different course
fish flows	"Artificially increased flows in the river system called for in the fish and wildlife program to quickly move the young fish down the river during their spring migration period
water column	an imaginary column extending through a water body from its floor to its surface.
drag	To search or sweep the bottom of a body of water, as with a grappling hook or dragnet.
aesthetics	aquatic life and wildlife, (see contact recreation, non-contact recreation).
watershed	land area from which water drains toward a common watercourse in a natural basin.
osmotic potential	The work per unit quantity of pure water that has to be done to overcome the effect of ions in the soil solutions
levee	Bank of sand and silt built by a river during floods, where the Suspended Load is deposited in greatest quantity close to the river
acid mine drainage	Acidic runoff from active and abandoned mines, especially coal mines (sulfuric acid)
protocol	A series of formal steps for conducting a test.
microorganism	organisms (microbes) observable only through a microscope; larger, visible types are called macroorganisms.
chelating agents	Organic compounds that have the ability to draw ion from their water solutions into soluble complexes.
concentration process	The process of increasing the number of particles per unit volume of a solution, usually by evaporating the liquid.
hexose	Any of various simple sugars that have six carbon atoms per molecule (e.g., glucose, mannose, and galactose).
waste generated	The total amount of MSW arising from a generator
water yield	Runoff, including ground water outflow that appears in the stream, plus ground water outflow that leaves the basin underground
compliance coal	Any coal that emits less than 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu when burned
wasatch winds	Strong winds blowing easterly out of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, sometimes reaching speeds greater than 75 miles per hour.
non-fish-bearing stream	a stream that is not inhabited by fish, and provides water, food and nutrients to a downstream fish bearing stream or other water body.
chips	Small fragments of wood chopped or broken by mechanical equipment
discharge velocity	An apparent velocity, calculated by Darcy's Law, which represents the flow rate at which water would move through an aquifer if the aquifer were an open conduit
drainage well	(Irrigation) A vertical opening to a permeable substation into which surface and subsurface water is channeled
kcfs-month	One kcfs-month is a flow of 1,000 cubic feet per second for one month or 0.0595 million acre-feet.
homeowner water system	A water system that supplies piped water to a single residence.
ozone	oxygen in molecular form with three atoms of oxygen forming each molecule (O3)
transpiration	The process by which water vapour is released into the atmosphere after transpiring of living plants.
subsurface	Of, relating to, or situated in an area beneath a surface, especially the surface of the earth or of a body of water.
perched streams	Perched streams are either Losing Streams or Insulated Streams that are separated from the underlying ground water by a zone of aeration
liquefaction	Changing a solid into a liquid.
cathode	A site in electrolysis where cations in solution are neutralized by electrons that plate out on the surface or produce a secondary reaction with water.
mixed media filtration	A system using two or more dissimilar granular materials (such as anthracite, sand and garnet) blended by size and density
nuclide	An atom characterized by the number of protons, neturons, and energy in the nucleus.
contour ditch	An irrigation ditch laid out approximately on the contour, or elevation of the land.
glaciology	Collectively, the branches of science concerned with the causes and modes of ice accumulation and with ice action, on the earth's surface
water vapor	Water in gaseous form
evaporation rate	The quantity of water which evaporates from a given surface per unit of time, usually expressed in inches or depth per day, month, or year.
streambank erosion	The wearing away of streambanks by flowing water.
flood fringe	The portion of the floodplain where water depths are shallow and velocities are low.
radionuclide	Radioactive particle, man-made (anthropogenic) or natural, with a distinct atomic weight number
beta particle	A negatively charged particle emitted from the nucleus of an atom
medic	species of the genus Medicag o, including lucerne, that have symbiotic rhizobia which fix nitrogen
polynya	(Russian) An area of open water surrounded by sea ice.
glide	A section of stream that has little or no turbulence.
volatile	Capable of vaporization at a relatively low temperature.
initial detention	The volume of water on the ground, either in depressions or in transit, at the time active runoff begins
nanometer	Abbreviated "nm", a unit of length equal to one thousandth of a micrometer
predator	a living organism that preys upon another animal
transportation	A process where the river moves, or transports materials (it's load) from one place to another.
corrosion	The dissolution and wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction such as between water and the pipes, chemicals touching a metal surface, or contact between two metals.
xenobiotic	Any biological substance, displaced from its normal habitat; a chemical foreign to a biological system.
oxidant	A chemical substance capable of promoting oxidation, for example O2, O3, Cl2.
bactericide	Any substance or agent which kills bacteria.
disaster area	An area that officially qualifies for emergency governmental aid as a result of a catastrophe, such as an earthquake or a flood.
disintegration	nuclear disintegration A spontaneous nuclear transformation (radioactivity) characterized by the emission of energy and/or mass from the nucleus of an atom.
flush valve	A self-closing valve designed to release a large volume of water when tripped.
ground water hydraulics	The study of the movement of water, especially water under pressure and water's movement through various soil medium.
water law	A law that has been instigated to control the right to the use of water
chronic effect	An adverse effect on a human or animal in which symptoms recur frequently or develop slowly over a long period of time.
average year water supply	The average annual supply of a water development system over a long period
sea	ocean or lake by a relatively narrow opening or channel.
screen	A type of large sieve used to sort and separate different types of waste: biodegradable waste from light packaging with plastic film, for example.
habitat	the native environment or specific surroundings where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives
phytoplankton	Free-floating, mostly microscopic aquatic plants.
complexing	the use of chelating or sequestering agents to form relatively loose chemical bonding as a means of treating certain pollutants such as nickel, copper, and cobalt.
engineered controls	Method of managing environmental and health risks by placing a barrier between the contamination and the rest of the site, thus limiting exposure pathways.
slurry	A watery mixture or suspension of insoluble (not dissolved) matter; a thin watery mud or any substance resembling it (such as a grit slurry or a lime slurry).
engineer	one who is trained or professionally engaged in a branch of engineering
tidal volume	The volume of water entering and leaving a bay or salt marsh as the water level fluctuates because of the tides.
couloir	A deep mountain gorge or gully.
sky cover	The amount of the celestial dome that is hidden by clouds and/or obscurations.
ionization	a process by which a neutral atom or molecule loses or gains electrons, thereby acquiring a net charge and becoming an ion; occurs as the result of the dissociation of the atoms of a molecule in solution or of a gas in an electric field.
basin fill	Unconsolidated material such as sand, gravel, and silt eroded from surrounding mountains and deposited in a valley.
water requirement	The total quantity of water, regardless of its source, required for a specified use under a predetermined or prescribed situation.
particulates	A fine liquid or solid particle such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or smog, found in air or emissions.
ecoregion	A physical region that is defined by its ecology, which includes meteorological factors, elevation, plant and animal speciation, landscape position, and soils.
alum treatment	Process of putting liquid alum (Aluminum Sulfate) into the lake water, to precipitate to a floc that settles through the water column removing fine particles to the sediment and building up a barrier layer to contain soluble phosphorus in the lake sediments.
tar balls	Non-volatile hydrocarbon clumps remaining in water after the volatile fractions have evaporated from crude oil that has been discharged or spilled into the marine environment
sump	an excavation for the purpose of catching or storing liquids such as greywater; the water drains into the soil Suspended Solids
pathogenic microorganisms	Microorganisms that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans, animals, and plants.
annual flood series	A list of annual floods for a given period of time.
neutrons	Uncharged building blocks of an atom that play a part in radio-activity
covering	Spreading of a layer of other material on the top of the masses of waste in order to reduce undesired impacts on the environment
integrated drainage	drainage developed during maturity in an arid region, characterized by coalescence of drainage basins as a result of headward erosion in the lower basins or spilling over from the upper basins.
discharge	the volume of fluid passing a point per unit of time, commonly expressed in cubic feet per second, million gallons per day, gallons per minute, or seconds per minute per day.
snowcaps	the snow at the top of a mountain
conservation	the political/social/economic process by which the environment is protected and resources are used wisely.
coalescence	Liquid particles in suspension that unite to create particles of a greater volume.
intervale	(New England) A tract of low-lying land, especially along a river.
u-shaped valleys	U-shaped valleys are characteristic of glacial erosion; valleys eroded by stream action are typically V-Shaped
combustion	A chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen that produces heat (and usually light).
biodegradation	The metabolic breakdown of materials into simpler components by living organisms
experimental nonpoint source project	A scientific study designed primarily to document the effectiveness of specific nonpoint source pollution controls (BMPs) at reducing nonpoint source pollution
glaciofluvial deposits	Material moved by glaciers and subsequently sorted and deposited by streams flowing from the melting ice
spray chamber	A device that removes certain organic compounds from an airstream by condensation
ambient air	outside air; the air around us.
specific yield	the amount of water a unit volume of saturated permeable rock will yield when drained by gravity.
remedial response	Long-term action that stops or substantially reduces a release or threat of a release of hazardous substances that is serious but not an immediate threat to public health.
waterlogging	saturation of soil with irrigation water so the water table rises close to the surface.
neuston	(1) The collection of minute or microscopic organisms that inhabit the surface layer of a body of water
prior appropriation doctrine	The system for allocating water to private individuals used in most Western states
fallow	a phase when land is not being actively cropped
gas turbine	Sometimes called a combustion turbine; a gas turbine converts the energy of hot compressed gases (produced by burning fuel in compressed air) into mechanical power, which can be used to generate electricity.
aqua	Water; an Aqueous solution
greenhouse effect	The atmosphere lets most of the sun's rays filter through to warm the surface of the earth
erodible	susceptible to erosion: erosivity is the capacity (e.g
epilimnion	warm, less dense top layer in a stratified lake
flow	The discharge rate of a resource, expressed in volume during a certain period of time.
topsoil	rich, upper layer of soil.
divert	taking water from a stream and includes causing water to leave the channel of a stream and making a change in or about the channel that permits water to leave it.
current canal	The current caused by an influent (inlet) or effluent (outlet) stream may effectively limit the growth of aquatic plants and create canal-like openings through weed beds.
specific conductance	a measure of the ability of a water to conduct an electrical current
fouling	The process in which undesirable foreign matter accumulates in a bed of filter media or ion exchanger, clogging pores and coating surfaces, thus inhibiting or retarding the proper operation of the bed.
responsibility	see Accountability.
stack	TCLP
carriage losses	A term used to describe the operational losses associated with conveying water from its point of diversion to its point of use
nutrients	Nitrogen and phosphorus occur naturally in water, soil and air
snow depth	The vertical distance between the surface of a snow layer and the ground beneath.
phytoplankton	That portion of the plankton community comprised of tiny plants; e.g
percolation	the movement, under hydrostatic pressure, of water through interstices of a rock or soil (except the movement through large openings such as caves).
endemism	the characteristic of being confined to or indigenous in, a certain area or region.
salt flat	A salt-encrusted flat area resulting from evaporation of a former body of water.
microclimate	1
noncarbonate hardness	Water hardness due to the presence of compounds such as calcium and magnesium chlorides, sulfates or nitrates; the excess of total hardness over total alkalinity.
biological contaminants	Living organisms or derivates (e.g
navigable waters	Traditionally, waters sufficiently deep and wide for navigation by all, or specific sizes of, vessels.
revenue	Total annual revenue from ordinary activities (i.e., sales).
probable maximum flood	The largest flood for which there is any reasonable expectancy in a particular climatic era.
native lignin	Lignin as it exists in the lignocellulosic complex before separation
carbon offsetting	see offsetting
emission	A material which is expelled or released to the environment
public-private partnership	A PPP is a locally tailored contract through which the municipality assigns certain tasks to a private-sector company and sets performance targets
backwater effect	The rise in surface elevation of flowing water upstream from and as a result of an obstruction to flow
order on consent	See Consent Order
cost	the outlay or expenditure (as of money, effort or sacrifice) made to achieve an object or advantage cost-effective - able at least to pay for itself or make a profit county water authority - a public water district serving a county-wide area cubic foot of water - the amount of water needed to fill a cube that is one foot on all sides; about 7.5 gallons
floodplain	The flat or nearly flat land along a river or stream or in a tidal area that is covered by water during a flood.
troposphere	the layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth, extending seven to ten miles above the surface, containing most of the clouds and moisture.
health hazard	Anything which can have harmful effects on health
aquiculture	the raising or fattening of fish in enclosed ponds
other nonferrous metals	Recyclable nonferrous metals such as lead, copper, and zinc from appliances, consumer electronics, and nonpackaging aluminum products
dose equivalent	The product of the absorbed dose from ionizing radiation and such factors as account for biological differences due to the type of radiation and its distribution in the body in the body.
dichlorobenzene	A volatile organic compound often used as a deodorizer, and as a moth, mold and mildew killer. It is a white solid with a strong odor of mothballs. It is toxic and is listed as a cancer-causing agent under Proposition 65.
drainage basin	the area of land drained by a major river system
creek	a small stream of water which serves as the natural drainage course for a drainage basin
underflow	movement of water through subsurface material.
maximum depth	The greatest depth of the body of water measured in feet and 10ths of feet.
subsidence	A sinking or downward motion of air, often seen in anticyclones
toxicity reduction evaluation	a study conducted to determine the source(s) of toxicity in a discharge effluent so that these sources can be controlled sufficiently to allow a discharger to comply with their permit limits.
hazard quotient	The ratio of estimated site-specific exposure to a single chemical from a site over a specified period to the estimated daily exposure level, at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur.
nonpersistent emergent plants	emergent plants whose leaves and stems break down at the end of the growing season from decay or by the physical forces of waves and ice; at certain seasons, there are no visible traces of the plants above the surface of the water.
stream order	A ranking of the relative sizes of streams within a watershed based on the nature of their tributaries
endpoint	The point at which a process is stopped because a predetermined value of a measurable variable is reached; the endpoint of an ion exchanger water softener service run is the point at which the hardness of the softener effluent increases to a predefined concentration, often 1.0 grain per gallon; the endpoint of a filter service run may be the point at which the pressure drop across the filter reaches a predetermined value; the endpoint of a titration is the point at which the titrant produces a predetermined color change, pH value, or other measurable characteristic.
surface casing	The well pipe inserted as a lining nearest to the surface of the ground to protect the well from near-surface sources of contamination.
geomorphic	pertaining to the form of the Earth or of its surface features.
nitrogen	Seventh element in the periodic table. Each atom consists of 7 protons, 7 neutrons, and 7 electrons.
outcrop	Subsurface formations which become exposed at the surface.
waste	a substance that is useless to the organism or system that produces it and requires disposal Waste Disposal Facilities
bwr	Boiling Water Reactor.
root hair	(Botany) A thin, hairlike outgrowth of an epidermal cell of a plant root that absorbs water and minerals from the surrounding soil.
ion	An electrically charged atom or group of atoms.
transparent	A condition where a material is clear enough not to block the passage of radiant energy, especially light.
watt	A unit of power or the rate of energy use or conversion when one joule of energy (0.0238 calories) is used or converted per second.
meniscus	the curved upper surface of a non-turbulent liquid in a container; it is concave (curves upward) if it wets the container walls, and convex (curves downward) if it does not
borehole	Hole made with drilling equipment.
secondary data	(Data Analysis) Typically, data acquired from published sources as opposed to data acquired from direct observation or measurement such as a survey
non-ionic surfactants	a general family of surfactants so called because in solution the entire molecule remains associated
xylene	An aromatic hydrocarbon used in gasoline, paints, lacquers, pesticides, gums, resins and adhesives
systemic pesticide	A chemical absorbed by an organism that interacts with the organism and makes the organism toxic to pests.
subchronic exposure	Multiple or continuous exposures lasting for approximately ten percent of an experimental species lifetime, usually over a three-month period.
air lock	A bubble or pocket of air or vapor, as in a pipe, that stops the normal flow of fluid through the conducting part.
acceptable daily intake	An estimate of the daily exposure dose that is likely to be without deleterious effect even if continued exposure occurs over a lifetime.
mudballs	Round material that forms in filters and gradually increases in size when not removed by backwashing.
surface area	(See filter area.)
dolos	A concrete protective unit used to dissipate wave energy thus preventing damages to breakwaters and jetties
expand	to take up more space.
streamflow	The rate at which water passes a given point in a stream or river, usually expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs).
ph	The reciprocal of the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration
sacrificial anode	An anode constructed of magnesium or other suitable material and placed in a water heater tank to accept the electrolytic activity and to protect the tank from corrosion.
project installation period	The time period required for construction and installation of a project.
sub basin	(1) A portion of a subregion or basin drained by a single stream or group of minor streams
filling	Depositing dirt, mud or other materials into aquatic areas to create more dry land, usually for agricultural or commercial development purposes, often with ruinous ecological consequences.
hydrologic unit	is a geographic area representing part or all of a surface drainage basin or distinct hydrologic feature.
digestate	The residue or "digested" waste produced by methane production from organic or biodegradable waste
tarn	A small steep-banked mountain lake or pool, generally formed by a glaciation process.
public hearing	A formal hearing at which the public has the opportunity to submit comments and testimony on proposed actions for the public record.
methanol	An alcohol that can be used as an alternative fuel or as a gasoline additive
field capacity	The capacity of soil to hold water
water-related disaster	A cyclic event involving water during which there is threat to or loss of human life or property (e.g., flood, hurricane, tsunami, etc.).
remedial action plan	A plan that outlines a specific program leading to the remediation of a contaminated site
pondage	(1) The holding back of water for later release for power development above the dam of a hydroelectric plant to: (a) equalize daily or weekly fluctuations of streamflow, or (b) to permit irregular hourly use of water by the wheels to take care of fluctuations in the load demand
direct water uses	Uses of water that are apparent, for example, washing, bathing, cooking, etc.
stream	also the upper reaches of a reservoir, the water upstream from a structure or point on a stream, the small streams that come together to form a river, any and all parts of a river basin except the mainstream river and main tributaries.
extinction	the processes that cause all members of a species to die
bronchitis	a lung disorder characterized by inflammation and irritation of bronchi (airways of the lower respiratory tract)
water level pivot point	A location along the water surface in a canal reach where the water level remains essentially constant during changes in flow.
specific conductance	The ability of water to conduct electricity; this ability varies in proportion to the amount of ionized minerals in the water.
scour	Concentrated erosive action of flowing water in streams that removes and carries away material from the bed and banks.
placer	(Geology) (1) A glacial or alluvial deposit of heavy minerals such as gold or platinum concentrated in stream or beach gravels
occluded	Taken in and retained, absorbed.
cation	An ion with a positive electrical charge, such as calcium, magnesium and sodium.
water quality standards	laws or regulations, promulgated under Section 303 of the Clean Water Act, that consist of the designated use or uses of a waterbody or a segment of a waterbody and the water quality criteria that are necessary to protect the use or uses of that particular waterbody
cephalothorax	The tagma of found in some arthropods, it is a segment comprising the head and the thorax fused together, and is distinct from the abdomen behind.
trash rack	A barrier placed at the upstream end of a culvert to trap debris but allow water to flow through.
kame	A conical hill or short irregular ridge of gravel or sand deposited in contact with glacial ice.
health and safety plan	A plan included in investigation or cleanup work plans which outlines protective measures for site workers and the community during investigation or cleanup activities.
soil vapor survey	A non-invasive method for the detection of volatile or semivolatile organic contaminants in shallow subsurface soil
old growth	Timber stands with the following characteristics; large mature and over-mature trees in the overstory, snags, dead and decaying logs on the ground, and a multi-layered canopy with trees of several age classes.
elevation head	The potential energy in a hydraulic system, represented by the vertical distance between the hydraulic system (pipe, channel, etc.) and a reference level, and expressed in length units
taxonomy	The science, laws, or principles of classifying living organisms in specially named categories based on shared characteristics and natural relationships.
left bank	The left-hand bank of a stream viewed when the observer faces downstream.
sulfur	A yellowish solid chemical element
bore	A high, often dangerous wave caused by the surge of a flood tide upstream in a narrowing Estuary or by colliding tidal currents
mineral	A term applied inorganic substances, such as rocks and similar matter found in the earth strata, as opposed to organic substances such as plant and animal matter
rapids	A reach of stream that is characterized by small falls and turbulent, high-velocity water.
photolysis	The lysis of water to give oxygen and hydrogen under the influence of light
top of bank	The break in slope between the stream bank and the surrounding upland terrain.
streamline	(1) A line that is parallel to the direction of flow of a fluid at a given instant
dune swale	A low place among sand dunes, typically moister and often having distinctive vegetation differing from the surrounding sand environment.
ground water law	The common law doctrine of Riparian Rights and the doctrine of prior appropriation (Appropriative Rights) as applied to ground water
biomass	The amount of living matter, in the form of organisms, present in a particular habitat, usually expressed as weight-per-unit area.
glacial	of or relating to the presence and activities of ice or glaciers.
revegetation	the re-establishment of vegetation in disturbed areas.
decant	to remove the liquid portion of a settled mixture without disturbing the sediment.
pest	An insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed or other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life that is injurious to health or the environment.
membrane filter method	A procedure used to recover and count bacteria in samples of liquid substances, such as water
back pressure	Pressure that can cause water to backflow into the water supply when a user's waste water system is at a higher pressure than the public system.
gravel support bed	A layer or layers of graded gravel and course sand placed around and above the underdrain metalwork of a water treatment system
runoff	that part of precipitation or snowmelt that appears in streams or surface-water bodies.
plateau	A plateau is a large, flat area of land that is higher than the surrounding land.
approval	an approval of the comptroller, regional water manager or an engineer under Sections 8 or 9 of the Water Act.
recycling	Reusing materials and objects in original or changed forms rather than discarding them as wastes.
quickwater	the part of a stream that has a strong current; an artificial current or bubbling patch of water just astern of a moving boat.
cleanup	Actions taken to deal with a release or threat of release of a hazardous substance that could affect humans and/or the environment
dose-response assessment	1
water resource plan	A planning document or process which assesses both sources and uses of water and develops strategies for their most effective and efficient use according to public needs and criteria
edwards outcrop	where the Edwards and associated limestone formations are found at the surface
drop structure	A structure for dropping water to a lower level and dissipating its surplus energy
volatile organic compounds	Organic liquids, including many common solvents, that readily evaporate at temperatures normally found at ground surface and at shallow depths
habitat	The area where a plant or animal lives and grows under natural conditions
hydrometer	an instrument used to measure the density of a liquid.
saltatorial	refers to a form of locomotion in which the animal hops as it moves along
bank and channel stabilization	Implementation of structural features along a streambank to prevent or reduce bank erosion and channel degradation.
ecological entity	In ecological risk assessment, a general term referring to a species, a group of species, an ecosystem function or characteristic, or a specific habitat or biome.
drainage area	of a stream at a specified location is that area, measured in a horizontal plane, enclosed by a topographic divide from which direct surface runoff from precipitation normally drains by gravity into the stream above the specified location.
mixed paper	Recovered paper not sorted into categories such as old magazines, old newspapers, old corrugated boxes, etc.
process wastewater	Any water that comes into contact with any raw material, product, byproduct, or waste.
idle cropland	Land in cover and soil improvement crops; cropland on which no crops were planted
dri [nevada]	See Desert Research Institute (DRI) [Nevada].
in-situ vitrification	technology that treats contaminated soil in place at high temperatures, at 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
saline seeps	Wet areas in non-irrigated soils where soluble salts accumulate from the evaporation of the seeping water and crop or grass production is reduced or eliminated.
action plan	The action plan sets out a detailed programme of implementation steps over a 5 year time frame, within the framework of the overall strategy for the long term
cation exchange capacity	The total of exchangeable cations that a soil can adsorb; expressed in milliequivalents per 100 grams (g) of soil.
acequia	irrigation channels constructed during the period of Spanish Colonial Mission settlement
hydrograph	A chart that measures the amount of water flowing past a point as a function of time.
species composition	that portion of an Index of Biotic Integrity that is a metric measuring the number and identity of species.
biochemical oxygen demand	The amount of oxygen consumed in the oxidation of organic matter by biological action under specific standard test conditions
flood control pool	Reservoir volume reserved for flood runoff and then evacuated as soon as possible to keep that volume in readiness for the next flood.
physical weathering	Breaking down of rock into bits and pieces by exposure to temperature and changes and the physical action of moving ice and water, growing roots, and human activities such as farming and construction.
drainage basin	The area of land that is drained by a river and its tributaries
ambient temperature	Temperature of the surrounding air or other medium.
chemical compound	A distinct and pure substance formed by the union or two or more elements in definite proportion by weight.
inorganic chemicals	Chemical substances of mineral origin, not of basically carbon structure.
refueling emissions	Emissions released during vehicle re-fueling.
high-test hypochlorite	A dry solid, largely calcium hypochlorite, used as a disinfecting agent; has excellent stability as long as kept dry.
isobath	An imaginary line on the earth's surface or a line on a map connecting all points which are the same vertical distance above the upper or lower surface of a water-bearing formation or aquifer.
quad	One quadrillion Btu (1015 Btu) = 1.055 exajoules (EJ), or approximately 172 million barrels of oil equivalent.
sea breeze front	A coastal phenomena, it is restricted to large bodies of water and their immediate coast lines
hertz	in electrical/electronic applications with alternating current, a unit of frequency where 1 Hz equals one cycle per second.
casque	The head crest or crest of an animal.
rain forest	A tropical woodland that has an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and often much more, typically restricted to certain lowland areas.
sodium cycle	the cation exchange process in which sodium on the ion exchange resin is exchanged for hardness and other ions in water
virus	The smallest form of micro-organisms capable of causing disease.
drainage area	An area of land that drains to one point; watershed.
street sweeping	Handling, collecting and removing dust/sand, dirt and litter
endangered species act	regulation that protects species of animal or plant that has been identified as in danger of becoming extinct because of harmful human activity or environmental factors.
freeboard	The vertical distance between a bed of filter media or ion exchange material and the overflow or collector for backwash water; the height above the bed of granular media available for bed expansion during backwashing; may be expressed either as a linear distance or a percentage of bed depth.
literacy	The ability to read and write a simple statement about one’s everyday life and do simple mathematical calculations
molecule	the simplest structural unit of a substance that retains the properties of the substance, and is composed of one or more atoms.
water mill	A mill whose machinery is moved by water.
alluvial fan flooding	Flooding occurring on the surface of an Alluvial Fan or similar landform which originates at the apex and is characterized by high-velocity flows: active processes of erosion, sediment transport, deposition, and unpredictable flow paths.
watershed project	A group of activities undertaken in a geographic area to restore or protect the beneficial uses of a water resource.
open drains	Open channels or large ditches spaced throughout an irrigation project to collect surface and subsurface drainage from adjacent farm land.
backwater	(1) A small, generally shallow body of water attached to the main channel, with little or no current of its own.
geohydrology	A term which denotes the branch of Hydrology relating to subsurface or subterranean waters; that is, to all waters below the surface
recovery	the ability of the water in a well to return to its static level after being drawn down during a period of pumping.
depth of runoff	The total runoff from a drainage basin divided by its area
inventory	Inventory of chemicals produced pursuant to Section 8 (b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
water ranching	The purchase of agricultural lands solely for the purpose of acquiring associated water rights or underlying groundwater.
measure of exposure	A measurable characteristic of a stressor (such as the specific amount of mercury in a body of water) used to help quantify the exposure of an ecological entity or individual organism.
polyacrylamides	Synthetic polymers with extensive water-retention and water-saving capabilities used to halt erosion and promote dryland farming
endangerment assessment	A study to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site on the National Priorities List and the risks posed to public health or to the environment
downstream	In the direction of the current of a stream.
commercial chemical product	A chemical substance that is manufactured or formulated for commercial or manufacturing use.
thermocline	(1) The region in a thermally stratified body of water which separates warmer oxygen-rich surface water from cold oxygen-poor deep water and in which temperature decreases rapidly with depth
subsurface drainage	Rainfall that is not evapotranspirated or does not become surface runoff.
efflorescence	(1) (Chemistry) The deposit that results from the process of Efflorescing, called bloom
border ditch	A ditch used as a border of an irrigated strip or plot, water being spread from one or both sides of the ditch along its entire length.
alluvial	An adjective referring to soil or earth material which has been deposited by running water, as in a riverbed, flood plain, or delta.
blowout	A sudden escape of a confined gas or liquid, as from a well.
total solids	Total solids in water include both dissolved and suspended solids
inorganic	Matter other than plant or animal and not containing a combination of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, as in living things.
meander line	A line delineated by government survey for the purpose of defining the bends or windings of the banks of a stream or the shore of a body of water, and as a means for ascertaining the quantity of land embraced by the survey.
amprometric titration	a way of measuring concentrations of certain substances in water using the electric current that flows during a chemical reaction.
fish community	In ecology, the species of fish that interact in a common area.
surface mining	The process of removing mineral deposits that are found close enough to the surface so that the construction of tunnels (underground mining) is not necessary
best uses	Designated uses for a water body which include aquatic life propagation and maintenance (including fishing, fish and functioning primary nursery areas), wildlife, secondary recreation, water supply (fresh waters), and shellfishing (salt waters).
cooling tower	large tower used to transfer the heat in cooling water from a power or industrial plant to the atmosphere either by direct evaporation or by convection and conduction.
laboratory animal studies	Investigations using animals as surrogates for humans.
hydrosphere	Considered as the water portion of the earth's surface
intertidal zone	That area of coastal land that is covered by water at high tide and uncovered at low tide.
basin	A segment or portion of a larger watershed area, based on the natural water drainage pattern.
d-value	The deviation of actual altitude along a constant pressure surface from the standard atmosphere altitude of that surface.
consequent lake	Lake existing in a depression representing the original inequality in a new land surface
dive	To plunge, especially headfirst, into water.
clearing	removing vegetation, particularly trees and shrubs, from a landscape, often with the intention of replacing it with plants regarded to be more directly useful to humans
hydrogen sulfide	A gas emitted during organic decomposition by a select group of bacteria, which strongly smells like rotten eggs.
inhalation	Breathing
organic	1
sterilization	The removal or destruction of all microorganisms, including pathogenic and other bacteria, vegetative forms, and spores.
water main	A principal pipe in a system of pipes for conveying water, especially one installed underground.
aqueous	Water-based.
ecological impact	The effect that a man-caused or natural activity has on living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment.
reconnaissance code	An aircraft weather reconnaissance code that has come to refer primarily to in-flight tropical weather observations, but actually signifies any detailed weather observation or investigation from an aircraft in flight.
fill	(Geology) Any sediment deposited by any agent such as water so as to fill or partly fill a channel, valley, sink, or other depression.
friable	Capable of being crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
permeable	ability of a material to allow the passage of a liquid, such as water, through sands and gravels or rocks. Water moves more quickly through sands, whereas clay is impermeable.
bio-monitor	plant/animal used to alert scientists to a change in environment.
landscape	A heterogeneous land area with interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form throughout.
stage	The height of a water surface above some established reference point or Datum (not the bottom) at a given location
pest	an animal, or sometimes a plant, occurring where it is not wanted by humans (see weed)
nickel	A metal used in alloys to provide corrosion and heat resistance for products in the iron, steel and aerospace industries
wave	a ridge or swell moving along the surface of a large body of water and generated by the wind or gravity.
zeolite	A group of hydrated sodium aluminosilicates, either natural or synthetic, with ion exchange properties
completed test	(Water Quality) The third, and last, part of the examination of water for the presence of bacteria of fecal origin
heavy water	Water in which all the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by deuterium.
windrow	A professional term to describe the action of arranging waste to be composted into long, high rows (windrows) in order to facilitate its decomposition.
organic matter	Plant and animal residues, or substances made by living organisms
evaporation	the process by which water is converted to vapour (e.g
body burden	The amount of a chemical stored in the body at a given time, especially a potential toxin in the body as the result of exposure.
antecedent moisture	The degree of wetness of soil at the beginning of a runoff, determined by summation of weighted daily rainfall amounts for a period preceding the runoff.
bubbler	A drinking fountain from which a stream of water bubbles upward.
national economic development	One of the two main objectives of planning for water and related land resources by governmental agencies whose activities involve planning and development of water resources
biological diversity	The number and kinds of organisms per unit area of volume; the composition of species in a given area at a given time.
slurry	A watery mixture that does not contain a significant amount of dissolved materials.
biological contaminants	Living organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens that can cause harmful health effects to humans.
bank-full channel width	The top surface width of a stream channel when flowing at a bank-full discharge.
anaerobic	A life or process that occurs in, or is not destroyed by, the absence of oxygen.
effluent	The liquid or gas discharged after processing activities, usually containing residues from such use
secondary wood processing mills	A mill that uses primary wood products in the manufacture of finished wood products, such as cabinets, moldings, and furniture.
wet sclerophyll	a type of eucalypt forest found in high rainfall (more than 1000 mm per year) areas; sometimes called 'tall-open forests' (see dry sclerophyll)
parasite	An animal that lives inside another plant or animal living off that plant or animals nutrients
vapor plumes	Flue gases visible because they contain water droplets.
population	A group of interbreeding organisms occupying a particular space; the number of humans or other living creatures in a designated area.
liquid	a state of matter, neither gas nor solid, that flows and takes the shape of its container.
alum	technically, a double sulfate of ammonium or a univalent or trivalent metal but commonly used to denote aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3.
allogenic succession	Predictable changes in plant and animal communities in which changes are caused by events external to the community, for example, fire, drought, floods, etc.
flora	(1) A term used to describe the entire plant species of a specified region or time
conservation easement	An agreement negotiated on privately owned lands to preserve open space or protect certain natural resources.
degrease	To remove grease from machinery, tools, etc., usually using solvents. Aqueous (water-based) cleaners are becoming popular and are required in some parts of the state.
slope	The side of a hill or mountain, the inclined face of a cutting, canal or embankment or an inclination from the horizontal.
permitted water right [nevada]	The right to put surface or groundwater to beneficial use that is identified by a document issued by the Nevada State Engineer prior to the filing of satisfactory proof of "perfection of application" in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 533
phosphate	There is no MCL for phosphate
toxic	Harmful to living organisms.
monitor	To systematically and repeatedly measure conditions in order to track changes.
wheeling	The process of transferring electrical energy between buyer and seller by way of an intermediate utility or utilities.
aquifer compaction	Term used to describe the effects of emptying or overdrawing an aquifer; overdrafts tend to collapse the structure of the aquifer such that the original volume cannot be restored
critical flow	(1) The flow conditions at which the discharge is a maximum for a given specific energy, or at which the specific energy is a minimum for a given discharge
price at equilibrium	where supply and demand curves intersect
grade	The individual profile and pattern that a river has developed to efficiently move the discharge and sediment delivered to it.
hydrograph	a chart that measures the amount of water flowing past a point as a function of time.
rh	See "Relative Humidity."
biochemical	A chemical that occurs naturally in an organism, or an identical substance that has been made artificially.
effective precipitation	the part of precipitation which produces runoff; a weighted average of current and antecedent precipitation "effective" in correlating with runoff
influent	water, wastewater, or other liquid flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant.
drainage lateral	A side ditch or conduit which contributes water to a drainage main.
producer gas	Fuel gas high in carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), produced by burning a solid fuel with insufficient air or by passing a mixture of air and steam through a burning bed of solid fuel.
water potential	The capability of soil water to do work as compared with free water.
forestry residues	Includes tops, limbs, and other woody material not removed in forest harvesting operations in commercial hardwood and softwood stands, as well as woody material resulting from forest management operations such as pre-commercial thinnings and removal of dead and dying trees.
bulk sediment analysis	Analysis of soil material or surface sediment deposits to determine the size and relative amounts of particles composing the material.
river reach	Any defined length of river.
e-85	A mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline based on volume.
carcinogen	Chemicals, ionizing radiation and viruses that cause or promote the development of cancer
displacement	distance by which portions of the same geological layer are offset from each other by a fault.
micro	a prefix meaning one-millionth of a unit.
micronutrient	A chemical element required only in small amounts (usually less than one part per million [ppm] in the plant) for the growth of plants.
plate tower scrubber	An air pollution control device that neutralizes hydrogen chloride gas by bubbling alkaline water through holes in a series of metal plates.
streams	rivers, lakes and reservoirs, a land feature that can be identified by tracing a line along the highest elevations between two areas on a map, often a ridge, large drainage basins contain many smaller drainage sub-basins, (see watershed).
appropriate	To authorize the use of a quantity of water to an individual requesting it.
nonrenewable resource	A resource that cannot be replaced in the environment, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, because it forms at a rate far slower than its consumption.
tractive force	The drag on a streambed or bank caused by passing water, which tends to pull soil particles along with the streamflow.
thermal pollution	varying temperatures above or below the normal condition.
reuse water	Water used repeatedly.
service line sample	A one-liter sample of water collected according to federal regulations that has been standing for at least 6 hours in a service pipeline.
thermohaline	In oceanography, it pertains to when both temperature and salinity act together
period	a series of elements, arranged in order of atomic number represented by a horizontal row on the Periodic Table.
leachate	Water that contains solute substances, so that it contains certain substances in solution after percolation through a filter or soil.
aggregates	Particles of rock that are used in a bound or unbound form in construction.
primary wood-using mill	A mill that converts roundwood products into other wood products
groundwater	the water found beneath the Earth's surface that supplies wells and springs Grab Sample
skid trail	A temporary, nonstructural pathway over forest soil used for dragging felled trees or logs to a log landing.
seining	the deposition or formation of sediment.
runoff	That part of precipitation or snowmelt that appears in streams or surface-water bodies.
ozone layer	In the upper atmosphere about 15 miles above sea level it forms a protective layer which shields the earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation and occurs naturally
gwh	GWh
project evaluation period	Expected useful life of a project beginning at the end of the installation of the project.
stack	A chimney, smokestack, or vertical pipe that discharges used air.
polychlorinated biphenyls	See PCBs
lough	(Irish) (1) A lake
flash flood	A sudden flood of great volume, usually caused by a heavy rain
regeneration	The process of restoring an ion exchange medium to a usable state after exhaustion
picocuries per liter pci/l)	A unit of measure for levels of radon gas; becquerels per cubic meter is metric equivalent.
overfish	(1) To fish (a body of water) to such a degree as to upset the ecological balance or cause depletion of living creatures
mangrove	Tropical evergreen trees and shrubs that have stilt like roots and stems, and often form dense thickets along tidal shores
market wastes	Primarily putrescible MSW, such as leaves, skins, and unsold food, discarded at or near food markets.
affluent	A tributary or feeder stream
silt	Tiny pieces of sand or rocks
cool pavement	a road, driveway, parking lot, sidewalk or other hard surface that has reduced absorption, retention and emittance of solar heat
geotextile filter fabric	a filter constructed of cloth type material; synthetic material placed under erosion control material (i.e., riprap), with the primary functions of layer separation, aggregate confinement and distribution of load.
mesophyte	A plant that grows under medium or usual conditions of atmospheric moisture supply, as distinguished from one which grows under dry or desert conditions (Xerophyte) or very wet conditions (Hydrophyte).
altithermal	(Climatology) A period of time when it was much warmer than now, approximately 7,000-4,500 years before the present time
intraspecific	Interactions within a species
hydroelectric power water use	The use of water in the generation of electricity at plants where the turbine generators are driven by falling water.
environmental monitor	a qualified professional engaged in environmental monitoring on behalf of the proponent regarding compliance and due diligence of works in and around a stream.
inoculum	1
aquatic microbiology	Study of microscopic plants and animals and their interrelationships.
conductance	A rapid method of estimating the dissolvedsolids content of a water supply
kilowatt-hours	Used to measure electricity and natural gas usage.
recovery rate	Percentage of useable recycled materials that have been removed from the total amount of municipal solid waste generated in a specific area or by a specific business.
entropy	secondary consumer: A carnivore that feeds on primary consumers (or herbivores).
freezing point/freeze	The process of changing a liquid to a solid
effective porosity	the portion of pore space in saturated permeable material where the movement of water takes place.
endangered	a species faced with the danger of extinction
hydrography	The study, description, and mapping of oceans, lakes, and rivers, especially with reference to their navigational and commercial uses.
distributary channel	A river branch that flows away from a main stream and does not rejoin it
emergent plant	A plant that grows in shallow water with the root system submerged under the water and the upper vegetation rising above the water surface
greenbelt	Strip of natural vegetation growing parallel to a stream that provides wildlife habitat and an erosion and flood buffer zone
project conveyance efficiency	The project conveyance efficiency is an expression representing those "losses" (seepage, operation spills, evaporation, etc.) experienced by an irrigation project conveyance system while transporting water from the diversion point to the farm headgate(s)
phosphates	Certain chemical compounds containing phosphorus.
effluent	The stream emerging from a system or process such as the softened water from an ion exchange softener
environmental indicators	measures of physical, chemical, biological, social, cultural or economic factors which best represent the key elements of complex ecosystems or environmental issues
void area	The space between the resin beads in an ion exchange bed or the space between the particles of filter media bed
renewable	Capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles or sound management practices; as in renewable resources.
rotation	Period of years between establishment of a stand of timber and the time when it is considered ready for final harvest and regeneration.
evaporites	a class of sedimentary rocks composed primarily of minerals precipitated from a saline solution as a result of extensive or total evaporation of water.
strip-mining	A process that uses machines to scrape soil or rock away from mineral deposits just under the earth's surface.
canopy	A layer of continuous foliage in a forest stand
environment	The sum total of all the external conditions that effect an organism, community, material, or energy.
im240	A high-tech, transient dynamometer automobile emissions test that takes up to 240 seconds.
return flow	The return of recycled water flows back to the river from which the water supply was drawn.
suspended load	All the material transported by a stream or river, neither in contact with the river bottom (Bed Load) nor in solution (Dissolved Load).
health-based remediation targets	Levels to which hazardous substances on the site will be cleaned up
riffle	Shallow rapids in an open stream, where the water surface is broken into waves by obstructions such as shoals or sandbars wholly or partly submerged beneath the water surface
erosion control fabric	Woven or spun material made from natural or synthetic fibers and placed to prevent surface erosion.
submersible	(Nautical) A vessel capable of operating or remaining under water.
refuse-derived fuels	Product of a mixed MSW processing system in which certain recyclable and not combustible materials are removed and the remaining combustible material is converted for use as a fuel to generate energy.
underdrain	a concealed drain with openings through which the water enters when the water table reaches the level of the drain.
hydrologic cycle	The constant circulation of water from the sea, through the atmosphere, to the land, and back to the sea by over-land, underground, and atmospheric routes.
rcb	Radiation Control Branch Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Radiation Control Branch, now the Radiation Health Branch http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/radiation.htm
observation well	A well used to monitor changes in water levels of an aquifer and to obtain samples for water quality analyses
regional response team	Representatives of federal, local, and state agencies who may assist in coordination of activities at the request of the On-Scene Coordinator before and during a significant pollution incident such as an oil spill, major chemical release, or Superfund response.
regeneration	Manipulation of cells to cause them to develop into whole plants.
mitigation	Measures taken to reduce adverse impacts on the environment.
solubility	The amount of mass of a compound that will dissolve in a unit volume of water.
manufacturer's formulation	A list of substances or component parts as described by the maker of a coating, pesticide, or other product containing chemicals or other substances.
fuel economy standard	The Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard (CAFE) effective in 1978
set-out container	A box or bucket used for residential MSW that is placed outside of the dwelling for collection.
floodproofing	Floodproofing is making efforts to prevent moisture from forming, or preventing water from entering, your home.
marginal fish habitat	habitat that has low productive capacity and contributes marginally to fish production
secchi disc	A circular plate, generally about 10-12 in (25.4-30.5 cm) in diameter, used to measure the transparency or clarity of water by noting the greatest depth at which it can be visually detected
alternative energy	usually environmentally friendly, this is energy from uncommon sources such as wind power or solar energy, not fossil fuels.
kdfwr	Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
subcritical flow	flow characterized by low velocity and a Froude number less than 1
adhesion	the molecular attraction asserted between the surfaces of bodies in contact
rad	Radiation Absorbed Dose The rad is a basic unit of absorbed radiation dose
compound	two of more elements combined; a substance having different properties than of the elements used.
streambed erosion	The movement of material, causing a lowering or widening of a stream at a given point or along a given reach.
resistor	a component of an electrical circuit intended to offer resistance to electrical current flow.
composting facilities	1
runs	Cycles or batches.
global compact	Launched by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in January 1999 at the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland, the Global Compact is a partnership between United Nations agencies, NGOs and the business world
biochemical oxygen demand	a laboratory test to measure the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms as they decompose organic matter; the test indicates the amount of organic material in a water sample Biodegradable
oxbow	An abandoned meander in a river or stream, caused by neck cutoff
quiescent	State of the rest of a body. In the case of entrainment separation, the body would be a liquid. Also used to describe a sump containing evacuated liquids or solids.
saxicolous	A term used to describe organisms that live on rocks and in rock crevices.
climate	Meteorological elements that characterize the average and extreme conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time at any one place or region of the earth's surface.
aquatic	Growing in water, living in water or frequenting water.
sediment accretion rate	The rate in mm per year at which sediment accumulates as a result of deposition
ripple mark	One of a series of small ridges produced especially on sand by the action of wind, a current of water, or waves.
exclusion	In the asbestos program, one of several situations that permit a Local Education Agency (LEA) to delete one or more of the items required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA); e.g
potential natural water loss	The water loss during years when the annual precipitation greatly exceeds the average water loss
catalyst	A substance that accelerates chemical change yet is not permanently affected by the reaction (e.g., platinum in an automobile catalytic converter helps change carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide).
risk communication	The exchange of information about health or environmental risks among risk assessors and managers, the general public, news media, interest groups, etc.
fan	A machine used to move gases, such as air
emission plume	Energy from Waste
calm	A period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water.
drinking water supply	Water provided for use in households
mortality	Death rate.
fully permanent sprinkler system	An irrigation system usually composed of buried enclosed conduits carrying water under pressure to fixed orifices to distribute water over a given area.
suspended load	Sediment that is transported by suspension in the water column of a stream or river.
domestic water	Water supplied to individual dwellings and other land uses which is suitable for drinking.
sterile	A condition in which a quantity of water does not contain viable organisms such as viruses and bacteria
pioneer plant	herbaceous annual and perennial seedling plants that colonize bare areas as a first stage in secondary succession.
raw agricultural commodity	An unprocessed human food or animal feed crop (e.g., raw carrots, apples, corn, or eggs.)
absorbent	A substance, a solid or a liquid, that allows another substance, a liquid or a gas, to permeate it.
corrugated paper	Paper or cardboard manufactured in a series of wrinkles or folds, or into alternating ridges and grooves.
root zone	The subsurface zone from the land surface to the depth interwoven by plant roots.
entrapment zone	An area of an estuary or other watercourse where seaward-flowing fresh water overlays more dense, saline ocean water resulting in a two-layer mixing zone characterized by Flocculation, aggregation, and accumulation of suspended materials from upstream.
well	a bored, drilled, or driven shaft or dug hole
imports	Municipal solid waste and recyclables that have been transported to a state or locality for processing or final disposition (but that did not originate in that state or locality).
ipcc	the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a UN-commissioned international working group formed in 1988
channel	U shaped section of the pipe within the manhole, where sewage flows through a hand formed pipe on the bottom half of a pipe
saltation	Particles bouncing down a river bed
pump	A device which moves, compresses, or alters the pressure of a fluid, such as water or air, being conveyed through a natural or artificial channel.
surfactant	An agent that is used to decrease the surface tension of water, useful for removing or dispersing oils or oily residues
water resource management	The decision-making, manipulative, and non-manipulative processes by which water is protected, allocated, or developed.
stream	river or lake that is covered by water during a flood, land next to a river that becomes covered by water when the river overflows its banks.
net consumptive use	The Consumptive Use decreased by the estimated contribution by rainfall toward the production of irrigated crops
break	(1) To emerge above the surface of the water
ceqa	See California Environmental Quality Act.
anvil	The upper portion of a cumulonimbus cloud that becomes flat and spread-out, sometimes for hundreds of miles downstream from the parent cloud
scum	Floatable material in wastewater made up of mainly fats, cooking oil and grease which are skimmed off during the treatment process.
dams	earth or other construction along a river to control water flow
head wall	A steep slope or precipice rising at the head of a valley or glacial Cirque.
bod	Biochemical oxygen demand - the amount of oxygen required to oxidise any organic matter present in a water during a specified period of time, usually five days
lateral moraines	The ridges of Glacial Till that mark the sides of a glacier's path
critical habitat	Areas which are essential to the conservation of an officially-listed endangered or threatened species and which may require special management considerations or protection.
cumulative ecological risk assessment	Consideration of the total ecological risk from multiple stressors to a given eco-zone.
polychlorinated biphenyl	Suspected toxic carcinogen; PCBs may accumulate in human or animal tissue
melting	The change of a solid into a liquid.
dryland farming	The practice of crop production without irrigation in semiarid regions usually by using moisture-conserving farming techniques
regulation	(Hydrology) The artificial manipulation of the flow of a stream.
valley breeze	An anabatic wind, it is formed during the day by the heating of the valley floor
water column	A hypothetical cylinder of water from the surface to the bottom of a stream, lake, or ocean within which the physical and/or chemical properties can be measured.
tasc	Technical Advisory Sub-Committee
tidal flat	An extensive flat tract of land alternatively covered and uncovered by the tide, and comprising mostly unconsolidated mud and sand
canopy	The overhanging cover formed by leaves, needles, and branches of vegetation.
aggradation	a progressive build up of a channel bed with sediment over several years due to a normal sequence of scour and deposition, as distinguished from the rise and fall of the channel bed during a single flood.
ethylene glycol	Used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial compounds and in certain cosmetics. It is used most commonly as an automobile antifreeze. It is toxic.
periphyton	Micro-organisms that coat rocks, plants, and other surfaces on lake bottoms.
soil conservation	The use of land, within the limits of economic practicability, according to its capabilities and its needs to keep it permanently productive.
blowoff	a controlled outlet on a pipeline, tank, or conduit which is used to discharge water or accumulations of material carried by the water.
miscible liquids	Two or more liquids that can be mixed and will remain mixed under normal conditions.
rearing habitat	Areas in rivers or streams where juvenile salmon and trout find food and shelter to live and grow.
snow sampler	An instrument used in obtaining snow samples, which consists of a set of light, jointed metal tubes for taking samples and a spring scale graduated to read directly the corresponding depth of water contained in the sample.
interstitial pressure	(Hydraulics) The upward pressure of water in the pores or Interstices of a material.
ohm	a unit of electrical resistance equal to that of a conductor in which a current of one ampere is produced by a potential of one volt across its terminals.
dredging	Removing material (usually sediments) from wetlands or waterways, usually to make them deeper or wider.
fuel cells	A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device
media	Specific environments--air, water, soil--which are the subject of regulatory concern and activities.
aquatic weeds	A common, unsightly, troublesome aquatic (water) plant, that grows in abundance or out of place
molecule	the smallest division of a compound that still retains or exhibits all the properties of the substance.
corrugation irrigation	Spreading water by directing it into small channels across the field
other water use	Water used for such purposes as heating, cooling, irrigation (public-supplied only), lake augmentation, and other nonspecific uses
elements	The distinctive building blocks of matter that make up every material substance.
waste utilization	Using an agricultural or other waste on land in an environmentally acceptable manner while maintaining or improving soil and plant resources.
amino acid	Group of 22 molecules that serve as the basic building blocks of proteins. All consist of a common backbone with a unique functionality. Information on the 22 amino acids can be found here.
monitoring	specific testing that all public water systems must perform on a frequent and regular basis for detection and safety purposes
ashrae	American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.
mercury	The MCL is 0.002 mg/L for organic mercury
acid mine drainage	Acidic water that flows into streams from abandoned mines or piles of mining waste or tailings
"right of free capture"	The idea or concept that the water under a person's land belongs to that person and they are free to capture and use as much as they want
geyser	A periodic thermal spring that results from the expansive force of super heated steam
genetic engineering	A process of inserting new genetic information into existing cells in order to modify a specific organism for the purpose of changing one of its characteristics.
combustible vapor mixture	The composition range over which air containing vapor of an organic compound will burn or even explode when set off by a flame or spark. Outside that range the reaction does not occur, but the mixture may nevertheless be hazardous because it does not contain enough oxygen to support life, or because the vapor is toxic.
adjudication	a court proceeding to determine all rights to the use of water on a particular stream system or ground water basin.
whirlpool	A rapidly rotating current of water; a Vortex
organochlorine compound	Synthetic organic compounds containing chlorine
synthetic organic chemicals	Man-made (anthropogenic) organic chemicals
moulin	A nearly vertical shaft or cavity worn in a glacier by surface or rock debris falling through a crack in the ice.
backbar channel	A channel formed behind a bar connected to the main channel but usually at a higher bed elevation than the main channel
reduction	A chemical reaction in which ions gain electrons to reduce their positive valence.
stable	Not radioactive or not easily decomposed or otherwise modified chemically.
improved septic tank	A septic tank with improved design and componentry
base	An alkaline substance that has a pH that exceeds 7,5.
enzyme	Biological catalysts; complex proteins produced by plant and animal tissues to initiate or speed up specific reactions between other chemicals without undergoing permanent structural change
margin of exposure	The ratio of the no-observed adverse-effect-level to the estimated exposure dose.
key watershed	As defined by National Forest and Bureau of Land Management District fish biologists, a watershed containing (1) habitat for potentially threatened species or stocks of anadromous salmonids or other potentially threatened fish, or (2) greater than 6 square miles with high-quality water and fish habitat.
leave strips	Generally narrow bands of forest trees that are left along streams and rivers to buffer aquatic habitats from upslope forest management activities.
ph	A measure of the acidity or alkalinity (how basic) of a liquid or solid material
reconstruction of dose	Estimating exposure after it has occurred by using evidence within an organism such as chemical levels in tissue or fluids.
impurity	an unwanted chemical substance that is present within another substance or mixture Intermittent Stream
siting	The process of choosing a location for a facility.
heterogeneous	Consisting of dissimilar ingredients or constituents.
qualitative analysis	(Data Analysis) The examination or analysis of a phenomenon to determine its qualitative characteristics versus its quantitative characteristics, i.e., characteristics for which precise numerical identification are not appropriate
sprinkler irrigation	A pressurized irrigation system where water is distributed through pipes to the field and applied through a variety of sprinkler heads or nozzles
seep	a spot where water contained in the ground oozes slowly to the surface and often forms a pool; a small spring.
compost	The relatively stable humus material that is produced from a composting process of putrescible fraction of MSW in which bacteria in soil mixed with it break down the mixture into organic fertiliser.
sand	Small substrate particles, generally from 0.6 to 2.0 mm in diameter
hydrophytic	Plants that grow in water or in saturated soils that are periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of high water content.
paleontology	The study of fossils of animal and plant life that existed in remote geological times
agglomeration	Ash
snow	precipitation in the form of branched hexagonal crystals, often mixed with simple ice crystals, which fall more or less continuously from a solid cloud sheet
targets	Referring to or relating to result(s) aimed at by carrying out an action(s)
delta	the low, nearly flat tract of land at or near the mouth of a river, resulting from the accumulation of sediment supplied by the river in such quantities that it is not removed by tides, waves, or currents
discount rate	A rate used to convert future costs or benefits to their present value.
open competition	Free competition between service providers
course	The route or path taken by flowing water, such as a stream or river.
anathermal	(Climatology) The period preceding the Altithermal; the early Holocene epoch from about 10,000-7,000 years before the present
exchange velocity	The rate with which one ion is displaced from an exchanger in favor of another.
manhole	A subsurface structure in which two or more pipes meet, with person access from the ground surface.
d.i. or di	Abbreviation for deionization.
hydroelectric energy	electric energy produced by moving water
risk-specific dose	The dose associated with a specified risk level.
environmental impact	Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from human activity, industry or natural disasters.
instream window	also referred to as the "instream work window" and "instream reduced risk work window"
microorganism	Any microscopic organism such as yeast, bacteria, fungi, etc.
incised river	A river which cuts its channel through the bed of the valley floor, as opposed to one flowing on a floodplain; its channel formed by the process of degradation.
injection zone	a geological formation receiving fluids through a well.
dap	(1) To dip lightly or quickly into water, as a bird does
personal protective equipment	Clothing and equipment worn by pesticide mixers, loaders and applicators and re-entry workers, hazmat emergency responders, workers cleaning up Superfund sites, et
zooplankton	tiny aquatic animals eaten by fish.
waste stream	White Goods
laminar flow	A flow in which fluid moves smoothly in streamlines in parallel layers or sheets
bed load	Material in movement along a stream bottom, or, if wind is the moving agent, along the surface
cercla	Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act
photosynthesis	The process of conversion of water and carbon dioxide to carbohydrates
gaging station	the site on a stream, lake or canal where hydrologic data is collected.
protein	A structure found in the all living organisms made up of amino acids.
intrabasin transfer	The diversion of water within a drainage basin.
bank-full discharge	The stream discharge corresponding to the water stage that first overtops the natural banks
creosotes	Chemicals used in wood preserving operations that are produced by distilling coal-tar. They contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and PNAs) and so high-level, short-term exposures may cause skin ulcerations. Creosotes are listed as cancer-causing agents under Proposition 65.
aggradation	To fill and raise the level a stream bed by deposition of sediment.
facultative bacteria	bacteria that can live under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.
initial water deficiency	The quantity, usually expressed in depth of water in inches on a unit area, by which the actual water content of a given soil zone (usually the Root Zone) is exceeded by the field capacity of that zone at the beginning of the rainy season
noria	A water wheel with buckets attached to its rim, used to raise water from a stream, especially for transfer to an irrigation channel.
buffer	A solution or liquid whose chemical makeup is such that it minimizes changes in pH when acids or bases are added to it.
magnesium	One of the elements making up the earth's crust, the compounds of which when dissolved in water make the water hard
peri-urban	low density housing and road development on the periphery of urban areas, still retaining small areas of rural land within networks of suburban building
abandonment of a dam	In a legal sense, abandonment is most precisely described as transfer of all rights, title and interest in a dam to the current property owner.Abandonment may also involve the slow but resolute erosion of rights to a dam by non-use, physical destruction, lack of maintenance or intent of same
functional equivalent	Term used to describe EPA's decision-making process and its relationship to the environmental review conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
saturation point	That point at which a soil or an aquifer will no longer absorb any amount of water without losing an equal amount.
in vivo	Testing or action inside an organism.
channelization	The artificial enlargement or realignment of a stream channel.
cost/benefit analysis	A quantitative evaluation of the costs which would have incurred by implementing an environmental regulation versus the overall benefits to society of the proposed action.
acid	any substance capable of giving up a proton; a substance that ionizes in solution to give the positive ion of the solvent; a solution with a pH measurement less than 7.
cluster development	Placement of housing and other buildings of a development in groups to provide larger areas of open space between groups.
relative permeability	The permeability of a rock to gas, NAIL, or water, when any two or more are present.
meander	A bend in a river - usually in the middle or lower course
maximum contaminant level	The designation given by the U.S
nitrite	1
erosion	Wearing away of rock or soil by the gradual detachment of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, and other mechanical, chemical, or biological forces.
cryptosporidium	A protozoan microbe associated with the disease cryptosporidiosis in man
anti-seepage collar	a device constructed of light gauge metal, heavy polyethylene on a frame or concrete and placed around the outside of an outlet pipe used in areas of unstable soil to prevent bank washout and HADD to fish habitat
karst hydrology	The branch of Hydrology that deals with the hydrology of geological formations having large underground passages or fractures which enable underground movement of large quantities of water.
impervious	the quality or state of being impermeable; resisting penetration by water or plant roots
carapace	The shell covering the back (top) of a turtle, crab, or other animal.
acid aerosol	Acidic liquid or solid particles small enough to become airborne
solution	a liquid (solvent) that contains a dissolved substance (solute).
saturate	To treat or charge something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained
closed-loop recycling	When a used product is recycled into a similar product; a recycling system in which a particular mass of material (possibly after upgrading) is remanufactured into the same product (e.g., glass bottles into glass bottles).
oxidizing agent	Any substance that is capable of removing electrons from another substance
public-supply water	Water withdrawn by and delivered to a public water system regardless of the use made of the water
prescribed water rights	Water rights to which legal title is acquired by long possession and use without protest of other parties
fault-line scarp	A steep slope produced along an old fault line by differential weathering and erosion, rather than by fault movement.
brine	Highly salty and heavily mineralised water, containing heavy metal and organic contaminants.
fixture unit	An arbitrary unit assigned to different type of plumbing fixtures, and used to estimate flow rate and drain capacity requirements.
fatty acid	Any of large group of organic acids; many are essential for metabolism
showalter stability index	A measure of the local static stability of the atmosphere
aquitard	a low-permeability layer of rock or clay that can store water but transmits it very slowly from aquifer to another.
debris flow	A moving mass of rock fragments, soil, and mud with more than one-half of the material being larger than sand size.
tenaja	Pools in seasonal streams that may support a flora similar to Vernal Pools upon desiccation.
turbine	A machine used to convert energy, such as converting the heat energy in steam or high temperature gas into mechanical energy.
closed conduit system	A conveyance system where the flow of water is confined on all boundaries (i.e., pipe systems).
cogeneration	The simultaneous production of electrical or mechanical energy (power) and useful thermal energy from the same fuel/energy source such as oil, coal, gas, biomass or solar.
narrow	(1) A body of water with little width that connects two larger bodies of water
isomer	chemical compound that has the same number, and kinds of atoms as another compound, but a different structural arrangement of the atoms.
shrink-swell potential	The susceptibility of soil to volume change due to loss or gain in moisture content.
rough fish	Those species of fish considered to be of either poor fighting quality when taken on tackle or of poor eating quality, such as carp, gar, suckers, etc
pollinator	An organism that carries pollen between plants.
stream flow	The movement of water through a channel.
gas	A state of matter; a substance that generally exists in the gaseous phase at room temperature.
vegetated swale	see rain garden.
biological integrity	the ability to support and maintain balanced, integrated functionality in the natural habitat of a given region
seep	(1) To pass slowly through small openings or pores; ooze
npdes	See National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
clayballs	Both small and fairly large chunks of clay rounded by wave action
post-bmp implementation	The period of use and/or adherence to the BMP.
aggressive water	water which is soft and acidic and can corrode plumbing, piping, and appliances.
maximum tolerated dose	The maximum dose that an animal species can tolerate for a major portion of its lifetime without significant impairment or toxic effect other than carcinogenicity.
stream gradient	A general slope or rate of change in vertical elevation per unit of horizontal distance of the bed, water surface, or energy grade of a stream.
radioisotopes	Radioactive isotopes.
spray irrigation	Any irrigation by means of nozzles along a pipe or from perforated overhead pipes.
consent decree	A negotiated agreement by the City to implement a court-ordered directive to evaluate and implement short and long-term plans for eliminating water quality violations
microbiological organism	Broad range of living organisms, which typically can be viewed only through a microscope.
current meter	An instrument for measuring the velocity of water flowing in a stream, open channel, or conduit by ascertaining the speed at which elements of the flowing water rotate a vane or series of cups.
drops	Structures to reduce or control water velocity within an irrigation ditch or canal by lowering the water abruptly from one level to a lower level.
wing wall	The side walls of a structure used to prevent sloughing of banks or channels and to direct and confine overfall.
backwater pools	A pool type formed by an eddy along channel margins downstream from obstructions such as bars, rootwads, or boulders, or resulting from backflooding upstream from an obstructional blockage
sphericity	A measure of the roundness and wholeness of an ion exchange resin bead.
torrent	(1) A turbulent, swift-flowing stream
nitrogenous wastes	Animal or vegetable residues that contain significant amounts of nitrogen.
moderate flooding	Flood conditions characterized by the inundation of secondary roads, transfer of property to higher elevations, and some evacuations of people and livestock
skimming	Using a machine to remove oil or scum from the surface of the water.
midstream	The middle part of a stream.
in situ	In place, the original location, in the natural environment.
groin	A small jetty extending from a shore to protect a beach against erosion or to trap shifting sands.
rain barrel	Rain barrels collect rainwater, which can be used in gardens and lawns, as well as preventing excessive runoff.
colonization	(Biology) As applied to vegetation, the invasion of a disturbed area; annual plants are often colonizing species.
antimony	The maximum contaminant level is 0.006 mg/L
subsurface drainage	(1) The process of directing excess water away from the root zones of plants by natural or artificial means, such as by using a system of pipes and drains placed below ground surface level
objectives	Referring or relating to a goal or aim of an action(s) (see also Targets).
seep	a small area where water percolates slowly to the land surface.
carbon monoxide	A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion.
magnesium	No specific recommendation, but high calcium is associated with hardness, total dissolved solids problems and can cause aesthetic problems.
stream gradient	A general slope or rate of change in vertical elevation per unit of horizontal distance of the water surface of a flowing stream.
water quality criteria	A specific level or range of levels of water quality necessary for the protection of a water use; levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use
intermontane	situated between or surrounded by mountains, mountain ranges, or mountainous regions.
tufa	(Geology) The calcareous and siliceous rock deposits of springs, lakes, or ground water
distributary	A diverging stream which does not return to the main stream, but discharges into another stream or the ocean
island	An island is a piece of land that is surrounded by water.
emulsify	To cause one liquid substance to form colloidal suspension in another (an emulsion)
wastewater reclamation	The planned reuse of waste water for specific beneficial purposes.
dew	Condensation in the form of small water drops that forms on grass and other small objects near the ground when the temperature has fallen to the dew point, generally during the nighttime hours.
heat island effect	A "dome" of elevated temperatures over an urban area caused by structural and pavement heat fluxes, and pollutant emissions.
amphibiotic	Living in water during an early stage of development and on land during the adult stage.
shrub	A woody plant which at maturity is usually less than 6 m (20 feet) tall and generally exhibits several erect, spreading, or prostrate stems and has a bushy appearance; e.g., speckled alder (Alnus rugosa) or buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).
macroreticular	A term applied to ion exchange resins that have a rigid polymer porous network in which there exists a true pore structure even after drying
open burning	Uncontrolled fires in an open dump.
broad-leaved evergreen	Woody Angiosperms (trees or shrubs) with relatively wide, flat leaves that generally remain green and are usually persistent for a year or more; e.g., red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).
finite element	a method of solving the governing equations of a numerical model by dividing the spatial domain into elements in each of which the solution of the governing equations is approximated by a continuous function.
flow-sensitive habitats	habitats that show hydraulic response to relatively small changes in streamflow
species	1
indirect liquefaction	Conversion of biomass to a liquid fuel through a synthesis gas intermediate step.
viscosity	the resistance offered by a fluid (liquid or gas) to flow
cfm	Cubic feet per minute (1,000 cfm = 0.472 cubic meters per second, m3/s).
detritivore	deductive logic: Logic in which initial assumptions are made and conclusions are then drawn from those assumptions
bolson	An alluvium-floored basin, depression, or wide valley, mostly surrounded by mountains and drained by a system that has no surface outlet; an undrained basin
asbestos	Any material containing asbestos, that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
isotropy	That condition in which a medium has the same properties in all directions.
terrigenous	Derived from or originating on the land (usually referring to sediments) as opposed to material or sediments produced in the ocean (marine) or as a result of biologic activity (biogenous).
pathogenic bacteria	bacteria which may cause disease in the organisms by their parasitic growth.
benzene	A petroleum derivative widely used in the chemical industry
cost-effective alternative	An alternative control or corrective method identified after analysis as being the best available in terms of reliability, performance, and cost
tributary	smaller rivers which collect together to make a bigger river
amr	Automated Meter Reading; a system for automatically collecting and transferring data to a central database for analysis and billing.
hovercraft	A vehicle that is supported above the surface of land or water by a cushion of air produced by downwardly directed fans.
heterogeneity	The fact or state of being dissimilar, as in composition, source, quantity, dimensions, and so on.
stream	a body of flowing fresh water.
hydropneumatic	A water system, usually small, in which a water pump is automatically controlled by the pressure in a compressed air tank.
benthic	pertaining to the bottom of a body of water, on or within the bottom substrate material.
pebble	A small stone, especially one worn smooth by erosion
accretion	Accumulation of sand or other beach material due to the natural action of waves, currents and wind.
circuit	a path through which an electrical current can flow when the path is complete.
nitrogen dioxide	The result of nitric oxide combining with oxygen in the atmosphere; major component of photochemical smog.
national priorities list	U.S
natural flow	The flow past a specified point on a natural stream that is unaffected by stream diversion, storage, import, export, return flow, or change in use caused by modifications in land use.
delivery	(Irrigation) The release of water from turnouts to water users.
dolomite	A carbonate mineral of calcium and magnesium found in nature in extensive beds of compact limestone and marble that are rich in carbonate.
major flooding	Flood conditions resulting in extensive inundation and property damage
hydro	The prefix denoting water or hydrogen.
flood forecasting	Prediction of stage, discharge, time of occurrence, and duration of a flood, especially of peak discharge at a specified point on a stream, resulting from precipitation and/or snowmelt.
herbivore	Plant eater, vegitarian
thunder snow	A wintertime thunderstorm from which falls snow instead of rain
volatile organic compound	Synthetic organic compounds which easily vaporize and are often carcinogenic.
desorption	The opposite of adsorption; the release of matter from the adsorption medium, usually to recover material.
real-time monitoring	Monitoring and measuring environmental developments with technology and communications systems that provide time-relevant information to the public in an easily understood format people can use in day-to-day decision-making about their health and the environment.
streamside management zone	An area adjacent to the banks of streams and bodies of open water where extra precaution is necessary in carrying out forest practices in order to protect bank edges and water quality.
river channels	Natural or artificial open conduits which continuously or periodically contain moving water, or which forms a connection between two bodies of water.
100-year 24-hour design	This design criteria is used for determining storm sewer size, and assumes 5.9" falling in 24 hours in a SCS Type II storm event.
overburden	The rock and soil in the ground above bedrock.
kgal	A thousand gallons (kilogallons).
nitrate nitrogen	Nitrates are commonly found in well water from agricultural areas
nutrient	Any substance assimilated by living things that promotes growth
spray	(1) A cloud or mist of fine liquid particles, as of water from breaking waves
coke oven	An industrial process which converts coal into coke, one of the basic materials used in blast furnaces for the conversion of iron ore into iron.
diversity	the total number of species that occupy an area
molecules	Combinations of two or more atoms of the same or different elements held together by chemical bonds.
nimbus clouds	A rain-producing cloud; storm clouds that are usually dark in color
conifer	A tree belonging to the order Gymnospermae, comprising a wide range of trees that are mostly evergreens
certificated water right	The right granted by a state water agency to use either surface or ground water
porosity	The percentage of the total volume of a given body of rock that is pore space
riparian	Pertaining to or situated on the bank of a natural body of flowing water.
emergency removal action	1
surplus electricity	Electricity produced by cogeneration equipment in excess of the needs of an associated factory or business.
mesohabitat	basic structural elements of a river or stream such as pools, backwaters, runs, glides, and riffles.
polder	An area of low-lying land, especially in the Netherlands, that has been reclaimed from a body of water and is protected by dikes.
flood	an overflow or inundation that comes from a river or other body of water and causes or threatens damage
body fluid	the total body water, contained principally in blood plasma and in intracellular and interstitial fluids
pharmaceutical grade water	The definition of six grades of water by the U.S
wet pond	a permanent pool of water, if constructed, designed to temporarily detain collected runoff and provide flood control, streambank erosion protection and water quality improvements through uptake and conversion by algae and aquatic plants, filtering through root mats.
oxidation	A chemical process in which electrons are removed from an atom, ion or compound
cubic ft./min.	Cubic feet per minute, a common measure of airflow.
acute exposure	A single exposure to a toxic substance which may result in severe biological harm or death
old river bendway	meanders that were part of the historical channel but are now cut off from the river.
rodenticide	A chemical or agent used to destroy rats or other rodent pests, or to prevent them from damaging food, crops, etc.
natural levee	a long, broad, low ridge built by a stream on its flood plain along one or both banks of its channel in time of flood.
standard permeability	The permeability corresponding to a temperature of 60F.
bioassessment	monitoring the aquatic environment to determine the health of a stream.
primary standards	(Water Quality) Standards set by the U.S
open-pit mining	The process of removing mineral deposits that are found close enough to the surface so that the construction of tunnels (underground mining) is not necessary
titration	An analytical technique to determine how much of a substance is present in a water sample by adding another substance and measuring how much of that substance must be added to produce a reaction.
invertebrate drift	Stream and terrestrial invertebrates that float with the current.
umbo	the inflated dorsal part of the shell; also called the beak
primary waste treatment	First steps in wastewater treatment; screens and sedimentation tanks are used to remove most materials that float or will settle
bellot winds	Refers to the winds in the Canadian Arctic that blow through the narrow Bellot Strait between Somerset Island and the Boothia Peninsula, connecting the Gulf of Boothia and Franklin Strait.
barrier net	A net system that is placed across a river, stream or channel to block the passage of fish from dam turbine intakes or other hazards without blocking the water flow.
overland flow	the flow of rainwater or snowmelt over the land surface toward stream channels.
intertropical convergence zone	An area where the Northern and Southern Hemispheric trade winds converge, usually located between 10 degrees North and South of the equator
carbon dioxide	A gas present in the atmosphere and formed by the decay of organic matter; the gas in carbonated beverages; in water it forms carbonic acid.
water table	surface of a body of unconfined groundwater at which the pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere.
aerobic	living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen.
upland	a general term for nonwetland; elevated land above low areas along streams or between hills; any elevated region from which rivers gather drainage.
weeper	A hole or pipe in a wall to allow water to run off.
lagoon	A lagoon is a shallow body of water that is located alongside a coast.
edaphic	Soil characteristics, such as water content, pH, texture, and nutrient availability, that influence the type and quantity of vegetation in an area.
bench flume	A flume built on constructed benches or terraces along hillsides or around mountain slopes when the ground is too rough or too steep to permit the use of an excavated canal.
riparian	Located on the banks of a stream or other body of water.
unit hydrograph	(1) The Hydrograph of direct runoff from a storm uniformly distributed over the drainage basin during a specified unit of time; the hydrograph is reduced in vertical scale to correspond to a volume of runoff from the drainage basin of one inch
wing walls	a wall along the side of a spillway (or other structure) that extends beyond the spillway to retain earth
coagulation	Destabilisation of colloid particles by addition of a reactive chemical, called a coagulant
total lignin	The sum of the acid soluble lignin and acid insoluble lignin fractions.
channelization	natural or intentional straightening and/or deepening of streams so water moves faster and causes less flooding. Channelization can sometimes exacerbate flooding in other downstream areas.
sea mile	A unit of length distinguished from a nautical mile
sediment pool	The reservoir space allotted to the accumulation of submerged sediment during the life of the structure.
pathogen	microorganisms which can cause disease.
organic chemicals	chemicals containing carbon.
karst	a type of topography that results from dissolution and collapse of carbonate rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, and that is characterized by closed depressions or sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage.
atom	The smallest particle of an element that can exist either alone or in combination with similar particles of the same element or a different element.
habitat	the natural home of a plant or animal within an ecosystem, which provides food and shelter and other elements critical to an organism's health and survival.
hydrologic cycle	The natural cycle of water passing through the environment, including evaporation, condensation, retention and run-off.
interstate commerce clause	A clause of the U.S
coefficient of haze	A measurement of visibility interference in the atmosphere.
mercury	Heavy metal that can accumulate in the environment and is highly toxic if breathed or swallowed
aquifer	A layer in the soil that is capable of transporting a significant volume of groundwater.
mineralization	The release of inorganic chemicals from organic matter in the process of aerobic or anaerobic decay.
stubble mulching	The management of plant residues by harvesting, tilling, planting, and cultivating in such a way so as to keep protective amounts of vegetation on the soil surface.
closure	The procedure a landfill operator must follow when a landfill reaches its legal capacity for solid ceasing acceptance of solid waste and placing a cap on the landfill site.
zone of contribution	The area surrounding a pumping well that encompasses all areas or features that supply ground-water recharge to the well.
particle size	As used in industry standards, the size of a particle suspended in water as determined by its smallest dimension, usually expressed in microns.
well interference	The effects of neighboring pumping wells on the discharge and drawdown at a particular pumping well.
hydrophilic	Having an affinity for water.
net water yield	The available water runoff at a given location, both surface and subsurface, after the upstream uses by man's activities, use by Phreatophytes, and evaporation from upstream free water surfaces.
agitator/mixer	(Water Quality) Blades or paddles that slowly rotate in a tank to facilitate the mixing of suspended material.
efficiency	A service is efficient if the available resources are used in the best possible way.
transpiration	the cyclic transfer of water from the Earth's surface via evapotranspiration into the atmosphere, from the atmosphere via precipitation back to earth, and through runoff into streams, rivers, and lakes and ultimately into the oceans, (see water cycle).
diffusion	The movement of suspended or dissolved particles (or molecules) from a more concentrated to a less concentrated area
organic matter	Carbonaceous material contained in plant or animal matter and originating from domestic or industrial sources.
water quality	the condition of water as it relates to impurities water reclamation - treating wastewater so that it can be used again water table - (1) the boundary in the ground between where the ground is saturated with water (zone of saturation) and where the ground is filled with water and air (zone of aeration); (2) the upper surface of the saturated zone that determines the water level in a well in an unconfined aquifer water vapor - the gaseous state of water watershed - a geographical portion of the Earth's surface from which water drains or runs off to a single place like a river; also called a drainage area well - a hole or shaft drilled into the earth to get water or other underground substances
dependable supply	That water which can be expected to be available at a time and place with the quality demanded; sometimes the amount of water available is at a stated percentage of time.
pre-treatment	Processes used to reduce or eliminate wastewater pollutants from before they are discharged.
mutagen	anything capable of increasing the rate of genetic mutation in living organisms
watt	the practical unit of electrical power.
bulky waste	Waste from household activities that, because of its volume or weight, is not included in the usual collection system, but needs special handling
retention facility	A stormwater storage facility that normally holds water at a controlled level to serve functions such as recreation, aesthetic, and water supply
heat pump	An electric device with both heating and cooling capabilities
potentiation	The ability of one chemical to increase the effect of another chemical.
aggrading	The building up of a stream channel which is flowing too slowly to carry its sediment load.
backscatter	A radar echo that is reflected, or scattered, at 180 degrees to the direction of the incident wave
watershed protection	The treatment of watershed lands in accordance with such predetermined objectives as the control of erosion, stream flow, silting floods, and water, forage, or timber yield
combustion	Compost
environmental audit	(1) An internal investigation of company compliance with environmental regulations
acute hazards	Hazards associated with short-term exposure to relatively large amounts of toxic substances.
boathouse	A building for storing boats.
velocity	In this concept, the speed of water flowing in a watercourse, such as a river.
institutional waste	Waste generated at institutions such as schools, libraries, hospitals, prisons, etc.
pharmacokinetics	The study of the way that drugs move through the body after they are swallowed or injected.
high water mark	A mark indicating the highest level reached by a body of water.
mixed metals	Recovered metals not sorted into categories such as aluminum, tin, or steel cans or ferrous or non-ferrous metals.
hibernacula	The places in which an animal hibernates or overwinters; winter quarters.
bone char	A black pigment substance with a carbon content of about 10 percent, made by carbonizing animal bones
capillary action	(1) The action by which water is drawn around soil particles because there is a stronger attraction between the soil particles and the water molecules themselves
plunge	To thrust or cast oneself into, or as if into, water.
hydrocarbon	Organic compounds that are built of carbon and hydrogen atoms and are often used in petroleum industries.
low flow frequency curve	A graph showing the magnitude and frequency of minimum flow for a specified period of time (duration).
symbol	Something on a map that stands for something else.
noninfectious disease	an illness not caused by a disease-causing organism or virus
environmental impact	The positive or negative effect of any action upon a given area or resource.
dinoflagellates	Unicellular biflagellate algae with thick cellulose plates
disturbed lot area	the part of a site that is directly affected by construction activity, including any activity that would compact the soil or damage vegetation.
radioactive	Having the property of releasing radiation.
tropical depression	A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface winds are 38 miles per hour (33 knots) or less
nonstructural flood control measures	Measures such as zoning ordinances and codes, flood forecasting, flood proofing, evacuation and channel clearing, flood fight activities, and upstream land treatment or management to control flood damages without physically restraining flood waters.
hydrologic cycle	Often called the water cycle, it is the vertical and horizontal transport of water in all its states between the earth, the atmosphere, and the seas.
undercurrent	a current below the upper currents or surface of a fluid body.
watershed	An area of land whose total surface drainage flows to a single point in a stream.
acre-feet	A unit commonly used for measuring the volume of water
aquarium	(1) A tank, bowl, or other water-filled enclosure in which living fish or other aquatic animals and plants are kept
cryptomonads	A group of brown colored flagellate algae, very common in the phytoplankton.
organelles	in eukaryotic cells that carry out photosynthesis, where the chlorophyll pigments and related enzymes are located, specialized structures that carry out photosynthesis in plants and algae.
flood plain	a strip of relatively flat land bordering a stream channel that is overflowed at times of high water.
subsurface flow	Water which infiltrates the soil surface and moves laterally through the upper soil layers until it enters a channel.
debris basins	Storage for sediment and floating material provided by a dam with spillway above channel grade, by excavation below grade, or both
are	A metric unit of land measure equal to 100 square meters or 1/100 Hectare (119.6 square yards)
maximum probable flood	The largest flood for which there is any reasonable expectancy.
sinking	controlling oil spills by using an agent to trap the oil and sink it to the bottom of the body of water where the agent and the oil are biodegraded.
microhabitat	zones of similar physical characteristics within a mesohabitat unit, differentiated by aspects such as substrate type, water velocity, and water depth.
water table	The surface of groundwater in the soil.
anaerobic digester	An airtight tank in which Anaerobic microorganisms decompose organic material and produce Biogas, mainly Methane
shadow pricing	Governmental development policies can sometimes create distortions in market prices to such an extent that they bear little relationship to real economic costs
superheated water	Liquid water heated above 100°C (212°F) under pressures greater than atmospheric.
atom	the smallest particle of an element which can exist alone or enter into a chemical combination.
iron	An element often found dissolved in ground water (in the form of ferrous iron) in concentrations usually ranging from zero to 10 ppm (mg/l)
pumicite	A natural, glassy aluminum silicate mineral from volcanic ash which is used as a water treatment filtration media.
head loss	The same as "pressure drop".
sag pond	(1) A small body of water occupying an enclosed depression or sag formed where active or recent fault movement has impounded drainage
nutrients	such as potassium, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc, soil that is lacking in these substances can be fertilized with biosolids which also improve soil properties and plant productivity reducing dependence on inorganic fertilizers.
algae	A general category of photosynthesizing unicellular and multicellular organisms primarily aquatic
ravine	a narrow, steep sided valley that is commonly eroded by running water and with slope grades greater than 3:1.
condensation	the change of state from a gas to a liquid
landscape features	The land, water, vegetation, and structures that compose the characteristic landscape.
tail water	the runoff of irrigation water from the lower end of an irrigated field.
hydraulic classification	The rearrangement of resin particles in an ion exchange unit
vertebrate	Animals that have a backbone.
grain per gallon	(gpg) A common basis for reporting water analyses in the United States and Canada; one grain per U.S
headwaters	The source and upper part of a stream.
chronic toxicity	The capacity of a substance to cause long-term poisonous health effects in humans, animals, fish, and other organisms
antecedent precipitation index	An index of moisture stored in a basin before a storm, calculated as a weighted summation of past daily precipitation amounts
toxic	Having an adverse physiological effect on humans or other desirable organisms.
conductance	A measure of the ability of a solution to carry electricity; the reciprocal of the electrical resistance
illuviation	The deposition in an underlying soil layer of colloids, soluble salts, and mineral particles leached out of an overlying soil layer.
accuracy	prevailing wind: Wind that blows in a dominant direction.
incidence	(Statistics) The rate of occurrence of a specific event within a given number of observations over a standard time period.
exotic species	A species that is not indigenous to a region.
distribution coefficient	The quantity of a solute absorbed per unit weight of a solid divided by the quantity dissolved in water per unit volume of water.
matter	All physical objects.
gradually varied flow	(Hydraulics) Non-uniform flow in which depth of flow changes gradually through a reach
runs	An area of swiftly flowing water, without surface agitation or waves, which approximates uniform flow and in which the slope of the water surface is roughly parallel to the overall gradient of the stream reach.
canyon	walls of rock along a river, sometimes very steep
oxygen-depleting waste	Organic material whose decomsition is accomplished by aerobic bacteria
aerobic	Oxygen-consuming organism.
organic soil	soil that contains more than 20 percent organic matter in the upper 16 inches.
pollution indicator organism	(Water Quality) A plant or animal species that is not normally present in an aquatic environment unless the body of water has been subjected to damage by pollution
continental divide [united states]	A ridge of the Rocky Mountains forming the North American watershed that separates rivers flowing in an easterly direction from those flowing in a westerly direction.
oxidizing filter	A type of filter used to change the valence state of dissolved molecules, making them insoluble and therefore filterable
weephole	Opening left in a revetment, bulkhead, or wall to allow groundwater drainage.
hydrogen sulfide	Gas emitted during organic decomposition
kilogram	one thousand grams.
interfacial tension	The strength of the film separating two immiscible fluids (e.g
bathometer	An instrument used to measure the depth of water.
evaporation	the change by which any substance is converted from a liquid state and carried of in vapor
pathogens	Organisms that can cause diseases - bacteria, viruses and worms.
setback	Denotes the positioning of a levee or structure in relationship to a stream bank
molecular weight	the sum of the atomic weights of all the atoms in a molecule.
corporation cock	A stopcock screwed into the street water main to provide the house service connection.
suspended solids	small particles of solid materials in water that cause cloudiness or turbidity.
commercial forest land	Forested land which is capable of producing new growth at a minimum rate of 20 cubic feet per acre per year, excluding lands withdrawn from timber production by statute or administrative regulation.
bioavailabiliity	Degree of ability to be absorbed and ready to interact in organism metabolism.
application rate	For irrigation, the rate at which water is applied per unit of land area, usually expressed in terms of inches per hour.
floodplain	The flat or nearly flat land along a river or stream that is covered by water during a flood.
waterless	(1) Lacking water; dry
milligram per kilogram	A unit of concentration for a solid. A mercury level of 1.0 mg/kg in fish means that one milligram (one thousandth of a gram) of mercury was found in each kilogram of sampled fish. (A kilogram is 1,000 grams or approximately 2.2 pounds). Also equals one part per million.
interstadial	(Geology) Long intervals of Desiccation occurring between Pluvial episodes.
bound water	Water molecules that are held tightly to soil or other solids
flood peak	The maximum instantaneous discharge of a flood at a given location
transpiration	evolution: Genetically based changes in populations of organisms, occurring over successive generations.
acid	a substance with a quantity of positively charged hydrogen ions.
middens	A large refuse heap containing such materials discarded materials, food remains, bones, and so on.
runoff cycle	That portion of the Hydrologic Cycle between incident precipitation over land areas and its subsequent discharge through stream channels or Evapotranspiration.
irrigated cropland	All lands being supplied water by artificial means, excluding waterfowl refuges, that are being used for the production of orchard, field, grain crops and pasture.
port	(1) A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships; a city or town on a waterway with such facilities
old growth	Timber stands marked by the following characteristics: large mature and over-mature trees in the overstory, snags, dead and decaying logs on the ground, and a multi-layered canopy with trees of several age classes.
injection well classes	Classifications of the U.S
migration	the movement of oil, gas, contaminants, water, or other liquids through porous and permeable rock.
contour plowing	A soil tilling technique that follows the shape of the land to minimize erosion.
lateral	Building or house service connection to sewer or sewer-to-sewer connection.
annual vegetation	vegetation that completes its growth cycle in one year (e.g., grasses).
molar	a solution concentration having one mole of solute per liter of solution.
permafrost	soil or rock which remains below freezing point throughout the year, as in polar and alpine regions pH
atoll	An atoll is a ring (or partial ring) of coral that forms an island in an ocean or sea
broad-based dip	A surface drainage structure on a logging road specifically designed to tip water out of a dirt road while allowing vehicles to maintain normal haul speeds
millimicron	(archaic) See "nanometer".
alpine	That portion of mountains above tree growth; or organisms living there
anion	A negatively charged ion in solution, such as bicarbonate, chloride, or sulfate
nephelometer	an instrument that measures scattered light in a liquid.
vascular plant	Any of various plants, such as the ferns and seed-bearing plants, in which the phloem transports sugar and the xylem transports water and salts.
compliance cycle	(Water Quality) The 9-year calendar year cycle, beginning January 1, 1993, during which public water systems must monitor
groundwater table	See Water Table
potable	Drinkable.
equipotential line	A line in a field of flow such that the total head is the same for all points on the line; therefore, the direction of flow is perpendicular to the line at all points.
reduction	chemical reaction in which an atom or molecule gains an electron; decrease in positive valence; addition of hydrogen to a molecule.
sounding line	(Nautical) A line marked at intervals of fathoms and weighted at one end, used to determine the depth of water
anoxic	(1) Denotes the absence of oxygen, as in a body of water
availability session	Informal meeting at a public location where interested citizens can talk with EPA and state officials on a one-to-one basis.
animal unit	One mature cow weighing 454 kg or the equivalent
ablation	(1) The process by which ice and snow waste away as a result of melting and/or evaporation
darcy's law	An empirically derived equation for the flow of fluids through porous media
ambient air	Refers to the surrounding air
end-point	The end point is that point in the exhaustion run of a water conditioner such as a softener or deionizer at which the water quality has dropped below an acceptable level
designated floodway	The channel of a stream and the portion of the adjoining floodplain designated by a regulatory agency to be kept free of further development to provide for unobstructed passage of flood flows.
sprinkle	A light rainfall.
redistill	Re-treat a distillate.
sediments	a complex mixture of materials transported by flowing water that eventually settles and accumulates
barrage	any artificial obstruction placed in water to increase water level or divert it
bag house	Boiler
dual-distribution piping	A water distribution system that uses one set of pipes for the distribution of potable water and a separate set for the distribution of Reclaimed Water.
dioxin	Draft
stream power	a measure of energy available to move sediment, or any other particle in a stream channel
aquarium	This is an enclosure that is filled with water and inhabits aquatics such as fish or frogs in.
breakpoint chlorination	The addition of chlorine to water or wastewater until the chlorine demand has been satisfied and further additions result in a residual that is directly proportional to the amount added beyond the breakpoint.
cecop	A public opinion polling institute
life cycle assessment	methodology developed to assess a product's full environmental costs, from raw material to final disposal.
enforceable requirements	Conditions or limitations in permits issued under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 202 or 404, that, if violated, could result in the issuance of a compliance order or initiation of a civil or criminal action under federal or applicable state laws.
food waste	Uneaten food and food preparation wastes from residences and commercial establishments such as grocery stores, restaurants, and produce stands, institutional cafeterias and kitchens, and industrial sources like employee lunchrooms.
stormwater	Rainwater that runs off the land, usually paved or compacted surfaces in urban or suburban areas, and is often routed into drain systems in order to prevent flooding.
manganese greensand	Greensand which has been processed to incorporate in it pores and on its surface the high oxides of manganese
reaction	A dissociation, recombination, or rearrangement of atoms.
laser induced fluorescence	A method for measuring the relative amount of soil and/or groundwater with an in-situ sensor.
significant non-compliance	(See significant violations.)
effectiveness	The effectiveness of a service means the extent to which the objective of the service have been me in practice
air permeability	Permeability of soil with respect to air
displacement savings	Saving realized by displacing purchases of natural gas or electricity from a local utility by using landfill gas for power and heat.
ambient monitoring	Monitoring that is done to determine existing environmental conditions, contaminant levels, rates, or species in the environment, against which future conditions can be compared.
significant municipal facilities	Those publicly owned sewage treatment plants that discharge a million gallons per day or more and are therefore considered by states to have the potential to substantially effect the quality of receiving waters.
allergen	A substance that causes an allergic reaction in individuals sensitive to it.
waste exchange	Arrangement in which companies exchange their wastes for the benefit of both parties.
geothermal	Terrestrial heat, usually associated with water as around hot springs.
suspended sediment	Very fine soil particles which remain in suspension in water for a considerable period of time without contact with the bottom
mooring	a place or structure to which a vessel can be secured, usually off-shore
galvanic action	A form of corrosion which occurs when dissimilar metals in contact with each other and with an electrolyte causes on e of the metals to dissolve and go into solution
public water use	from a public water supply, used for firefighting, municipal parks and pools, and landscaping and other public city uses.
river miles	Miles from the mouth of a river to a specific destination or, for upstream tributaries, from the confluence with the main river to a specific destination.
upgradient	The direction from which water flows in an aquifer
matric potential	The work per unit quantity of pure water that has to be done to overcome the attractive forces of water molecules and the attraction of water to solid surfaces
asset life	The time from the date of installation (when new) of an asset (or part) until the asset (or part) has to be replaced
denitrifying bacteria	Bacteria in soil or water that are capable of anaerobic respiration, using the nitrate ion as a substitute for molecular oxygen during their metabolism
clarity	The clearness of a liquid.
basin and range [nevada]	A region of north-trending mountains ranges and valleys encompassing western Utah and essentially all of Nevada
secondary drinking water standards	Non-enforceable standards related to the aesthetic quality of drinking water such as those relating to taste and odor; generally set by the U.S
flood frequency curve	(1) A graph showing the average interval of time within which a flood of a given magnitude will be equaled or exceeded once
evaluation	Systematic assessment and/or comparison of available options/alternatives.
montane	of, pertaining to, or inhabiting cool upland slopes below the timber line; characterized by the dominance of evergreen trees.
policy	A series of broad statements setting out the overall policy framework for either environmental management and/or MSWM at the national or regional level
dissolved oxygen	amount of oxygen gas dissolved in a given quantity of water at a given temperature and atmospheric pressure
pheromone	A biochemical emitted by an organism to influence the behaviour of other organisms of the same species
deionization	The removal of all charged atoms or molecules from some material such as water
sediment	Topsoil, sand, and minerals washed from the land into water, usually after rain or snow melt
aec	Atomic Energy Commission Established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. The federal agency was abolished by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which assigned its functions to two new agencies: the Energy Research and Development Administration (now part of the U.S
heat balance	The equilibrium which exists on the average between the radiation received by the earth and atmosphere from the sun and that emitted by the earth and atmosphere
periphyton	An assemblage of microorganisms (plants and animals) firmly attached to and growing upon solid surfaces, such as the bottom of a stream, rocks, logs, pilings, and other structures.
intermittent stream	one that flows periodically
reduction	The addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen, or addition of electrons to an element or compound.
harvested rainwater	The rain that falls on a roof or yard and is channeled by gutters or channels to a storage tank
hydrobiology	The biological study of bodies of water, especially studies by Limnology Hydrobiologist.
total chlorine	The total concentration of chlorine in a water, including combined and free chlorine
closed basin	A basin is considered closed with respect to surface flow if its topography prevents the occurrence of visible surface outflow
destruction facility	A facility that destroys regulated medical waste.
steam	the vapor phase of water.
certificate of water right	an official document which serves as court evidence of a perfected water right.
interstitial monitoring	The continuous surveillance of the space between the walls of an underground storage tank.
limiting nutrient	The plant nutrient present in lowest concentration relative to need: limits growth such that addition of the limiting nutrient will stimulate additional growth
recreation resource	Land and water areas and their natural attributes, with or without man-made facilities, that provide opportunities for outdoor recreation.
netting	A concept in which all emissions sources in the same area that owned or controlled by a single company are treated as one large source, thereby allowing flexibility in controlling individual sources in order to meet a single emissions standard
vadose zone	The subsurface zone between the water table (Zone of Saturation) and the land surface where some of the spaces between the soil particles are filled with air
proprietary information	The Department will classify information as proprietary provided the owner demonstrates the following: the business has asserted a business confidentiality claim; the business has shown it has taken reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of the information both within the company and from outside entities; the information is not, and has not been reasonably obtainable without the business' consent; no statute specifically requires disclosure of the information ; and either the business has shown that disclosure of the information is likely to cause substantial harm to its competitive position, or the information is voluntarily submitted and its disclosure would likely impair the government's ability to obtain necessary information in the future.
outwash	a deposit of sand and gravel formed by streams of meltwater flowing from a glacier.
chronic	long-lasting or long-term in reference to either duration of exposure or effect of exposure to a pollutant
ppm	The abbreviation for part per million.
critical wildlife habitat	Habitat that is vital to the health and maintenance of one or a variety of species based on habitat features such as nesting sites, denning sites, food sources, breeding grounds, etc.
iso	International Standards Organization
dilute	To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water.
biomass	the amount of living matter, in the form of organisms, present in a particular habitat, usually expressed as weight- per-unit area.
deepening	Used in describing the history of a low pressure system or an area of cyclonic circulation, it means a decrease in the central pressure of the system
nematocide	A chemical agent which is destructive to nematodes
impermeable	material that does not permit fluids to pass through.
trompe	An apparatus in which water falling through a perforated pipe entrains air into and down the pipe to produce an air blast for a furnace or forge.
vinyl chloride	Vinyl chloride is widely used in the plastics industry in creating polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
prevailing visibility	It is considered representative of visibility conditions at the observation station
watershed protection approach	A type of pollution management program supported by the U.S
wilderness society	An American environmental organization concerned with the protection of wildlife habitat and wildlife refuges as well as the preservation of public lands.
babble	to make a continuous low, murmuring sound, as flowing water.
calibration	the checking, adjusting, or systematic standardizing of the graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument.
haystack	A vertical standing wave in turbulent river waters.
oxalic acid	Oxalic Acid is a toxic organic acid that are found in plants
evaporation	sublimation, vapourization, transpiration, evapotranspiration).
plateau	A level, elevated land area, usually between 2,000 and 6,000 feet (610-1,830 meters) in elevation.
rough fish	Fish not prized for sport or eating, such as gar and suckers
upwelling	(1) The appearance of water from the deep ocean at the surface
recycling	the collection, reprocessing, marketing and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.
bathe	(1) To take a bath or go into the water for swimming or other recreation
specific conductance	a measure of the ability of water to conduct an electrical current. Used to approximate the total dissolved solids (TDS) content of water. A basic field test in water quality; distilled water does not conduct electricity, sea water is extremely conductive.
settling velocity	(Water Quality) The rate of downward movement of particles through water
water-sick	Land rendered unproductive because of excessive irrigation.
growth lines	darkened lines on the surface of the shell indicating periods of rest during growth
salvaged water	The part of a particular stream or other water supply that is saved from loss, in respect to quantity or quality, and is retained and made available for use.
segment	a water body or portion of a water body that is individually defined and classified
flash point	The temperature at which a combustible liquid will ignite when a flame is held over the liquid; anhydrous ethanol will flash at 51°F.
afterburner	In incinerator technology, a burner located so that the combustion gases are made to pass through its flame in order to remove smoke and odors
radon	A short lived radioactive gas produced from decaying uranium that is soluble in water
aquifer test	A test to determine hydraulic properties of an aquifer.
arctic	Of or relating to the area around the geographic North Pole, from 90° North to the Arctic Circle at approximately 66 1/2 North latitude.
rain shadow	A dry region on the lee side of a topographic barrier, usually a mountain range, where the rainfall is noticeably less than on the windward side.
lifts	Layers of loose soil wrapped in erosion control fabric used to rebuild and recontour a bank.
kinetic energy	Energy possessed by moving water.
auto oxidation	oxidation caused by the atmosphere; an oxidation reaction that is self-catalysed and spontaneous; an oxidation reaction begun only by an inductor.
valley	A valley is a long trough in the landscape that has been eroded by a river or a combination of river and glacier action.
decant	to remove the liquid portion of a settled mixture without disturbing the sediment.
seasonal wetlands	Wetland areas flooded or taking on the characteristics of a wetland only during specific periods of the year or seasons
hydrology	the science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water.
glob	A small drop; a globule.
electrons	Negatively charged building blocks of an atom that circle around the nucleus.
passive smoking/secondhand smoke	Inhalation of others' tobacco smoke.
inchoate water right	an unperfected water right.
forest land	Land which is at least 10 percent occupied by forest trees of any size or formerly having had such tree cover and not currently developed for non-forest use
fixed bed	A collection of closely spaced particles through which gases move up or down for purposes of gasification or combustion.
ph	the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration (-log10[H+]) where H+ is the hydrogen-ion concentration in moles per liter
tragedy of the commons	the idea that no one takes responsibility for things that everybody owns.
confluence	Where two rivers or streams meet.
retrofitting	installing modern pollution control devices at facilities without making major changes to the facility's design.
organic chemicals/compounds	Animal or plant-produced substances containing mainly carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
designed landscape	the arrangement of features on a site, including softscapes (e.g., grass, shrubs) and hardscapes (e.g., patios, fountains) but not driveways or areas under roof
riffle	Area of a stream or river characterized by a rocky substrate and turbulent, fast-moving, shallow water.
hydrologic model	a computer model of a watershed used to evaluate how precipitation contributes to flow in streams
scenic rivers	Rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, with shoreline and watersheds still largely primitive, and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads.
water-based recreation	Those activities which require water for participation such as boating, swimming, sailing and canoeing.
channel bank	The sloping land bordering a channel
wildland	A non-urban, natural area which contains uncultivated land, timber, range, watershed, brush or grassland.
mannan	The polymer of mannose with a repeating unit of C6H10O5
sulcus	a shallow depression or furrow on the outside surface of the shell
biota	All living organisms of a region, as in a stream or other body of water.
indoor climate	Temperature, humidity, lighting, air flow and noise levels in a habitable structure or conveyance
cape	(1) A point or head of land projecting into a body of water
perennial stream	A stream that flows from source to mouth throughout the year
matrix	(1) Solid framework of a porous material or system
primacy	Term used to denote that individual states have been delegated the authority to implement the requirements, as prescribed by the U.S
administrative record	All documents which EPA considered or relied on in selecting the response action at a Superfund site, culminating in the record of decision for remedial action or, an action memorandum for removal actions.
wildlife danger tree assessor	a qualified professional arborist who determines the presence and nature of hazard posed by trees.
discharge permit	Legal contract negotiated between federal and state regulators and an industry or sewage treatment plant that sets limits on many water pollutants or polluting effects from the discharges of its pipes to public waters.
friction head	Energy required to overcome friction due to fluid movement with respect to the walls of the conduit or containing medium.
disposal	1
sediments	generally referring to algae.
per capita water use	The water produced by or introduced into the system of a water supplier divided by the total residential population; normally expressed in gallons per capita per day (gpcd).
gabion	A wire cage, usually rectangular, filled with cobbles and used as a component for water control structures or for channel and bank protection.
hydraulic gradient	the direction of groundwater flow due to changes in the depth of the water table.
haboob	Sudanese name for duststorm or sandstorm with strong winds that carry small particles of dirt or sand into the air, particularly severe in areas of drought.
breach	(1) A gap or rift, especially in or as if in a solid structure such as a dike or dam
benthic	the bottom of a river, lake, or ocean where the water meets the surface of the accumulated sediments
delta	A fan-shaped alluvial deposit at a river mouth formed by the deposition of successive layers of sediment.
acid rain	(See: acid deposition.)
recycle symbol	the chasing arrow symbol used to show that a product or package can be recycled
filter	a device used to remove solids from a mixture or to separate materials
acid	A solution that has an excess of hydrogen ions (H+), with a pH of less than 7.
secondary succession	an association of plants that develops after the destruction of all or part of the original plant community.
parshall flume	A device used to measure the flow of water in an open channel.
drought	Abnormal dry weather for a specific area that is sufficiently prolonged for the lack of water to cause serious hydrological imbalance.
load	material that is moved or carried by streams, reported as weight of material transported during a specified time period, such as tons per year.
project crop water requirement	The project crop water requirement is the annual amount of water required to meet the total project's crop consumptive use plus leaching requirement, and adjusted for natural precipitation (expressed in acre-feet per year).
grade stabilization structure	A structure for the purpose of stabilizing the grade of a gully or other watercourse, thereby preventing further head-cutting or lowering of the channel grade.
hydrocarbon	a chemical compound containing only hydrogen and carbon; the largest source of hydrocarbons comes from petroleum crude oil.
ems	Environmental Management System
biocoenosis	A community of animal and plant life.
disinfectants	Fluids or gasses to disinfect filters, pipelines, systems, etc.
mesa	Table land, flat in nature, moderately elevated, and well drained.
microbiological anaerobic degradation	The use of Microbes, either already present at a site or introduced for a specific treatment process, to degrade and render harmless hazardous wastes and toxic compounds in soil and water
total concentration	B
evergreen stand	A plant community where Evergreen trees or shrubs represent more than 50 percent of the total areal coverage of trees and shrubs
water cycle	natural pathway water follows as it changes between liquid, solid, and gaseous states; biogeochemical cycle that moves and recycles water in various forms through the ecosphere
toxic water pollutants	Compounds that are not naturally found in water at the given concentrations and that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them.
electron	A negatively charged subatomic particle that is located outside of an atom's nucleus.
sampling frequency	The interval between the collection of successive samples.
mechanical aeration	The use of mechanical energy to inject air into water to cause a waste stream to absorb oxygen.
yellow-listed	all species that are not included on the British Columbia Red or Blue Lists (see glossary terms for Blue-listed and Red-listed).
drainage water	The water which has been collected by a drainage system
coastal zone	Coastal waters and adjacent lands that exert a measurable influence on the uses of the seas and their resources and biota.
non-transient non-community water system	A public water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same non-resident persons per day for more than six months per year.
sand	tiny, loose grains of crushed mineral particles formed by the weathering of rocks.
solar pond	A pool of salt water heated by the sun and used either as a direct source of heat or to provide power for an electric generator.
gross primary production	niche: The role of a species within its community.
superimposed stream	A stream whose present course was established on young rocks burying an old surface
drop-inlet spillway	Overfall structure in which the water drops through a vertical riser connected to a discharge conduit.
hydraulic earthfill dam	An embankment built up from waterborne clay, sand, and gravel carried through a pipe or flume.
meltwater	Water that comes from the melting ice of a glacier or a snow bank.
apex	The highest point on an Alluvial Fan or similar landform below which the flow path of the major stream that formed the fan becomes unpredictable and Alluvial Fan Flooding can occur.
gpg	Abbreviation for grains per gallon.
stratocumulus	A low-lying cloud formation occurring in extensive horizontal layers with rounded summits
permeability	the ability of a water bearing material to transmit water
waterfront	(1) Land abutting a body of water
soil amendment	Any material added to soil that enhances plant growth.
desilting area	An area of grass, shrubs, or other vegetation used for inducing the deposition of silt and other debris from flowing water
external cost	cost of production or consumption that must be borne by society; not by the producer.
omnivorous	An omnivore is a species of animal that eats both plants and animals as its primary food source.
tilth	(1) The general physical condition of soil as it relates to agriculture use
greenhouse effect	The overall warming of the earth's lower atmosphere primarily due to carbon dioxide and water vapor which permit the sun's rays to heat the earth, but then restrict some heat-energy from escaping back into space.
silviculture	Theory and practice of controlling the establishment, composition, structure, and growth of forests and woodlands.
antimicrobial	An agent that kills microbes.
erosion	The process whereby materials of the Earth's crust are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and simultaneously moved from one place to another.
plugging	Act or process of stopping the flow of water, oil, or gas into or out of a formation through a borehole or well penetrating that formation.
fermentation	A biochemical reaction that breaks down complex organic molecules (such as carbohydrates) into simpler materials (such as ethanol, carbon dioxide, and water)
galactose	A six-carbon sugar with the formula C6H12O6
cliff	Steep, vertical or overhanging rock faces
whelm	To cover with water; submerge.
downgradient	The direction that groundwater flows; similar to "downstream" for surface water flows.
organic matter	chemical compounds based on carbon chains or rings, and also containing hydrogen with or without oxygen, nitrogen, or other compounds.
maximum acceptable toxic concentration	For a given ecological effects test, the range (or geometric mean) between the No Observable Adverse Effect Level and the Lowest Observable Adverse Effects Level.
hemisphere	half of a sphere; half of the earth
institutional strengthening	Process designed to enhance the ability of an institution to meet its objectives more effectively through a combination of measures including technical assistance, training, improved management structure system and better legislative and regulatory frameworks.
sanitary sewers	underground pipes that carry off only domestic or industrial waste, not storm water.
syringyl	A component of lignin, normally only found in hardwood lignins
best practice	The planning and/or operational practice that is the most technically and politically feasible, cost-effective, sustainable, environmentally beneficial and socially sensitive, to a particular locality.
navier-stokes equations	a set of equations that describe the physics governing the motion of a fluid
water-cooled vibrating grate	A boiler grate made up of a tuyere grate surface mounted on a grid of water tubes interconnected with the boiler circulation system for positive cooling
crpe	(Energy and Waste Research Center) Established in 1992 by Veolia Environmental Services and Veolia Energy, CRPE brings together engineers and researchers behind a common goal: to improve waste and energy management and protect the environment.
carbon-chloroform extract	A measurement of the organic content of a water
aerobic	An action or process conducted in the presence of air, such as aerobic digestion of organic matter by bacteria.
boreal	a climatic zone having a definite winter with snow and a short summer that is generally hot, and which is characterized by a large annual range of temperature.
pump	a device which moves, compresses, or alters the pressure of a fluid, such as water or air, being conveyed through a natural or artificial channel.
organic load	(Water Quality) The amount of organic material added to a body of water
atom	Smallest particle of an element capable of entering into a chemical reaction
oxygen deficit	(Water Quality) The difference between observed oxygen concentration and the amount that would theoretically be present at 100 percent saturation for existing conditions of temperature and pressure.
bend	The stream bends to the left just beyond that boat.
reconnaissance	A preliminary inspection or survey of an area, such as a forest, range, watershed, or wildlife area, to gain general information useful for future management.
decommissioning	the process of permanently closing a facility/site; includes rehabilitation and plans for future maintenance of affected land and water Dewater
hazardous waste	By-products of society that can pose a substantial or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly managed
e-10	A mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline based on volume
fishery	the aquatic region in which a certain species of fish lives floc - clumps of impurities removed from water during the purification process; formed when alum is added to impure water flocculation - a step in water filtration in which alum is added to cause particles to clump together floodplain - area formed by fine sediments spreading out in the drainage basin on either side of the channel of a river as a result of the river's fluctuating water volume and velocity fog - clouds that form at the Earth's surface frost - the ice that forms on surfaces as a result of the temperature of that surface reaching freezing before the air becomes saturated with water
aqueous	Something made up of water.
eschericha coli	Coliform bacterium that is often associated with human and animal waste and is found in the intestinal court
extinction	complete disappearance of a species because of failure to adapt to environmental change.
appropriative water rights [nevada]	Nevada's water law is based on statutes enacted in 1903 and 1905 and are founded on the principal of Prior Appropriation
hydraulic gradient	In general, the direction of groundwater flow due to changes in the depth of the water table
estrous cycle	the recurring periods of heat, or estrus, in the adult female of most mammals and the correlated changes in the reproductive tract from one period to the next.
administrative order on consent	A legal agreement signed by
mwh	Megawatt hour
exclusionary ordinance	Zoning that excludes classes of persons or businesses from a particular neighborhood or area.
mill residue	Wood and bark residues produced in processing logs into lumber, plywood, and paper.
lining	A protective covering over all or part of the perimeter of a reservoir or a conduit to prevent seepage losses, withstand pressure, resist erosion, reduce friction, or otherwise improve conditions of flow.
flux	the rate at which heat (energy, radiation, carbon dioxide, water vapour etc) flows across unit area (e.g
technical assistance	The provision of specialised technical resources, often under international arrangements to an organisation to assist it to achieve its objectives as to build internal capacity through training or improved management systems.
kraft process	Chemical pulping process in which lignin is dissolved by a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide.
bearing capacity	The maximum load per unit area which the surface of a landfill can support without damage.
vapor flow	The gaseous flow of water vapor in soils from a moist or warm zone of higher potential to a drier or colder zone of lower potential.
restricted entry interval	The time after a pesticide application during which entry into the treated area is restricted.
insects	an enormous group of organisms with hard exterior skeletons; the adults have a body divided into three segments (head, thorax and abdomen), with 3 pairs of legs and 1-2 pairs of wings (if present) attached to the thorax.
trash racks	pervious barriers constructed to catch debris and prevent damage to or blockage of a culvert, bridge or the inlet of a multiplate structure.
halite	A geological term for rock salt, a mineral which is more than 95 percent sodium chloride
microenvironments	Well-defined surroundings such as the home, office, or kitchen that can be treated as uniform in terms of stressor concentration.
total kjeldahl nitrogen	There is no MCl for total kjeldahl nitrogen
aerosol	Very small liquid or solid particles dispersed in air.
off-line reservoir	A reservoir constructed to the side of the main canal, usually in a natural drainage channel used to store surplus water runoff during the winter season for use during the irrigation season.
culvert	A transverse drain or waterway under a road, railroad, canal, or other obstruction.
formula	an expression of chemical composition, using symbols and figures.
sip call	EPA action requiring a state to resubmit all or part of its State Implementation Plan to demonstrate attainment of the require national ambient air quality standards within the statutory deadline
monitoring well	a well used to obtain water quality samples or measure groundwater levels.
low latitudes	The latitude belt between 30 and 0 degrees North and South of the equator
saponification	The process in which a fatty acid is neutralized with an alkali or base to form a soap.
landfill gases	Gases arising from the decomposition of the organic (putrescible) fraction of MSW; principally methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide
borrow pit	An area where soil, sand or gravel has been dug up for use elsewhere.
buoy	(Nautical) A float, often having a bell or light, moored in water as a warning of danger or as a marker for a channel
low emissivity windows	New window technology that lowers the amount of energy loss through windows by inhibiting the transmission of radiant heat while still allowing sufficient light to pass through.
peak electricity demand	The maximum electricity used to meet the cooling load of a building or buildings in a given area.
dissolve	the process by which solid particles mix molecule by molecule with a liquid and appear to become part of the liquid.
container	see Storage Containers.
antecedent soil water	Degree of wetness of a soil prior to irrigation or at the beginning of a runoff period, typically expressed as an index.
residual flood damages	Those flood damages which are not prevented by a flood plain management program
yield	The rate of production of cake from a dewatering device.
hygroscopic nuclei	A piece of dust or other particle around which water condenses in the atmosphere
nonrenewable energy	Energy derived from depletable fuels (oil, gas, coal) created through lengthy geological processes and existing in limited quantities on the earth.
water use	whenever water is used by an activity or organism, either in the place it is found or by withdrawing it Watershed
littoral	the shallow-water zone (less than 2 meters deep); a subsystem of the Lacustrine System of the U.S
snowmelt rate	The rate of conversion of ice into water within a snowpack.
streambank stabilization	The lining of streambanks with riprap, matting, etc., or other measures intended to control erosion.
beak cavity	the depression or pocket on the inside of each valve leading into the beak
biological control	controlling a pest by the use of its natural enemies
remote sensing	The collection and interpretation of information about an object without physical contact with the object; e.g., satellite imaging, aerial photography, and open path measurements.
provincially ranked	The British Columbia government maintains a ranking of species considered to be red-listed, blue-listed, and yellow-listed in the province
planning area	Defined as the area to be considered within the strategic plan for MSWM
carbon neutral	a company, person or action either not producing any carbon emissions or if it does have been offsett elsewhere.
emergent plants	erect, rooted, herbaceous plants that may be temporarily to permanently flooded at the base but do not tolerate prolonged inundation of the entire plant.
cyanide	A highly toxic chemical often used in metal finishing or in extraction of precious metal from ore.
beach downdrift	area of beach towards which material is being moved by longshore transport.
reach	(1) Most generally, any specified length of a stream or conveyance
combustion	1
ph range	An arbitrary scale of numbers from 0 to 14 indicating acidity or basicity of a solution. A neutral solution has a pH of 7; below 7 represents acidity, and above 7 represents basicity. See article on
reportable quantity	Quantity of a hazardous substance that triggers reports under CERCLA
outflow channel	A natural stream channel that transports reservoir releases.
agricultural land	any land on which crops or pastures are cultivated or domestic stock are grazed
neutral	In electrical systems, the term used to indicate neither an excess nor a lack of electrons; a condition of balance between positive and negative charges
discount rate	Used in discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis
conditioning chamber	Cyclone
top of ravine bank	the first significant break in a ravine slope where the break occurs such that the grade beyond the break is flatter than 3:1 for a minimum distance of 15 metres measured perpendicularly from the break, and the break does not include a bench within the ravine that could be developed.
net duty of water	The amount of water delivered to the land to produce a crop, measured at the point of delivery to the field
duststorm	A severe weather condition characterized by strong winds and dust-filled air over a large area
kinetic energy	the energy of a body resulting from its motion.
hydrologic unit	A distinct watershed or river basin defined by an 8-digit code.
weir loading rate	An expression of the flow over a weir calculated by dividing the flow by the total effluent weir length
service run	That portion of the operating cycle of a water conditioning unit in which treated water is being delivered, as opposed to the period when the unit is being backwashed, recharged, or regenerated.
mixed glass	Recovered container glass not sorted into categories (e.g
adsorption	The process in which matter adheres to the surface of an adsorbent.
altimeter setting	The pressure value to which an aircraft altimeter scale is set so that it will indicate the altitude above mean sea level of an aircraft on the ground at the location for which the value was determined.
biodegradable	Capable of being decomposed into natural substances, such as carbon dioxide & water, by biological processes, especially bacterial action.
polysaccharide	A carbohydrate consisting of a large number of linked simple sugar, or monosaccharide, units
perennial streams	Streams which flow continuously.
levee	a natural or man-made earthen obstruction along the edge of a stream, lake, or river
retrofit	Another term used for the conversion of a filter or separator/filter.
methane	A gas that helps create the greenhouse effect (see Biogas and Greenhouse gas).
pervious paving	Paving material that allows water to penetrate to the soil below.
water quality	A term used to describe the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose
lead agency	A public agency which has the principal responsibility for ordering and overseeing site investigation and cleanup.
tin streaming	The mining of cassiterite placer deposits with the separation of the denser cassiterite from the less dense gangue minerals.
sole-source aquifer	an aquifer that supplies 50 percent or more of the drinking water of an area.
quartz sleeve	Also called a quartz jacket, it is a clear, pure quartz sleeve that is installed around the high intensity ultraviolet lamp in an ultraviolet system
fluidized	A mass of solid particles that is made to flow like a liquid by injection of water or gas is said to have been fluidized
invasive plant	A plant that moves in and takes over an Ecosystem to the detriment of other species; often the result of Environmental Manipulation.
substrate	The base on which an organism lives or a substance acts upon (as by an enzyme).
consequent stream	A stream following a course that is a direct consequence of the original slope of the surface on which it developed.
mineralization	(1) The general process by which elements present in organic compounds are eventually converted into inorganic forms, ultimately to become available for a new cycle of plant growth
proximate analysis	The determination, by prescribed methods, of moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon (by difference), and ash
tracer	(1) a foreign substance mixed with or attached to a given substance for the determination of the location or distribution of the substance
biodiversity	the number of different plants and animals that live in a specific area Bioindicators
alcohol	Any class of organic compounds containing the hydroxyl group, OH
precipitate	To cause a dissolved substance to form a solid particle that can be removed by settling or filtering
abutment	The part of a valley side wall against which a dam is constructed
lateral sewers	Pipes that run under city streets and receive the sewage from homes and businesses, as opposed to domestic feeders and main trunk lines.
family planning	A health service that helps couples decide whether to have children, and if so, when and how many.
agent	Any physical, chemical, or biological entity that can be harmful to an organism (synonymous with stressors.)
limnetic	the deepwater zone (greater than 2 meters deep); a subsystem of the Lacustrine System of the U.S
electrodialysis	a process which uses an electrical current and an arrangement of permeable membranes to separate soluble minerals from water
moorings	The place where a ship or boat is docked (or tied up)
clear air turbulence	Name given to turbulence that may occur in perfectly clear air without any visual in warning in the form of clouds
fresh	(1) Not saline or salty
las	Abbreviation for "Linear Alkyl Sulfonate".
cellulase	A family of enzymes that break down cellulose into glucose molecules.
lifted index	A measure of atmospheric instability that is obtained by computing the temperature that the air near the ground would have if it were lifted to a higher level and comparing it to the actual temperature at that altitude
acetone	A widely used, highly voatile solvent. It is readily absorbed by breathing, ingestion or contact with the skin. Workers who have inhaled acetone have reported respiratory problems.
axis	The horizontal centerline of a dam in the longitudinal direction.
pressure drop	The difference in pressure between two points, generally at the inlet and the outlet of a filter or a separator/filter. Measured in pounds per square inch gauge, or in inches of mercury.
leaching	The removal of soluble organic and inorganic substances from the topsoil downward by the action of percolating water.
enteric viruses	a category of viruses related to human excreta found in waterways.
blowing houses	A building in which tin was smelted with charcoal in a stone built furnace served by bellows operated by a water wheel.
protozoa	Any of a large group of mostly microscopic, one celled animals living chiefly in water
channel realignment	The construction of a new channel or a new alignment which may include the clearing, snagging, widening, and/or deepening of the existing channel.
contained landfill	A solid waste site or facility that accepts disposal of solid waste; the technical requirements for contained landfills are found in 401 KAR 47:080, 48:050, and 48:070 to 48:090.
ph	An expression of the intensity of the basic or acid condition of a liquid; may range from 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acid and 7 is neutral
outcrop	exposed at the surface
subchronic	Of intermediate duration, usually used to describe studies or periods of exposure lasting between 5 and 90 days.
sara	San Antonio River Authority; SARA was created by the State of Texas to preserve, protect and manage the resources and environment to the San Antonio River and its tributaries
conservation	protection, preservation, management, or restoration of a resource Consumptive Water Use
total suspended solids	A fixed volume of sample is filtered through a pre-weighed and washed glass fiber filter
freezing	The change of a liquid into a solid as temperature decreases
terminal spill	Refers to those releases made at the terminal ends of the project conveyance or reservoir system
dune	A dune is a hill or a ridge made of sand
mattress	(Environmental) A blanket of poles, brush, or other material interwoven or otherwise lashed together and weighted with rock, concrete blocks, or held in place to cover an area subject to scouring by flowing water.
water service agency	An agency organized, founded, or established to produce and distribute water directly or indirectly to customers
endemic	(Ecology) Confined to, or Indigenous in, a certain area or region, as an endemic plant or animal.
meadow	An area of moist low-lying grassland usually along a watercourse supporting a more dense stand of grasses and perhaps dwarf shrubs as compared to adjacent more arid uplands.
low-water mark	The lowest level attained by a varying water surface level.
median particle size	value for which half the particles in a sample have a greater diameter and half a lesser diameter.
culvert	A buried pipe that allows flows to pass under a road.
characterization of exposure	Portion of an ecological risk assessment that evaluates interaction of a stressor with one or more ecological entities.
carrying capacity	1
straight-line winds	Any surface wind that is not associated with rotation
molality	a measure of solution concentration expressed in moles of solute per 1,000 grams of solvent.
bentonite	A very fine clay, expansible when moist, commonly used to provide a tight seal around a monitoring well
plumber	One who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in a building.
escarpment	A steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations; the topographic expression of a fault.
nonsettleable matter	the suspended matter which neither settles nor floats to the surface of water in a period of one hour.
prions	Microscopic particles made of protein that can cause disease.
variable	parasitism: A biological relationship involving one species obtaining nourishment from a host, usually without causing its death.
hydrologic region	A study area, consisting of one or more planning subareas, used to analyze water use and hydrologic conditions
gulf	A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea, usually larger than a bay.
sedimentation	Also settling
clean water act	federal legislation enacted in 1972 to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the surface waters of the United States
main canal system	A canal that delivers water from a primary source of supply to several points of diversion or canal-side turnouts to smaller distribution systems.
induced draft	Combustion gas moved by a fan pulling with a vacuum
volatile	A solid or liquid material that easily vaporizes.
demand	the number of units of something that will be purchased at various prices at a point in time
urban run-off	Water from city streets domestic properties that carries pollutants into the sewer systems and receiving waters.
landspout	A small, weak tornado, which is not formed by a storm-scale rotation
hydraulic gradeline	A line, the plotted ordinate position of which represents the sum of pressure head plus elevation head for the various positions along a given fluid flow path, such as a pipeline or ground-water streamline
mites	minute animals having eight legs in the adult stage
mass number	the total number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus.
map scale	The relationship between the actual size of a place and its size as shown on a map.
sorption	The action of soaking up or attracting substances; process used in many pollution control systems.
kilo	A prefix used to indicate 1000 of the succeeding unit
limestone	a sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate, primarily in the form of the mineral calcite.
supplier of water	Any person who owns or operates a Public Water Supply System (PWSS).
tourism	The operation of tours and businesses that attract visitors from outside the country or region
resuspended	Describes particles that have been remixed with the air or water from which they have settled
phreatic zone	the area in an aquifer in which relatively all pores and fractures are saturated with water
bacteriastatic	Having the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria without destroying them
activated alumina	A medium made by treating aluminum ore so that it becomes porous and highly adsorptive
permanent control	A stream-gaging control which is substantially unchanging and is not appreciably affected by scour, fill, or backwater.
nucleus	The center of an atom that consists of protons and neutrons.
iso 14031	This standard evaluates an organization's compliant use of management indicators, comparing the past and present environmental performance of the company's business on the basis of the "plan, do, check, act" process.
fats	triglyceride-esters of fatty acids
open space/open space use	Refers to the current employment of land, the preservation of which conserves and enhances natural or scenic resources, protects streams and water supplies or preserves sites designated as historic pursuant to law.
residue studies	Research which examines the recalcitrance, bioavailability, toxicity, solubility, etc
total solids	the weight of all solids, dissolved and suspended, organic and inorganic, per unit volume of water; usually determined by the evaporation of a measured volume of water at 105oC in a pre-weighted dish.
average annual flood damages	The weighted average of all flood damages that would be expected to occur yearly under specified economic conditions and development
ionization	The process in which atoms gain or lose electrons and thus become ions with positive or negative charges; sometimes used as a synonym for dissociation, the separation of molecules into charged ion in solution.
carbon dioxide	A colorless, odorless, nonpoisonous gas, CO2, that forms Carbonic Acid when dissolved in water
chemical feeder	(Water Quality) A mechanical device for measuring quantities of chemical and applying them to a water at a preset rate.
bankfull	The discharge that fills the channel without overflowing onto the flood plain.
prequench chamber	Process Control
hyporheic zone	The area under the stream channel and floodplain that contributes to the stream.
organic soil improver	A stable, dry product with high agricultural value
rain	water drops which fall to the earth from the air.
potable use	Use of water for purposes that require drinking water quality.
sustainable forestry	the practice of managing forest resources to meet the long-termforest product needs of humans while maintaining the integrity of forested landscapesand sustaining a full range of forest values-economic, social and ecological.
repowering	Rebuilding and replacing major components of a power plant instead of building a new one.
vegetated filter strip	broad vegetated areas that promote even sheet flow over a sloped vegetated ground surface, where swales are flow conveyance channels, and vegetated surface ranges from turf to forest
irrigation	Applying water or wastewater to land areas to supply the water and nutrient needs of plants.
environmental impact assessment	An environmental analysis prepared to determine whether an action (such as a proposed development project) would significantly affect the environment and the mitigation measures to reduce the impacts to acceptable level.
thermochemical conversion	The use of heat to chemically change substances to produce energy products.
inversion	An atmospheric condition where a lower layer of cool air is trapped below an upper layer of warm air
graben	(Geology) (1) A depressed tract bounded on at least two sides by faults and generally of considerable length as compared to its width
sedimentary rocks	rocks resulting from the consolidation of loose sediment that has accumulated in layers.
return flow credit [nevada]	Nevada's apportionment of Colorado River water is a consumptive use apportionment
trophic structure	the feeding relationships among species within a food web.
fog bank	A fairly well-defined mass of fog observed in the distance
contact recreation	activities involving a significant risk of ingestion of water, such as wading by children, swimming, water skiing, diving and surfing
floe	An ice flow
subsistence flows	the component of an instream flow regime that represents infrequent, naturally occurring low flow events that occur for a seasonal period of time
detention time	The actual time that a small amount of water is in a settling basin or flocculating basin
waterer	(1) A person who obtains or supplies drinking water
tidewater	(1) Water that inundates land at flood tide
fold	(Geology) A bend or flexure in a layer or layers of rock.
offstream use	Water withdrawn or diverted from a ground or surface-water source for use at another place
bioaccumulants	Substances that increase in concentration in living organisms as they take in contaminated air, water, or food because the substances are very slowly metabolized or excreted
hygrograph	An instrument that records the hygrometer's measure of water vapor.
meander	curves in the stream channel where the stream dissipates energy.
sewage system	Pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, and all other structures, devices, and facilities used for collecting or conducting wastes to a point for treatment or disposal.
spread/spreading	A method of recharging a Ground Water Basin by diverting water to a highly-pervious area for Percolation into the basin
soil sorption coefficient	A parameter relating the partitioning of a chemical between soil and water in a soil-water mixture
prairie	A prairie is a wide, relatively flat area of land that has grasses and only a few trees.
overstory	(Botany) The uppermost, or tree, part of a forest, formed by tree crowns; canopy.
fill	(1) (Geology) Any sediment deposited by any agent such as water so as to fill or partly fill a channel, valley, sink, or other depression
biomagnification	A cumulative increase in the concentrations of a persistent substance in successively higher levels of the food chain.
river miles	Generally, miles from the mouth of a river to a specific destination or, for upstream tributaries, from the confluence with the main river to a specific destination.
ferrous metals	A term used to describe iron and its alloys, e.g., steels
corrosion	The destructive disintegration of a metal by electrochemical means.
emission inventory	A listing, by source, of the amount of air pollutants discharged into the atmosphere of a community; used to establish emission standards.
ml	one million litres, or 1000 cubic metres, (1 acre foot = 1234 cubic metres)
acidity	The quantitative capacity of a water or water solution to neutralize an alkali or base
high flow pulses	the component of an instream flow regime that represents short-duration, in-channel, high flow events following storm events
permanent stream	a stream that typically contains surface waters or flows for periods more than six months in duration
osmosis	A process of diffusion of a solvent (such as water ) through a semi-permeable membrane which will transmit the solvent but impede most dissolved substances
headward erosion	Erosion which occurs in the upstream end of the valley of a stream, causing it to lengthen its course in that direction.
primary standards	National ambient air quality standards designed to protect human health with an adequate margin for safety
erosion	a process in which materials of the earth's surface are loosened, dissolved or worn away and transported by natural agents, such as water, wind or gravity.
density	the quantity of structures on a site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per acre of buildable land available for residential uses, and for nonresidential build ings as floor area ratio per net acre of buildable land available for nonresidential uses.
relative abundance	The number of organisms of a particular kind present in a sample relative to the total number of organisms in the sample.
anaerobic	A living system or process that occurs in or is not destroyed by the absence of oxygen.
baghouse filter	Large fabric bag, usually made of glass fibers, used to eliminate intermediate and large (greater than 20 PM in diameter) particles
b-horizon	The lower soil zone which is enriched by the deposition or precipitation of material from the overlying zone, or A-Horizon
habitat enhancement	any manipulation of habitat that improves its value and ability to meet the specified requirements of one or more species.
tile drainage	Land drainage by means of a series of tile lines laid at a specific depth and grade.
particulate organic matter	Material of plant or animal origin that is suspended in water
coldwater fish	A fish that requires relatively cool water for survival
alternative energy	Energy from a source other than the conventional fossil-fuel sources of oil, natural gas and coal (i.e., wind, running water, the sun)
terrestrial radiation	Long wave radiation that is emitted by the earth back into the atmosphere
pour point	The lowest temperature at which a liquid will pour or flow when chilled without disturbance under specified conditions.
growing season	Considered the period of the year during which the temperature of cultivated vegetation remains sufficiently high enough to allow plant growth
anoxia	The total deprivation of oxygen, as in bodies of water, lake sediments, or sewage.
drainage basin	The land area drained by a river or stream.
ep tox test	Extraction Procedure Toxicity Test
hydrology	the science that deals with water, its properties, distribution and circulation over the Earth's surface Impoundment
waste stream	The daily quantity of municipal solid waste and trash
uf6	Uranium Hexafluoride
ducking stool	A seat attached to a plank and formerly used to plunge culprits tied to it into water.
ecosystem structure	Attributes related to the instantaneous physical state of an ecosystem; examples include species population density, species richness or evenness, and standing crop biomass.
lead	A heavy metal present in small amounts everywhere in the human environment
cells	1
one-hit model	A mathematical model based on the biological theory that a single "hit" of some minimum critical amount of a carcinogen at a cellular target such as DNA can start an irreversible series events leading to a tumor.
human capital	People and their ability to be economically productive
ecological indicator	A characteristic of an ecosystem that is related to, or derived from, a measure of biotic or abiotic variable, that can provide quantitative information on ecological structure and function
blind spots	Any place on a filter medium where fluids cannot flow through.
limestone scrubbing	The use of a Limestone and water solution to remove gaseous stack-pipe sulfur before it reaches the atmosphere.
badlands	Barren land characterized by roughly eroded ridges, peaks, and mesas.
biosphere	1
duplicates	(Water Quality) Two separate samples with separate containers taken at the same time at the same location.
mollusca	the snails and similar organisms with an asymmetrical, spirally-coiled shell.
aquatic biology	Field of biological study that deals with aquatic plants and animals.
marine wetland	wetlands that are exposed to waves and currents of the open ocean and to water having a salinity greater than 30 parts per thousand; present along the coastlines of the open ocean.
absorption	When a solid takes up molecules into its structure.
hydraulic head	(1) The height of the free surface of a body of water above a given point beneath the surface
cir	Consumptive Irrigation Requirement/Crop Irrigation Requirement.
nitrogen fixation	The conversion of gaseous nitrogen to ammonia or nitrate.
sea	(1) One of the larger bodies of salt water, less than an ocean, more or less landlocked and generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea
respiration	(Biology) The oxidative process occurring within living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules (i.e., substances containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) is released in a series of metabolic steps involving the consumption of oxygen (O2) and the liberation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
deadmen	Anchors drilled or cemented into the ground to provide additional reactive mass for DP sampling rigs.
synthetic organic chemicals	man-made organic chemicals
colloids	Matter of very small particle size, in the range of 10-5 to 10-7 in diameter.
capacity	The maximum instantaneous output of an energy conversion device, often expressed in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW).
diode	a component that readily passes current in one direction but opposes current flow in the opposite direction.
hyetograph	A chart showing the distribution of rainfall over a particular period of time or a particular geographic area.
once-through cooling water	Water (fresh or saline) that is withdrawn from a river, stream or other water body (man-made or natural), or a well, that is passed through a steam condenser one time, and then returned to the stream or water body some distance from the intake
broken	The amount of sky cover for a cloud layer between 5/8ths and 7/8ths, based on the summation layer amount for that layer.
cancer risk	A number, generally expressed in exponential form (i.e., 1 x 10 -6, which means one in one million), which describes the increased possibility of an individual developing cancer from exposure to toxic materials. Calculations producing cancer risk numbers are complex and typically include a number of assumptions that tend to cause the final estimated risk number to be conservative.
critical dry year	A dry year in which the full commitments for a dependable water supply cannot be met and deficiencies are imposed on water deliveries.
budget	Annual estimate of revenue and expenditure of an organisation (e.g., city/enterprise).
desiccation cracks	Surface fractures that can result from the drying of soil or porous sedimentary rock.
flux	1
streambank protection works	Structure placed on or near a distressed stream bank to control bank erosion or prevent failure.
tropical air mass	An air mass that forms in the tropics or subtropics over the low latitudes
alternative compliance	A policy that allows facilities to choose among methods for achieving emission-reduction or risk-reduction instead of command-and control regulations that specify standards and how to meet them
alluvial valley floor	[Public Law 95-87, Section 701] (Legal) "The unconsolidated stream laid deposits where water availability is sufficient for subirrigation or flood irrigation
stockpond	An impoundment, the principal purpose of which is to supply water to livestock
molecule	The simplest combination of atoms that will form a specific chemical compound; the smallest particle of a substance which will still retain the essential composition and properties of that substance, and which can be broken down only into atoms and simpler substances.
critical reach	The point in the receiving stream below a discharge point at which the lowest dissolved oxygen level is reached and recovery begins
flood stage	The elevation at which overflow of the natural banks of a stream or body of water begins in the reach or area in which the elevation is measured.
bacteria	any of numerous unicellular microorganisms of the class Schizomycetes, occurring in a wide variety of forms, existing either as free-living organisms or parasites, and having a wide range of biochemical, often pathogenic properties
equator	The equator is an imaginary circle around the earth, halfway between the north and south poles.
ecology	The study of interrelationships of living organisms to one another and to their surroundings.
nap	The fuzzy, fibrous surface of a cloth produced by scratching the surface so that some fiber is raised from the body of the yarn.
freezing rain	Rain that falls as liquid and freezes upon impact to form a coating of glaze on the colder ground or other exposed surfaces
total head	Energy contained by fluid because of its pressure, velocity, and elevation, usually expressed in feet of fluid (foot-pounds per pound).
polar substance	A substance that carries a positive or negative charge, for instance water.
intergrade	Animals that seem to blend characteristics of subspecies.
nonuniform flow	(Hydraulics) Flow in which the mean velocity or cross-sectional area vary at successive channel cross-sections
turning basin	A widened area in a navigation channel or harbor area which is constructed to enable ships to maneuver in a safe and efficient manner.
rearing habitat	Areas in rivers or streams where juvenile fish find food and shelter to live and grow.
flush	(1) To flow suddenly and abundantly, as from containment; flood
wet meadow	Grassland with waterlogged soil near the surface but without standing water for most of the year.
frontogenesis	The birth or creation of a front
non-forest land	Land that has never supported forests and lands formerly forested where use of timber management is precluded by development for other uses.
carbon dioxide	Water with a low pH value usually contains free carbon dioxide
marl	A mixture of clays, carbonates of calcium and magnesium, and remnants of shells, forming a loam useful as a fertilizer.
riverine	Relating to, formed by, or resembling a river including tributaries, streams, brooks, etc.
environment	All of the external factors, conditions, and influences that affect an organism or a community.
pilot tests	Testing a cleanup technology under actual site conditions to identify potential problems prior to full-scale implementation.
chemodynamics	The study of the transport, conversion, and fate of chemical substances in air, water, or soil, including their movement from one medium to another.
photosynthesis	The manufacture by plants of carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll, using sunlight as an energy source.
easement	Also called utility easement, this is a portion of land, shared by a property owner and a public agency that contains a public utility, such as a sewer pipeline.
surfacing material	Material sprayed or troweled onto structural members (beams, columns, or decking) for fire protection; or on ceilings or walls for fireproofing, acoustical or decorative purposes
watershed management	The analysis, protection, development, operation or maintenance of the land, vegetation and water resources of a drainage basin for the conservation of all its resources for the benefit of its residents
packer	An inflatable gland, or balloon, used to create a temporary seal in a borehole, probe hole, well, or drive casing
pop's	Persistent Organic Pollutants, complex compounds that are very persistent and difficultly biologically degradable.
splashboard	(Nautical) A screen on a boat to keep water from splashing onto the deck
mclg	Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
founder	To sink below the water.
sediment interception	a sediment management activity by which most of the soil introduced into suspension is contained within the isolated area of a work site, where it can settle or otherwise be removed
pump and treat	A method used to collect and treat contaminated groundwater
confined water	Water under artesian pressure
flume	a natural or artificially made channel that diverts water.
tuberculation	development or formation of small mounds of corrosion products on the inside of iron pipe
transfer	Refers to the movement of water from one reservoir or storage facility to another.
purge	to force a gas through a water sample to liberate volatile chemicals or other gases from the water so their level can be measured.
plasmolysis	Shrinkage or contraction of the protoplasm away from the wall of a living plant or bacterial cell, caused by loss of water through Osmosis.
hydrometer	An instrument used to determine specific gravity, especially a sealed, graduated tube, weighted at one end, that sinks in a fluid to a depth used as a measure of the fluid's specific density.
maelstrom	A whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence.
aphelion	The point on the earth's orbit that is farthest from the sun
hook gage	A pointed, U-shaped hook attached to a staff or vernier scale, used in the accurate measurement of the elevation of a water surface
deposit	something dropped or left behind by moving water, as sand or mud.
reforestation	The planting of trees on land from which the forest has been removed.
thermal pollution	Discharge of heated water from industrial processes in receiving surface water, causing death or injury of aquatic organisms.
herbaceous plants	Non-woody species of vegetation, usually of low lignin content such as grasses.
slimes	(Water Quality) Substances of viscous organic nature, which are usually formed from micro-biological growth and which attach themselves to other objects forming a coating.
bacteria	Unicellular micro-organisms which typically reproduce by cell division
self-supplied water	Water withdrawn from a surface or ground-water source by a user rather than being obtained from a Public Water Supply System (PWSS)
pre-consumer recycle content	A product composition that contains some percentage of manufacturing waste material that has been reclaimed from a process generating the same or a similar product.
ecosystem	the dynamic and interrelated complex of plant and animal communities and their non-living environment
backbar channel	A channel formed behind a bar connected to the main channel but usually at a higher bed elevation than the man channel
bank-full width	the width of a river or stream channel between the highest banks on either side of a stream.
ground water outflow	That part of the discharge from a drainage basin that occurs through the ground water
asbestos	A general name given a family of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals
rough tree	(a) A live tree of commercial species that does not contain a saw log now or prospectively primarily because of roughness (that is, when sound cull due to such factors as poor form, splits, or cracks accounts for more than 50% of the total cull volume) or (b) a live tree of noncommercial species.
ozone	An unstable form of oxygen (O3), which can be generated by an electrical discharge through air or regular oxygen
insulated streams	Streams or a reach of a stream that neither contribute water to the zone of saturation nor receive water from it
erosion hazard	A predictive rating of the erosion potential for a specific soil or location.
borehole	A hole bored or drilled in the earth, as an exploratory well; a small-diameter well drilled especially to obtain water.
oxygenate	A compound which contains oxygen in its molecular structure
southern oscillation	A periodic reversal of the pressure pattern across the tropical Pacific Ocean during El NiÑo events
plasma arc reactors	devices that use an electric arc to thermally decompose organic and inorganic materials at ultra-high temperatures into gases and a vitrified slag residue
safe yield	the annual amount of water that can be taken from a source of supply over a period of years without depleting that source beyond its ability to be replenished naturally in "wet years."
propagate	human supervised plant or animal breeding
streamflow	The discharge that occurs in a natural channel
biosphere	the earth and all its ecosystems.
equator	The geographic circle at 0 degrees latitude on the earth's surface
time zone	An area using the same standard of time.
mwmo	Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
fjord	A fjord is a deep, narrow flooded inlet of the sea that was formed during the last Ice Age.
endangered species	one having so few individual survivors that the species could soon become extinct in all or part of its region.
entrain	to trap bubbles in water either mechanically through turbulence or chemically through a reaction.
maximum residue level	Comparable to a U.S
calcium	One of the principal elements making up the earth’s crust; its compounds, when dissolved, make the water hard
closed combustion	a design for furnaces and water heaters in which the supply air is ducted from the outside and exhaust gases are ducted to the outdoors
invert	The internal elevation at the bottom of the sewer.
plastics	Non-metallic chemically reactive compounds (polymers) moulded into rigid or pliable construction materials, fabrics, etc
channeled	Having one or more longitudinal grooves.
total suspended solids	The weight of particles that are suspended in water
fungus	often associated with pulpmill effluent and wood preservatives.
lacustrine deposits	Stratified materials deposited in lake waters and later become exposed either by the lowering of the water level or by the elevation of the land.
floodplain fringe	The portion of the flood plain outside the floodway which is covered by floodwaters during the 100-year recurrence interval flood
atomic weight	the average weight of an atom of an element, usually expressed relative to one atom of the carbon isotope taken to have a standard weight of 12.
fixture count	A count of the total number of plumbing fixtures in a building to estimate peak flow rates and the sizing of equipment, especially for commercial buildings.
standing crop	The quantity of plant Biomass in a given area
condensate	Water obtained by condensation of water vapour.
uranium	A radioactive metallic element found naturally in combination with other materials
independent power producer	A power production facility that is not part of a regulated utility.
pre-bmp implementation	The period prior to the use of a BMP.
discharge	The volume of fluid passing a point per unit of time, commonly expressed in cubic feet per second, million gallons per day, gallons per minute, or seconds per minute per day.
flow	the rate of water discharged from a source expressed in volume with respect to time.
impurities	Particles or other objects that cause water to be unclear.
biological integrity	The ability to support and maintain balanced, integrated, functionality in the natural habitat of a given region
abyssal	Of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depth.
microsystem irrigation	Method of precisely applying irrigation water to the immediate root zone of the target plant at very low rates.
media	Materials that form a barrier to the passage of certain suspended solids or dissolved liquids in filters.
flood damage	The economic loss caused by floods, including damage by inundation, erosion, and/or sediment deposition
saltation	Particle movement in water or wind where particles skip or bounce along the stream bed or soil surface.
firm yield	The maximum annual supply of a given water development that is expected to be available on demand, with the understanding that lower yields will occur in accordance with a predetermined schedule or probability
fuel cycle	The series of steps required to produce electricity
impermeable	Unable to transmit water; not easily penetrated
point bar	A gravel or sand deposit on the inside of a river bend; an actively mobile river feature.
pitting	The construction of pits or basins of suitable capacity and distribution to retain water and increase infiltration on rangeland.
cismontane	In California and Baja California, the region between the Pacific coast and the ridge of the mountains
landlocked	(1) Enclosed or nearly enclosed by land, as a landlocked country without access to the sea or ocean
hydrograph	A curve showing stream discharge over time.
abandoned well	A well whose use has been permanently discontinued or which is in a state of such disrepair that it cannot be used for its intended purpose.
estuarine	(1) Of, pertaining to, or formed in, an Estuary
aquatic	growing in, living in, or frequenting water.
chisel plowing	Preparing croplands by using a special implement that avoids complete inversion of the soil as in conventional plowing
traveling grate	A type of furnace in which assembled links of grates are joined together in a perpetual belt arrangement
fragmentation	The subdivision of a solid in fragments
floodproofing	Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures that reduce or eliminate flood damage.
back siphonage	A reverse flow condition created by a difference in water pressures that causes water to flow back into the distribution pipes of a drinking water supply from any source other than the intended one
well stimulation	Cleaning, enlarging, or increasing the pore space of a well used for the Injection of fluids into subsurface geological strata.
shrubland	land covered predominantly with shrubs.
oil	fossil fuel used to produce petrol etc and other materials such as plastics.
bottom ash	1
disposables	Consumer products, other items, and packaging used once or a few times and discarded.
unclassified waters	those waters for which no classification has been assigned and which have not been identified in Appendix A of 31 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307.10 of Title 31 (relating to definitions).
bacteria	one-celled micro-organisms, some of which cause diseases in plants, insects or other animals
giardia lamblia	A flagellate protozoan that causes the severe gastrointestinal illness Giardiasis, when it contaminates drinking water.
capital	The money or wealth needed to produce goods and services
intermittent stream	A stream that has interrupted flow or does not flow continuously.
technology-based standards	(EPA) Effluent limitations applicable to direct and indirect sources which are developed on a category-by-category basis using statutory factors, not including water-quality effects.
siliceous gel zeolite	A synthetic, inorganic exchanger produced by the aqueous reaction of alkali with aluminum salts.
barge stabilizing spud	a device, or leg, which is lowered from the barge and pushed into the waterway floor to anchor the barge in place.
chelate	To form a complex chemical compound in which an ion, usually metallic, is bound into a stable ring structure
scenic rivers	Rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive, and shorelines largely undeveloped but accessible in places by roads.
sediments	Soil, sand, and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain.
mark	(Nautical) A knot or piece of material placed at various measured lengths on a lead line to indicate the depth of the water, or, more generally, measurement indicators of water depth, e.g., a Plimsoll mark.
chlorine demand	A measure of the amount of chlorine which will be consumed by organic matter and other oxidizable substances in a water before a chlorine residual will be found; the difference between the total chlorine fed and the chlorine residual.
indicator	In biology, any biological entity or processes, or community whose characteristics show the presence of specific environmental conditions
streamlet	A small stream.
biochemical process	a process characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms.
recruitment	survival of young plants and animals from birth to a life stage less vulnerable to environmental change.
asme	Abbreviation for American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
snow making	The production of artificial snow in the form of granular ice particles for use on ski slopes.
canopy cover	Vegetation projecting over a stream, including crown cover (generally more than 3 ft above the water surface) and overhang cover (less than 3 ft above the water surface).
irrigation structure	Any structure or device necessary for the proper conveyance, control, measurement, or application of irrigation water.
manual separation	Hand separation of compostable or recyclable material from MSW.
ocean	lake, or other body of water into which light can penetrate, also known as the zone of photosynthesis.
delivery concept	The mode of making deliveries with respect to time; types are rotation, scheduled, or demand deliver concepts.
depth sounder	An ultrasonic instrument used to measure the depth of water under a ship.
cliff	A very steep slope of rock or soil.
heterogeneity	Characteristic of a medium in which material properties vary from point to point
paralytic shellfish poisoning	A pathological condition in humans caused by the consumption of certain marine mussels or clams that have fed on planktonic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Gonyaulax
deluge	(1) A great flood
pumped storage project	A hydroelectric power plant and reservoir system using an arrangement whereby water released for generating energy during peak load periods is stored and pumped back into the upper reservoir, usually during periods of reduced power demand.
pelt	The hide or skin of an animal.
organic	Organic matter is a broad category that includes both natural and man-made substances containing carbon and usually hydrogen
buffer zone	A protective, neutral area between distinct environments.
pgdp	Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant A uranium enrichment plant located in Western Kentucky which uses the gaseous diffusion process; uranium hexafluoride is heated to a gas and passed repeatedly through porous barriers to separate U235 and U238 isotopes.
aphotic zone	The zone in which most photosynthetic algae can not survive due to light deficiency.
boiler	A vessel designed to transfer heat produced by combustion or electric resistance to water
stockpond	a pond used primarily for watering livestock.
spill containment kit	a kit consisting absorbent materials, shovels, and a temporary storage drum, maintained at the Project site and located near or in the vicinity of works using machinery where a spill of deleterious substances could occur.
race	Subspecies.
subpolar	The region bordering the polar region, between 50° and 70° North and South latitude
residence time	the period during which a substance remains in its active form in the environment
extinct	a species that no longer exists
limit of detection	The minimum concentration of a substance being analyzed test that has a 99 percent probability of being identified.
levee system	A flood protection system which consists of a levee, or levees, and associated structures, such as closure and drainage devices, which are constructed and operated in accord with sound engineering practices.
discharge	The amount of water flowing in a river per second.
latitude	Latitude is the angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location
crop consumptive use	The amount of water transpired during plant growth plus what evaporated from the soil surface and foliage in the crop area.
permeable/ permeability	The rate at which liquids pass through soil or other materials in a specified direction
cancer	a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrollable growth of cells
catfish	A fish found in freshwater rivers and has long feelers around its mouth
ozone-depleting substances	See greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone layer, global warming, Montreal Protocol.
sanitary survey	An on-site review of the water sources, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance of a public water system to evaluate the adequacy of those elements for producing and distributing safe drinking water.
weir notch	The opening in a weir for the passage of water.
geothermal energy	heat that comes from the earth.
high intensity discharge	A generic term for mercury vapor, metal halide, and high pressure sodium lamps and fixtures.
site preparation	A forestry activity designed to remove unwanted vegetation and other material, and to cultivate or prepare the soil for reforestation.
topping cycle	A cogeneration system in which electric power is produced first
squall	A sudden onset of strong winds with speeds increasing to at least 16 knots (18 miles per hour) and sustained at 22 or more knots (25 miles per hour) for at least one minute
awwa	Abbreviation for American Water Works Association
waterborne	(1) Floating on or supported by water, as, for example, afloat
windthrow	a tree or trees uprooted or broken off by the wind
non-attainment area	Area that does not meet one or more of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the criteria pollutants designated in the Clean Air Act.
accountability	Refers to the basic principle that the manager responsible for a service such as MSWM should have the authority to control all of the necessary functions of the organisation, and in return should take both
bittern	The bitter water solution of bromides, magnesium, and calcium salts remaining after sodium chloride is crystallized out of seawater.
dyke	see Dike.
corridor	A connection between adjacent land areas that allows the passage of fauna form one area to the other.
sand	Composed predominantly of coarse-grained mineral sediments with diameters larger than 0.074 mm (0.0029 inch) and smaller than 2 mm (0.079 inch) in diameter.
vivarium	An enclosure for raising animals that replicate their natural environment.
dryland cropping	cropping without irrigation, usually in areas of relatively low rainfall
cut off	A channel cut across the neck of a bend.
condensation	The change of state from a gas to a liquid.
available concentration	total energy production: The use of commercial energy plus traditional fuels in an economy
arborist	a trained specialist in the care and maintenance of trees.
washdown	water resulting from cleaning of equipment, walls, floors, etc., within a plant.
radon decay products	A term used to refer collectively to the immediate products of the radon decay chain
holding pond	A pond or reservoir, usually made of earth, built to store polluted runoff.
caustic soda	sodium hydroxide, NaOH.
non-industrial private	An ownership class of private lands where the owner does not operate wood-using processing plants.
structural chemical analysis	The composition of biomass reported by the proportions of the major structural components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Typical ranges are shown in the table below.
national response team	representatives of 13 federal agencies that, as a team, coordinate federal responses to nationally significant incidents of pollution and provide advice and technical assistance to the responding agencies.
solubility	the amount of mass of a compound that will dissolve in a unit volume of solution.
remedial design	A phase of remedial action that follows the remedial investigation/feasibility study and includes development of engineering drawings and specifications for a site cleanup.
filamentous algae	Aggregations of one-celled plants that grow in long strings or mats in water and are either attached or free floating and tend to plug canals, weirs, and other structures, but also provide habitat of invertebrate animals.
hot rock reservoir	A potential source of geothermal power
global warming	An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth
dune pond	A lake occupying a basin formed as a result of the blocking of the mouth of a stream by sand dunes migrating along the shore.
monitoring	1
berm	(1) A narrow ledge or path as at the top or bottom of a slope, stream bank, or along a beach
protoplast	A membrane-bound cell from which the outer wall has been partially or completely removed
centrifugal pump	A device that converts mechanical energy to pressure or kinetic energy in a fluid by imparting centrifugal force on the fluid through a rapidly rotating impeller.
specific humidity	The ratio of the density of the water vapor to the density of the air, a mix of dry air and water vapor
lade	To take up or remove water with a ladle or dipper.
rill erosion	Removal of soil particles from a bank slope by surface runoff moving through relatively small, narrow channels.
trickle irrigation	method in which water drips to the soil from perforated tubes or emitters.
cryptosporidium	A waterborne protozoan that forms cysts and causes acute illness in humans
instantaneous discharge	The volume of water that passes a point at a particular instant of time.
mixosaline	Term to characterize water with salinity of 0.5 to 30 0/00 (parts per thousand), due to land-derived salts.
fuelwood	Wood used for conversion to some form of energy, primarily in residential use.
infiltration	the passage of water through the soil surface and into the soil matrix
chaparral	A type of vegetation characterized by low, thickly growing evergreen shrubs or bushes with flat, broad leaves and interlacing branches; the typical natural growth of many areas with a climate of cool moist winters and long dry summers, as in much of the western United States.
heavy metals	A group of elements (such as chromium, lead, copper and zinc) that can be toxic at relatively low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain..
fiber products	Products derived from fibers of herbaceous and woody plant materials
stagnation	A lack of motion in a mass of water that tends to hold pollutants in place.
predator mutualism	Two or more species of predators working together to capture prey.
limestone	rock that consists mainly of calcium carbonate and is chiefly formed by accumulation of organic remains.
transmission	The process of long-distance transport of electrical energy, generally accomplished by raising the electric current to high voltages.
peak levels	Levels of airborne pollutant contaminants much higher than average or occurring for short periods of time in response to sudden releases.
groundwater	unconfined groundwater Subsurface water that is in contact with the atmosphere through open spaces in overlying permeable solids and sediments.
juvenile water	Water brought to the surface or added to underground supplies from magma.
river miles	Generally, miles from the mouth of a river to a specific destination or, for upstream tributaries, from the confluence with a main river to a specific destination.
jetty	structure projecting into the sea for the purpose of mooring boats; also solid structure projecting into the sea for the purpose of protecting a navigational channel.
mesa	A mesa is a land formation with a flat area on top and steep walls - usually occurring in dry areas.
revetment	(1) A facing of stone, concrete, or sandbags, or other materials, used to protect a bank of earth from erosion
laminar flow	The flow of fluid in which the flow paths are in smooth, parallel lines, with essentially no mixing and no turbulence.
fracture	A break in a rock formation due to structural stresses; e.g
hydrophile	Having or denoting a strong affinity for water; said of Colloids which swell in water and which are not easily coagulated.
moisture	(1) Diffuse wetness that can be felt as vapor in the atmosphere or condensed liquid on the surface of objects; dampness
watershed	the area which has been zoned under municipal regulations.
land breeze	A diurnal coastal breeze that blows offshore, from the land to the sea
boundary conditions	definition or statement of conditions or phenomena at the boundaries of a model; water levels, flows, and concentrations that are specified at the boundaries of the area being modeled.
uncleanness	the state of being unsanitary
reconstructed source	Facility in which components are replaced to such an extent that the fixed capital cost of the new components exceeds 50 percent of the capital cost of constructing a comparable brand-new facility
truck scales or weighbridge	A platform used for weighing vehicles.
milli	The prefix used with units of measure to indicate one thousandth of the unit
consent decree remediation deadlines	All construction associated with meeting the terms of the CSO Consent Decree and the First Amended Consent Decrees (FACD) must be completed by November 2007 and July 2014, respectively
total sediment discharge	The total quantity of sediment passing a section in a unit of time.
fouling	The process in which undesirable foreign matter accumulates in a bed of filter media or ion exchanger, clogging pores and coating surfaces and thus inhibiting or retarding the proper operation of the bed.
carbon dioxide	A minor constituent of the air, comprising about 0.4% of the atmosphere
desiccant	A chemical agent that absorbs moisture; some desiccants are capable of drying out plants or insects, causing death.
potential dose	The amount of a compound contained in material swallowed, breathed, or applied to the skin.
soakage	(1) The process of soaking; the condition of being soaked
orifice	As used in water studies, an opening with a closed perimeter; is usually sharp edged, and of regular form in a plate, wall, or partition through which water may flow
aerobic	Life or processes that require, or are not destroyed by, the presence of oxygen
proton	a sub-atomic particle, positively charged, in the nucleus of atoms.
interstitial water	Water in the pore spaces of soil or rock.
recombinant dna	The new DNA that is formed by combining pieces of DNA from different organisms or cells.
hypochlorous acid	An unstable strongly oxidizing but weak acid, HClO, obtained in solution along with hydrochloric acid by reaction of chlorine with water and used especially in the form of salts as an oxidizing agent, bleaching agent, disinfectant, and chlorinating agent.
bed forms	three-dimensional configurations of bed material, which are formed in streambeds by the action of flowing water.
electrofishing	a biological collection method that uses electric current to facilitate capturing fishes.
carbon monoxide	A colorless, odourless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion.
particulates	Fine liquid or solid particles such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or smog, found in air or emissions.
chiller	A device that generates a cold liquid that is circulated through an air-handling unit's cooling coil to cool the air supplied to the building.
planning period	Is defined as period of time considered by the Strategic Plan
time-domain electromagnetics	(Geophysics) A high technology form of Dowsing (Dousing), or groundwater exploration, used to search for underground bodies of water (aquifers)
valley	An area of land that is lower than the land on either side of it
assessment endpoint	In ecological risk assessment, an explicit expression of the environmental value to be protected; includes both an ecological entity and specific attributed thereof
ionosphere	A complex atmospheric zone of ionized gases that extends between 50 and 400 miles (80 to 640 kilometers) above the earth's surface
nicotinic acetylcholine receptor	Acetylcholine receptor that is also activated by nicotine or neonicotinoids.
aquatic	Animals living in water.
intermittent flow	The term usually applied to the interrupted patterns of water usage; also used in reference to specific on-off flow patterns selected to test the performance of water conditioning equipment under standard conditions, which may or may not be similar to actual patterns of use of installed equipment.
carcinogen	a substance which causes cancer
threatened species	Under the Federal Endangered Species Act, animal populations may be determined to be either threatened or endangered
bentonite	a swelling principally aluminum silicate clay.
delivery system	A system which conveys water from a single source, such as a storage reservoir, to a number of individual points of use
wqa	Water Quality Association
directional shear	The shear created by a rapid change in wind direction with height.
broadacre farms	commercial farms producing relatively low value crops such as wool, sheep meat, beef, cereals, on large areas
sulfate	Sulfate is a natural forming mineral found in water
aerobic	Living systems or processes that require, or are not destroyed by, the presence of oxygen
zonal index	The measure of the strength of the westerly winds of the middle latitudes
flood	The temporary inundation of normally dry land areas resulting from the overflowing of the natural or artificial confines of a river or other body of water.
turn key project	Waste Stream
null hypothesis	Z
dermal exposure	Contact between a chemical and the skin.
watershed	(1) All lands enclosed by a continuous hydrologic drainage divide and lying upslope from a specified point on a stream
aip	Agreement in Principle An agreement which clarifies the major terms of an agreement, laying out the groundwork to make a contract
field	(1) A broad, level, open expanse of land; a meadow
toxic	Describing a material that can cause acute or chronic damage to biological tissue following physical contact or absorption.
incident command post	A facility located at a safe distance from an emergency site, where the incident commander, key staff, and technical representatives can make decisions and deploy emergency manpower and equipment.
safe	Condition of exposure under which there is a practical certainty that no harm will result to exposed individuals.
detritus	decaying organic matter (mostly leaves and other matter from vegetation).
population	The number of people living in a certain area.
hypo chlorite	An anion that forms products such as calcium and sodium hypo chlorite
refractory lining	A lining capable of resisting and maintaining high temperatures
brackish water	Water that is neither falls in the category of salt water, nor in the category of fresh water
trap	A device for sealing a passage against the escape of gases, especially a U-shaped or S-shaped bend in a drainpipe that prevents the return flow of sewer gas by means of a water barrier.
check-valve tubing pump	Water sampling tool also referred to as a water Pump.
forest hydrology	The study of hydrologic processes as influenced by forest and associated vegetation.
median	The middle or central value in a distribution of data ranked in order of magnitude
arctic tundra	The grassland Biome characterized by permafrost (subsurface soil that remains frozen throughout the year).
inset	An inflow, as of water; a channel.
langelier index	An index reflecting the equilibrium pH of a water with respect to calcium and alkalinity; used in stabilizing water to control both corrosion and scale deposition.
moraine	a mound, ridge, or other distinct accumulation of unsorted, unstratified glacial drift, predominantly till, deposited chiefly by direct action of glacier ice.
remedial action	The actual construction or clean-up phase of a Superfund site cleanup
nitric oxide	A gas formed by combustion under high temperature and high pressure in an internal combustion engine, and then converted by sunlight and photochemical processes in ambient air to nitrogen oxide
keratinized scale	Scales containing keratin, which is a hard, tough, non-soluble protein produced in the epidermis of both reptiles and amphibians.
unsaturated	any chemical compound with more than one bond between adjacent atoms, usually carbon, and thus reactive toward the addition of other atoms at that point; or example, olefins, diolefins, and unsaturated fatty acids.
permissible exposure limit	Also referred to as PEL, federal limits for workplace exposure to contaminants as established by OSHA.
saturated solution	A solution containing the maximum amount of the dissolved substance that such a solution can hold at this temperature.
mineral soil	Soil composed of predominantly mineral rather than organic materials.
soluble reactive phosphate	That phosphate which is detected by analysis of a sample which has been filtered through a 0.45 µm (10-6 meter) membrane filter.
headrace	A channel that carries water to a water wheel or turbine; a forebay.
saturated steam	Steam at boiling temperature for a given pressure.
annulus	For a well, the space between the pipe and the outer wall (casing) of the borehole, which may be a pipe also (the well casing).
balanced operation	Operation of a canal system where the water supply exactly matches the total flow demand.
10-year 1-hour design	This design criteria is used for determining storm sewer size, and assumes 1.25" falling in 1 hour in a SCS Type II storm event.
present value	The worth of future receipts or costs expressed in current value
cold blooded	An animal that cannot regulate its own body temperature, rather it's regulated by the environment, so they often bask for heat, burrow, and hibernate. (also called ectothermic )
gross water yield	The available water runoff, both surface and subsurface, prior to use by man's activities, use by phreatophytes, or evaporation from free water surfaces.
double cropping	The practice of producing two or more crops consecutively on the same parcel of land during a 12-month period
ozone hole	A thinning break in the stratospheric ozone layer
meander amplitude	The distance between points of maximum curvature of successive meanders of opposite phase in a direction normal to the general course of the meander belt, measured between centerlines of channels.
hydrology	The study of the movement and properties of water on the earth's surface, underground and in the atmosphere.
dolomite	a sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of magnesium carbonate.
commercial water use	Water for motels, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, and other commercial facilities and institutions, both civilian and military
waste-to-energy plants	(or energy recovery facilities) Waste incineration plants that have an energy recovery system to generate electricity or supply a heating utility.
anti-degradation clause	part of federal and water quality requirements prohibiting deterioration where pollution levels are above the legal limit.
furrow irrigation	irrigation method in which water travels through the field by means of small channels between each group of rows.
flow duration curve	a measure of the range and variability of a stream's flow
macroporous resin	Ion exchange resins produced in both cation and anion versions with 12 percent or higher cross-linkage
demand	Maximum water use under a specified condition.
environmental impact statement	A document required of federal agencies by the National Environmental Policy Act for major projects or legislative proposals significantly affecting the environment
native plant	a plant that has evolved within a particular habitat and is not invasive within its natural range
biogenic	Used to describe changes in the environment resulting from the activities of living organisms.
organisational functions	Basic management theory identifies six organisational functions which must be carried out by corresponding organisational systems for any institutional organisation to function effectively
asbestos tailings	Any solid waste that contain asbestos and is a product of asbestos mining or milling operations.
sustainable development	Development that ensures that the use of resources and the environment today does not restrict their use by future generations.
nutrient	Any inorganic or organic compound needed to sustain plant life.
streamworks	The concentration of tin from naturally occurring sediments using water to separate the denser cassiterite from the less dense gangue minerals.
diastrophic	(Geology) Pertaining to processes by which the earth's crust is deformed, producing continents, oceans, basins, mountains, and other Geophysical features
convection	Motions in a fluid that transport and mix the properties of the fluid
ditch riders	Individuals responsible for operating structures and distribute water internally within an irrigation project
committee	A group of persons chosen to complete certain work.
flow rate	The rate, expressed in gallons -or liters-per-hour, at which a fluid escapes from a hole or fissure in a tank
boiling water reactor	A nuclear reactor in which water, used as both coolant and moderator, is allowed to boil in the core
electrical charge	The charge on an ion, declared by its number of electrons
sargasso sea	An area of the North Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Azores
dissolved solids	Disintegrated organic and inorganic material in water
nitrophenols	Synthetic organopesticides containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
triphibian	Designed to operate on land, water, or in air.
boiler	BTU
design runoff rate	In irrigation, the maximum runoff rate expected over a given period of time.
preliminary assessment	The process of collecting and reviewing available information about a known or suspected waste site or release.
resorbtion	Some female animals can resorb fully developed eggs
toxic pollutants	Materials that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them
dmsa	Department of Energy (DOE) Material Storage Areas Areas established for the storage of unused material and equipment at indoor and outdoor onsite locations.
debouch	To emerge; issue, as a river into which a large stream debouches.
bar	A unit of pressure
original ahera inspection/original inspection/inspection	Examination of school buildings arranged by Local Education Agencies to identify asbestos-containing-materials, evaluate their condition, and take samples of materials suspected to contain asbestos; performed by EPA-accredited inspectors.
spoils	Dirt or rock that has been removed from its original location, destroying the composition of the soil in the process, as with strip-mining or dredging.
spout	To gush forth in a rapid stream or in spurts.
administered dose	In exposure assessment, the amount of a substance given to a test subject (human or animal) to determine dose-response relationships
participation rate	Portion of population participating in a recycling program.
ach	See "Air Changes Per Hour."
gravity irrigation	(1) Irrigation in which the water is not pumped but flows and is distributed by gravity, includes sprinkler systems when gravity furnishes the desired head (pressure)
bottle bill	Proposed or enacted legislation which requires a returnable deposit on beer or soda containers and provides for retail store or other redemption
class ii substance	A substance with an ozone depletion potential of less than 0.2
haze	A suspension of fine dust and/or smoke particles in the air
desiccation	(1) Loss of water from pore spaces of sediments through compaction or through evaporation caused by exposure to air
floodplain	Land that gets covered with water as a result of the flooding of a nearby stream
catchment basin	The entire area from which drainage is received by a river or a lake; most generally used in reference to surface runoff.
pathogenic	Capable of causing disease.
pandemic	A widespread epidemic throughout an area, nation or the world.
gravity system	1
standards	Governmental norms that impose limits on the amount of pollutants or emissions generated.
rift	A shallow or rocky place in a stream, forming either a ford or a rapid.
flow	in streams and rivers, it is equal to a volume of water one foot high and one foot wide flowing a distance of one foot in one second, one cfs is equal to 7.48 gallons of water per second.
continuous fermentation	A steady-state fermentation system in which substrate is continuously added to a fermenter while products and residues are removed at a steady rate.
carcinogen	A substance that can cause cancer.
organism abundance and condition	that portion of an Index of Biotic Integrity that is a metric measuring species abundance and condition, including proportion of individuals as hybrids and proportion of individuals with disease, tumors, physical damage, or physical anomalies.
habitat	the place where an animal or a plant normally lives and reproduces
enhancement	Emphasis on improving the value of particular aspects of water and related land resources.
attainment area	An area considered to have air quality as good as or better than the national ambient air quality standards as defined in the Clean Air Act
herding agent	A chemical applied to the surface of water to control the spread of a floating oil spill.
flood profile	A graph showing the relationship of water surface elevation to location, the latter generally expressed as distance above mouth for a stream of water flowing in an open channel
lake	an inland body of water, usually fresh water, formed by glaciers, river drainage etc
particle size	The diameter (usually the intermediate diameter), in millimeters, of suspended sediment or bed material determined by either sieve or other sedimentation methods.
declared underground water basin	An area of a state designated in some states by their respective State Engineers to be underlain by a ground water source having reasonably ascertainable boundaries
riffles	A river feature where below average depth and above average velocity create small cresting waves.
smart growth	An initiative or plan that intends to improve ways in which human settlement occurs for the purpose of reducing impacts on the environment, as well as to improve quality of life
alluvial fan	a relatively flat to gentle sloping landform composed of predominantly coarse grained soils, shaped like an open fan or a segment of a cone, deposited by a stream where it flows from a narrow mountain valley onto a plain or broad valley or wherever the stream gradient suddenly decreases.
symbiotic	a close association between the individuals of pairs of species often leading to mutual gains
ravine	Another name for a narrow gorge.
flue gas	Fly Ash
stormwater	Rainwater run-off from impervious surfaces (roofs, roads, driveways, paths, parking lots and ground surfaces).
acid	A substance which releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water
buys ballot's law	Describes the relationship of the horizontal wind direction to the pressure distribution
arboreal	Pertaining to animals that live primarily in trees and shrubs.
exploratory holes	An excavation drilled to obtain engineering or geological data for the purposes of defining water bearing formations for production wells.
potential rate of evaporation	The rate of evaporation under the existing atmospheric conditions from a surface of water that is chemically pure and has the temperature of the atmosphere
stressed waters	A portion of an aquatic environment with poor species diversity due to human actions
background concentration	Represents the average amount of toxic chemicals in the air, water or soil to which people are routinely exposed. More than half of the background concentration of toxic air in metropolitan areas comes from automobiles, trucks and other vehicles. The rest comes from industry and business, agricultural, and from the use of paints, solvents and chemicals in the home.
bioindicator	A living organism that denotes the presence of a specific environmental condition
freezing drizzle	Drizzle, falling as a liquid, but freezing on impact with the colder ground or other exposed surfaces
state engineer	The official most often charged with the administration of the water appropriation system within a state
total dissolved solids	A quantitative measure of the residual minerals dissolved in water that remain after evaporation of a solution
designated use	A beneficial use type established by a state for each water resource and specified in water quality standards, whether or not it is being attained.
edta titration	ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (or its salts)
net water demand	The amount of water needed in an irrigation or water service area to meet all requirements
hazards analysis	Procedures used to (1) identify potential sources of release of hazardous materials from fixed facilities or transportation accidents; (2) determine the vulnerability of a geographical area to a release of hazardous materials; and (3) compare hazards to determine which present greater or lesser risks to a community.
brownfields	Abandoned, idled, or under used industrial and commercial facilities/sites where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination
total suspended particulates	Refers to the concentration of particulates in suspension in the air irrespective of the nature, source, or size of the particulates.
mean monthly temperature	The average of the mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures.
coarse woody debris	Portion of a tree that has fallen or been cut and left in the woods
static water level	the water level in a well that has not been affected by withdrawal of groundwater.
amp5	The 5th Asset Management Plan since privatisation, to run from 2010 - 2015.
trough	An elongated area of low atmospheric pressure that is associated with an area of minimum cyclonic circulation
wake	The visible track of turbulence left by something moving through water.
adsorb/ adsorption	Molecules of gas, liquid, or dissolved solids that adhere or "stick" to the surfaces they come in contact with
asbestosis	A disease associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers
mechanical aeration	Use of mechanical energy to inject air into water to cause a waste stream to absorb oxygen.
transparency	The portion of light that passes through water without distortion or absorption
fead	European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services
sanitary water	Water discharged from sinks, showers, kitchens, or other nonindustrial operations, but not from commodes
well field	(1) One or more wells producing water from a subsurface source
iron bacteria	Organisms which are capable of utilizing ferrous iron, either from the water or from steel pipe, in their metabolism, and precipitating ferric hydroxide in their sheaths and gelatinous deposits
karst	A geologic formation of irregular limestone deposits with sinks, under ground streams, and caverns.
anaerobe	An organism that does not require oxygen to maintain its life processes.
periodic table	a table in which the elements are commonly arranged in order of increasing atomic number
worker protection standards	Standards designed to reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from workers' and handlers' occupational exposures to pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants on farms or in nurseries, greenhouses, and forests and also from the accidental exposure of workers and other persons to such pesticides
azotobacter	Any of various rod-shaped, nonpathogenic, nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus azotobacter, found in soil and water
indicator organisms	Microrganisms, such as coliforms, whose presence is indicative for pollution or for the presence more harmful microrganisms.
snowfill	temporary stream crossings constructed by filling a stream channel that is dry or frozen to the bottom with clean compacted snow.
market capitalization	The value attributed at a given instant by the stock exchange to a company
retentivity	The ability of an adsorbent to resist desorption of an adsorbate.
linear alkyl sulfonate	A term applied to a family of straight chain chemical compounds, widely used as detergents; sometimes called "soft" detergents because they are more readily degraded to simpler substances by biological action than the previously used alkyl benzene sulfonate
hydroplane	(Nautical) (1) A motorboat designed so that the prow and much of the hull lift out of the water and skim the surface at high speeds
correlative rights	Certain rights of land owners over a common ground water basin are coequal, or correlative, so that any one owner cannot take more than his share even if the rights of others are impaired
immediate action plan	Identified as a sub-component of the overall action plan
catchment	(1) the catching or collecting of water, especially rainfall
polyvinyl chloride	A plastic made from the gaseous chemical vinyl chloride
vortex	A revolving mass of water which forms a Whirlpool
irradiated food	Food subject to brief radioactivity, usually gamma rays, to kill insects, bacteria, and mold, and to permit storage without refrigeration.
institutional waste	Material discarded by schools, hospitals, airports, non-manufacturing activities at prisons and government facilities and other similar establishments or facilities.
combustion /burning	A natural chemical process which rapidly breaks down organic materials [largely composed of Carbon (C), Oxygen (O), and Hydrogen (H)] into more stable compounds [largely carbon dioxide CO2 and water vapor H2O] while releasing heat energy from the break down of the organic compound
gaseous	in a gas-like state; not solid, not liquid - like steam
depletion	That portion of the water supply that is consumptively used.
conveyance loss	Water loss in pipes, channels, conduits, ditches by leakage or evaporation.
alpha particle	A positively-charged particle emitted by radioactive atoms. Alpha particles travel less than one inch in the air and a thin sheet of paper will stop them. The main danger from alpha particles lies in ingesting the atoms which emit them. Body cells next to the atom can then be irradiated over an extended period of time, which may be prolonged if the atoms are taken up in bone, for instance. See Beta particle, Gamma radiation
synergism	An interaction of two or more chemicals that results in an effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
wet cooling	A type of cooling system which uses the evaporation of water to help dissipate excess heat
rating curve	a graph showing the relationship between water surface elevation and discharge of a stream or river at a given location
record of decision	A public document that explains which cleanup alternative(s) will be used at National Priorities List sites where, under CERCLA, Trust Funds pay for the cleanup.
heme iron	Organically bound iron that can give water a pinkish cast
air stripping	(Water Quality) A process for the removal of organic contaminants from groundwater
missed detection	The situation that occurs when a test indicates that a tank is "tight" when in fact it is leaking.
delivery flexibility	The flexibility that water users have in requesting delivery changes and the ability of the canal system to accommodate the request.
furrow	A long, narrow, shallow trench made in the ground by a plow for planting and irrigation.
inventorying	Gathering data needed for analyses and evaluation of the status or condition of a specific universe or area of concern.
river reach	Any defined length of a river.
indian summer	A period of abnormally warm weather in mid to late autumn with clear skies and cool nights
categorical exclusion	A class of actions which either individually or cumulatively would not have a significant effect on the human environment and therefore would not require preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
base flow	the sustained low flow of a stream, usually ground-water inflow to the stream channel.
tributary	A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river.
mineral	A term applied to inorganic substances (such as rocks and similar matter) found in the earth strata, as opposed to organic substances such as plant and animal matter
decay rate	Math function that reflects the declining emissions of a product over time.
deicer	(1) A device used on an aircraft to keep the wings and propellers free from ice or to remove ice after it has formed
recarbonation	(Water Quality) The process of introducing carbon dioxide as a final stage in the lime-soda ash softening process
movable bed	A stream bed made up of materials readily transportable by the streamflow.
limestone	(Geology) A sedimentary rock composed of calcite, or calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and sometimes containing shells and other hard parts of prehistoric water animals and plants
magnesium	One of the elements in the earth's crust, the compounds of which when dissolved in water make the water hard
feller-buncher	A self-propelled machine that cuts trees with giant shears near ground level and then stacks the trees into piles for skidding.
conifer	A tree, usually evergreen, with cones and needle-shaped or scalelike leaves, producing wood known commercially as softwood.
submerged plants	Aquatic vegetation that has roots, stems, and leaves
emergent aquatic vegetation	vascular plants that grow with their roots and lower stems in water and their leaves and flowers above the water surface
diversion channel	(1) An artificial channel constructed around a town or other point of high potential flood damages to divert floodwater from the main channel to minimize flood damages
brownian movement	The random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a fluid medium.
slope wash	Soil and rock material that is being or has been moved down a slope predominantly by the action of gravity assisted by running water that is not concentrated into channels
geothermal energy	The heat energy available in the earth's subsurface, extracted from three basic sources: (1) steam; (2) hot water; and (3) hot rocks or near surface intrusions of volcanic molten rock
field permeability	Permeability corresponding to the temperature which occurs under field conditions.
sand	Small substrate particles, generally from 0.06 to 2 mm in diameter
surface runoff	The portion of rainfall that moves over the ground toward a lower elevation and does not infiltrate into the soil.
acre	A measure of area equal to 43,560 square feet (4,046.87 square meters)
steam injection well	A method of recovering deposits of oil and other minerals which involves injecting steam directly into the deposit to decrease viscosity and facilitate extraction
surplus water	Developed water supplies in excess of contract entitlement or apportioned water.
wharf	a platform built along or at an angle from the shore of navigable water so that ships may lie alongside to receive and discharge cargo and passengers.
vichy water	(1) A naturally effervescent mineral water originally from the springs at Vichy, France
phosphates	General term used to describe phosphorus-containing derivatives of phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
potentially responsible party	An individual, company or government body identified as potentially liable for a release of hazardous substances to the environment
stream segment	refers to the surface waters of an approved planning area exhibiting common biological, chemical, hydrological, natural, and physical characteristics and processes
wilting point	The minimum quantity of water in a given soil necessary to maintain plant growth
contamination	population: In ecology, this refers to individuals of the same species that occur together in time and space.
fluvial	Migrating between main rivers and tributaries
subterranean water	Those subsurface waters whose courses are well defined and reasonably ascertainable and whose existence is not temporary.
buffer	a solution selected or prepared to minimize changes in hydrogen ion concentration which would otherwise occur as a result of a chemical reaction..
twilight	Often called dusk, it is the evening period of waning light from the time of sunset to dark
solvent	Substance (usually liquid) capable of dissolving one or more other substances.
contents	The volume of water in a reservoir
equal-width increment sample	A composite sample of water collected across a section of stream with equal spacing between verticals and equal transit rates within each vertical that yields a representative sample of stream conditions.
salinization	The accumulation of salts in soil to the extent that plant growth is inhibited
incinerator	A furnace for the routine burning of waste materials using controlled flame combustion.
dechlorinate	To remove Chlorine from water.
habitat	1
air exchange rate	The rate at which outside air replaces indoor air in a given space.
water penetration	The depth to which irrigation water or rain penetrates the soil before the rate of downward movement becomes negligible.
nonpersistent pollutant	A substance that can cause damage to organisms when added in excessive amounts to the environment but is decomposed or degraded by natural biological communities and removed from the environment relatively quickly
conservation	The process or means of achieving recovery of viable populations.
mfs	Micro Filtration System, it serves full automatic solid/ liquid separation.
amf	(French securities and exchange commission) The AMF, established by the French Financial Security Act of August 1, 2003, was formed by the merger of the Commission des Opérations de Bourse (COB) and Conseil des Marchés Financiers (CMF)
import	Water piped or channeled into an area.
aerobic treatment	The process by which microbes decompose complex organic compounds in the presence of oxygen and use the liberated energy for reproduction and growth
rapids	A part of a stream where the current is moving with a greater swiftness than usual and where the water surface is broken by obstructions, but without a sufficient break in slope to form a water fall, as where the water descends over a series of small steps
isthmus	A narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land.
base flow	The sustained portion of stream discharge that is drawn from natural storage sources and not affected by human activity or regulation.
risk	A measure of the chance that damage to life, health, property, or the environment will occur.
salt marsh	Low areas adjacent to the sea that are covered with salt-tolerant vegetation (Halophytes) and regularly flooded by the high tide
hydrology	The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of natural water systems
residential waste	MSW generated in single and multiple-family homes.
polyestrus	Having more than one estrus cycle in a year
semiaquatic	Adapted for living or growing in or near water; not entirely aquatic.
lignin pseudo-molecule for modeling	The lignin ratio of methoxy groups to phenylpropanoid groups (MeO:C9) is used to calculate an ultimate analysis for the lignin pseudo-molecule
wetland restoration	Rehabilitation of previously existing wetland functions, from a more impaired to a less impaired or unimpaired state of overall function.
agricultural	Having to do with farming or farms.
no-observed-effect-level	Exposure level at which there are no statistically or biological significant differences in the frequency or severity of any effect in the exposed or control populations.
interstate water	according to law, interstate waters are defined as (1) rivers, lakes and other waters that flow across or form a part of state or international boundaries; (2) waters of the Great Lakes; (3) coastal waters whose scope has been defined to include ocean waters seaward to the territorial limits and waters along the coastline (including inland streams) influenced by the tide.
firm capacity	For public drinking water supplies, the system delivery capacity with the largest single water well or production unit out of service.
amino acids	Amino Acids are the chemical units that make up proteins.
evapotranspiration	The combined processes by which water is transferred from the earth surface to the atmosphere; evaporation of liquid or solid water plus transpiration from plants
permanent hardness	Water hardness due to the presence of the chlorides and sulfates of calcium and magnesium, which will not be precipitated by boiling
downpour	A heavy fall of rain.
exempt land	Irrigation land in a district to which the acreage limitation and pricing provisions of reclamation law do not apply
skimming	(1) The diversion of water from a stream or conduit by a shallow overflow in order to avoid diversion of sand, silt, or other debris carried as bottom load
post-consumer materials/waste	Materials or finished products that have served their intended use and have been diverted or recovered from waste destined for disposal, having completed their lives as consumer items
acre-foot	the volume of water, 43,560 cubic feet, that will cover an area of one acre to a depth of one foot; a term used in sewage treatment in measuring the volume of material in a trickling filter.
marine surveying	The branch of surveying that comprises a topographic survey of the coast and a hydrographic survey of adjacent waters
maximum contaminant level	The enforceable standard, or number against which your system's water samples are judged for compliance with U.S
coral reef	a ridge of limestone, composed chiefly of coral, coral sands, and solid limestone resulting from organic secretion of calcium carbonate; occur along continents and islands where the temperature is generally above 18° C.
macroscale	The meteorological scale covering an area ranging from the size of a continent to the entire globe.
co-products	Materials that are intentionally, or incidentally, produced when making another product.
stratosphere	The portion of the atmosphere 10-to-25 miles above the earth's surface.
riser	A vertical pipe as for water.
nicotine	An addictive drug found in tobacco.
viscosity	The syrupiness of water and it determines the mobility of the water
weed	a plant species growing where it is not wanted by humans, generally in relation to agricultural production or conservation of endemic biodiversity
flow boundaries	Anything which inhibits ground water flow, such as a ground water divide or an impermeable geologic unit.
mean column velocity	the average velocity of fluid flow measured in a column extending from the surface of the water to the bed of the channel
dimictic	Lakes and reservoirs that freeze over and normally go through two stratifications and two mixing cycles a year.
atmosphere	envelope of gases surrounding the Earth.
groundwater recharge	Increases in groundwater storage by natural conditions or by human activity.
genotoxic	Damaging to DNA; pertaining to agents known to damage DNA.
breaker zone	area in the sea where the waves break.
river basin development	A program to develop the use of the water and land resources of a river basin, so coordinated as to obtain a greater efficiency of use than would be possible if the resources were developed by uncoordinated, multiple-purpose projects.
ground water registration	A statement made by a well owner registering the Beneficial Use of ground water
tds	Total Dissolved Solids
sediment	Soil particles that have been transported and/or deposited by wind or water action.
slope-discharge	A curve which shows the discharge at a given Gaging Station, taking into account the slope of the water surface, as well as the Gage Height
snowdrift	A mass or bank of snow piled up by the wind.
bed material	The sediment mixture that a streambed is composed of.
titration	a method of analyzing the composition of a solution by adding known amounts of a standardized solution until a given reaction (color change, precipitation, or conductivity change) is produced.
billow	A large wave or swell of water.
flux	In crossflow filtration, it is the product flow rate through a reverse osmosis, electrodialysis or ultrafiltration membrane
barrage	An artificial obstruction, such as a dam or an irrigation channel, built in a watercourse to increase its depth or to divert its flow either for navigation or irrigation
crest	the top of a dam, dike, or spillway, which water must reach before passing over the structure; the summit or highest point of a wave; the highest elevation reached by flood waters flowing in a channel.
macrophyte	A macroscopic vascular plant; a multicellular aquatic plant, either free-floating or attached to a surface.
hydraulic action	The force of the water wears away the river bank from underneath
porous	Containing holes or voids.
applied dose	In exposure assessment, the amount of a substance in contact with the primary absorption boundaries of an organism (e.g
organic chemicals/compounds	Naturally occuring (animal or plant-produced or synthetic) substances containing mainly carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
methylene chloride	A colorless liquid that evaporates easily. It has been used as a metal cleaner, paint thinner, in wood stains, spot removers, fabric protectors, shoe polish and aerosol propellants. Mild exposure can cause skin and eye irritation
fungi	a group of often microscopic organisms lacking chlorophyll (green colouring); they grow from microscopic spores
natural control	A stream-gaging control which is natural to the stream channel, in contrast to an artificial control constructed by man.
sinkhole	a depression in an area underlain by limestone
flat	A level landform composed of Unconsolidated Sedimentsâusually mud or sand
nephelometric turbidity unit	A unit of measure for the turbidity of water resulting from the use of a Nephelometer and based on the amount of light that is reflected off the water
gravity flow	The downhill flow of water through a system of pipes, generated by the force of gravity.
other removals	Unutilized wood volume from cut or otherwise killed growing stock, from cultural operations such as precommercial thinnings, or from timberland clearing
casual water	A temporary accumulation of water not forming a regular hazard of a golf course.
physiographic province	a region in which the landforms differ significantly from those of adjacent regions.
impervious surface	A surface that does not allow water or other liquids to pass through it (for example, pavement).
outwash	A deposit of sand and gravel formed by streams of meltwater flowing from a glacier and laid down in stratified deposits.
noise	Product-level or product-volume changes occurring during a test that are not related to a leak but may be mistaken for one.
leaching efficiency	The ratio of the average salt concentration in drainage water to an average salt concentration in the soil water of the root zone when near field capacity (also defined as the hypothetical fraction of the soil solution that has been displaced by a unit of drainage water).
viable	Alive and capable of continued life.
flow	The rate of water discharged from a source given in volume with respect to time.
hot	connected, alive, energized.
sedimentation	The process of settling of suspended matter carried by water.
ohm	A unit of measure determining the resistance to passage of an electrical current
snowcap	Snow covering a mountain peak, especially such snow existing year-round.
residual	amount of a pollutant remaining in the environment after a natural or technological process has occurred.
biodegradable	Subject to degradation into similar substances by biological action
carboxyhemoglobin	Hemoglobin in which the iron is bound to carbon monoxide(CO) instead of oxygen.
oxbow lake	An abandoned meander isolated from the main stream channel by deposition, and filled with water.
productivity	standing crop).
non-renewable resource	A resource that cannot be replaced after use
usec	United States Enrichment Corporation, Inc
arsenic	The MCL for arsenic is 0.01 mg/L
organic waste	Residual waste of plant or animal origin that can be broken down by microorganisms, which use it as a source of food.
stream reach	A continuous part of a stream between two specified points.
surface tension	The elastic-like force in a body, especially a liquid, tending to minimize, or constrict, the area of the surface.
nonfriable asbestos-containing materials	Any material containing more than one percent asbestos (as determined by Polarized Light Microscopy) that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
analytical model	A model that provides approximate or exact solutions to simplified forms of the differential equations for water movement and solute transport
sara	See Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986.
scrubber-low energy	Settling Chamber
siltation	the deposition of finely divided soil and rock particles upon the bottom of stream and river beds and reservoirs.
hydrologic basin	The complete drainage area upstream from a given point on a stream.
holding pond	a small basin or pond designed to hold sediment laden or contaminated water until it can be treated to meet water quality standards or be used in some other way.
standard industrial classification code	Also known as SIC Codes, a method of grouping industries with similar products or services and assigning codes to these groups.
pumped storage plant	A hydroelectric power plant which generates electric energy for peak load use by utilizing water pumped into a storage reservoir during off-peak periods.
rotor cloud	An altocumulus cloud formation that can be found in the lee of a mountain or similar barrier
mrem	The dose equivalent that is one-thousandth of a rem.
deuterium oxide	An isotopic form of water with composition D2O, isolated for use as a moderator in certain nuclear reactors
fungistat	A chemical that keeps fungi from growing.
stormwater runoff	The water and associated material draining into streams, lakes, or sewers as the result of a storm.
ground water overdraft	The condition of a ground water basin in which the amount of water withdrawn by pumping exceeds the amount of water that recharges the basin over a period of years during which water supply conditions approximate average
evaporation	The process of the passage of water from liquid to vapour.
sink	Place in the environment where a compound or material collects.
grassed waterway or outlet	A natural or constructed waterway, usually broad and shallow and covered with erosion-resistant grasses, suitable to resist potential damages resulting from runoff.
ejector	A device used to disperse a chemical solution into water being treated.
deflocculating agent	A material added to a suspension to prevent settling.
coal cleaning technology	A precombustion process by which coal is physically or chemically treated to remove some of its sulfur so as to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.
intensive crops	Crops generally grown under irrigation in the Western United States requiring large inputs of labor and capital
flood crest	The maximum stage or elevation reached by the waters of a flood at a given location.
agglomeration	The process of encouraging very small particles to join with each other to make larger particles
dustfall jar	An open container used to collect large particles from the air for measurement and analysis.
active floodplain	an area of land within a boundary defined by a visible high water mark or water level of a stream reached during annual flood events as shown by riparian area conditions.
half-life	The amount of time that is required for a radioactive substance to lose one-half its activity. Each radioactive substance has a unique half-life. It is also used to describe:
activity plans	Written procedures in a school's asbestos-management plan that detail the steps a Local Education Agency (LEA) will follow in performing the initial and additional cleaning, operation and maintenance-program tasks; periodic surveillance; and reinspection required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).
activated carbon	A granular material usually produced by the roasting of cellulose base substances, such as wood or coconut shells, in the absence of air
impermeability	Characteristic of geologic materials that limit their ability to transmit significant quantities of water under the pressure differences normally found in the subsurface environment.
meta- or met-	Derived from by loss of water, as meta phosphoric acid.
mutagenic	Causing mutation, or the abrupt change in the genotype of an organism.
warm	To have or give out heat to a moderate or adequate degree
algae	a large group of primarily aquatic plants that usually contain chlorophyll but lack the true roots, stems, and leaves that are characteristic of more complex plants
open channel system	A system of conveyance channels where the top flow boundary is a free surface (e.g., canal systems).
micrograms per liter	A unit expressing the concentration of constituents in solution as weight (micrograms) of solute per unit volume (liter) of water; equivalent to one part per billion in most streamwater and ground water
organism	Any form of animal or plant life.
tonnage	The amount of waste that a landfill accepts, usually expressed in tons per month
perihelion	The point of the earth's orbit that is nearest to the sun
hygroscopic water	Water which is absorbed from the air.
gram	(g) The basic unit of weight (mass) of the metric system, originally intended to be the weight of one cubic centimeter of water at 4oC.
wkwma	Western Kentucky Wildlife Management Area Area surrounding the PGDP leased and managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) for recreational purposes
food chain	A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source.
mass movement	(Geology) The downslope movement of a portion of the land's surface (i.e., a single landslide or the gradual downhill movement of the whole mass of loose earth material) on a slope face
hardness leakage	The presence in the effluent of the type of ions present in the water being treated
percolation	movement of water into openings or pores in rock or soil and its downward movement by gravity; contributes to ground water replenishment.
peclet number	the relationship between properties of the mesh, fluid velocity, and eddy viscosity for a hydraulic computer model.
periodic table	Table of all known elements. For more information click here.
ttlc	See Total Threshold Limit Concentration.
sleet	precipitation consisting of generally transparent frozen or partially frozen raindrops.
doc	See Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC).
winters doctrine	The doctrine of (federal) reservation rights
cumulus humilis	Cumulus clouds with little or no vertical development characterized by a generally flat appearance
softened water	Any water that is treated to reduce hardness minerals to 1.0 gpg (17/1 mg/1) or less, expressed as calcium carbonate.
subwatershed	A drainage area within a watershed.
enzyme	A protein or protein-based molecule that speeds up chemical reactions occurring in living things
morphology	the form, shape, or structure of a stream or organism.
climatic year	a period used in meteorological measurements
clayseal	A barrier constructed of impermeable clay that stops the flow of water or gas.
detritivore	Animals that are detritus feeders, eating dead and decaying leaves and other decomposing plant and animal parts, as well as organic fecal matter.
saturation	the condition of a liquid when it has taken into solution the maximum possible quantity of a given substance at a given temperature and pressure.
halo	The ring of light that seems to encircle the sun or moon when veiled by cirrus clouds
mineral	A term applied to inorganic substances, such as rocks and similar matter found in the earth's strata, as opposed to organic substances such as plant and animal matter
dehydration	The removal of the water from any substance.
ground water reservoir storage	The amount of water in storage within the defined limit of the aquifer.
saccharide	A simple sugar or a more complex compound that can be hydrolyzed to simple sugar units.
load	What the river carries along with it - mud, sand, rocks, wood
psi	Pounds per square inch.
snow density	The ratio of the volume of meltwater derived from a sample of snow and the initial volume of the sample
single-breath canister	Small one-liter canister designed to capture a single breath
sinkhole	A depression formed when the surface collapses into a cavern.
fema	Federal Emergency Management Agency
deciduous	Trees and plants that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season.
dew	The droplets of water condensed from air, usually at night, onto cool surfaces.
evaporation	process of liquid water becoming water vapor
precautionary principle	When information about potential risks is incomplete, basing decisions about the best ways to manage or reduce risks on a preference for avoiding unnecessary health risks instead of on unnecessary economic expenditures.
filters	a screening device or porous substance used as a strainer for removing solid material from liquids.
flood plain	A region of low-lying land around a body of water, usually a river, that is flooded on an annual basis, usually annually.
sewer separation	The practice of separating combined single pipe systems into separate sewers for sanitary and storm water flows.
ecotone	a transition zone between two distinct habitats that contains species from each area, as well as organisms unique to it.
ospar convention	RoHS Directive (EU)
acidic	The condition of water or soil in which the amount of acid substances are sufficient to lower the pH below 7.0.
cites	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (U.S
strip cropping	Growing crops in a systematic arrangement of strips or bands that serve as barriers to wind and water erosion.
weathering	The decay and breakup of rocks on the earth's surface by natural chemical and mechanical processes
pressure relief	Valve which permits enough liquid or gas to escape from the vessel to prevent extreme pressure buildup within a vessel.
seawater	The salt water in, or coming from the sea or ocean.
distribution system	(Irrigation) (1) System of ditches and their appurtenances which convey irrigation water from the main canal to the farm units; diverse water from the main canal-side turnout to individual water users or to other smaller distribution systems
low-level drawdown	A discharge feature of a dam allowing water to be removed from the bottom of a reservoir.
acid	A corrosive solution with a pH less than 7.
milligrams per liter	The weight in milligrams of any substance dissolved in 1 liter of liquid; nearly the same as parts per million by weight.
rooster tail	A high arching spray of water thrown up behind a fast-moving motorboat.
green wedding	Holding your wedding with the least environmental impact possible.
channel	In instances sub-lacustrine channels appear where a lake has been formed by the submergence of a valley, or the drowning of a river; the channels formed under subaerial conditions by stream cutting may remain unfilled by sediments, on the lake bottom.Â Channel is applied to a surface water way, either natural or artificial, which connects two lakes and provides for boat travel; to river distributaries and connecting water in a delta; and to trench-like excavations extended inland from a lake shoreline to provide water frontages and boat access for back lots.
plasmid	A circular piece of DNA that exists apart from the chromosome and replicates independently of it
flow augmentation	The addition of water to meet flow needs.
evaporation	The physical process by which a liquid, such as water is transformed into a gaseous state, such as water vapor
co-dominant	Two or more plant species providing about equal areal cover which in combination control the environment.
low	(1) Situated below the surrounding surfaces as in water standing in low spots
constricting	The method, which many snakes utilize to kill their prey by wrapping themselves around and tightening until the meal is dead.
confining bed	A body of "impermeable" material stratigraphically adjacent to one or more aquifers
distillation	water treatment method where water is boiled to steam and condensd in a separate reservoir
leachate	a liquid that has percolated through soil containing soluble substances and that contains certain amounts of these substances in solution.
geothermal/ground source heat pump	These heat pumps are underground coils to transfer heat from the ground to the inside of a building
sierra valley decree [california-nevada]	Adjudication (1958) allowing the Sierra Valley Water Company to divert a portion of the Little Truckee River in California into Webber Creek for irrigation purposes in the Sierra Valley in the Feather River Basin
direct charges	The user of the service is charged for the use of the service, related directly to the extent of use
hydrodynamic dispersion	(1) Spreading (at the macroscopic level) of the solute front during transport resulting from both mechanical dispersion and molecular diffusion
phenols	Organic compounds used in plastics manufacturing, tanning, and textile, dye and resin manufacturing
spawning habitat	fish habitat associated with the breeding of fish
particle size	The sizes of a particle, determined by the smallest dimension, for instance a diameter
ecology	The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
canal prism	The cross-sectional shape of a typical canal.
sic code	See Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code.
public health approach	Regulatory and voluntary focus on effective and feasible risk management actions at the national and community level to reduce human exposures and risks, with priority given to reducing exposures with the biggest impacts in terms of the number affected and severity of effect.
spiles	(Irrigation) Small pipes, generally straight, from 1-4 inches (2.5-10 centimeters) in diameter, used to distribute water from a ditch into furrows, borders, or corrugations.
globe	A round model of the earth.
ozone	A compound formed when oxygen and other compounds react in sunlight
discharge	The volume of water passing through a channel during a given time, usually measured in cubic feet per second.
aeroponics	A technique for growing plants without soil or hydroponic media
routing parameters	coefficients that, along with mathematical routing equations, can be used to estimate the attenuation and lag (time delay) associated with the movement of flow through a length of stream channel.
water soluble	Of a material that dissolves in water.
etiological	Relating to cause, such as of disease or disorder.
guidelines	Recommended or suggested standards, criteria, rules or procedures that are advisory, voluntary and unenforceable.
reduction	Reduction is the addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen, or the addition of electrons to an element or compound
dredging	Removal of mud from the bottom of water bodies
post-consumer recycle content	A product composition that contains some percentage of material that has been reclaimed from the same or another end use at the end of its former, useful life.
radiation standards	Regulations that set maximum exposure limits for protection of the public from radioactive materials.
relative humidity	Ratio of the amount of water vapor in air at a specific temperature to the maximum capacity of the air at that temperature.
acute	Diseases or responses with short and generally severe course (often due to high
pressurized water reactor	A nuclear reactor in which water, heated by nuclear energy, is kept at high pressure to prevent the water from boiling
activated silica	A negatively charged colloidal substance generally formed by combining a dilute sodium silicate solution with a dilute acidic solution (or other activant)
saturated flow	The liquid flow of water in soils that occurs when the soil pores in the wettest part of the soil are completely filled with water and the direction of flow is from the wettest zone of higher potential to one of lower potential.
manganese	An element sometimes found in ground water, usually with dissolved iron but in lower concentrations
underground storage tank	(Water Quality) (1) Any one or combination of underground tanks and any connecting underground pipes used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances
greensand	A natural mineral, primarily composed of complex silicates, which possesses ion exchange properties.
perennial plants	plants that live for more than one year
fahrenheit temperature scale	A temperature scale where water at sea level has a freezing point of +32°F and a boiling point of +212°F
pingo	An Arctic mound or conical hill, consisting of an outer layer of soil covering a core of solid ice.
collector system	Conveys water from several individual sources such as groundwater wells and drains and surface inlet drains for rainstorm and snowmelt runoff to a single point of diversion
organic matter	substances from plants and animals (living organisms); based on carbon compounds.
surface runoff	That portion of precipitation that moves over the ground toward a lower elevation and does not infiltrate the soil.
carbon tax	A charge on fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) based on their carbon content
eolian soil material	Soil material accumulated through wind action.
absorption	The penetration of one substance into or through another
other wood	Recyclable wood from furniture, consumer electronics cabinets, and other nonpackaging wood products
paleopedology	The study of fossil soils
nàvà	(1) The upper part of a glacier where the snow turns into ice
groundwater	Water that flows below the ground surface through saturated soil, glacial deposits or rock.
flood-related erosion area management	The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood-related erosion damage, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood-related erosion control works, and floodplain management regulations.
purl	(1) To flow or ripple with a murmuring sound
elevated ditch	Earth-filled, constructed to specifications similar to those for earthfill dams, to provide normal grade as a substitute for flumes or siphons
climatic cycle	The periodic changes of climate, including a series of dry years following a series of years with heavy rainfall.
biogeochemistry	The study of the transformation and movement of chemical materials to and from the Lithosphere, the Atmosphere, the Hydrosphere, and the bodies of living organisms (the Biosphere).
induced draft	Infectious Waste
lifts	Layers of loose soil
friction losses	Total energy losses in the flow of water due to friction between the water and the walls of a conduit, channel, or porous medium, usually expressed in units of height.
well or water well	a bored, drilled or driven shaft or a dug hole for the purpose of withdrawing water from an underground aquifer. Ground water is then retrieved by windlass and bucket, hand pump or motorized pump into a pipe system.
hydraulic gradient	the change of hydraulic head per unit of distance in a given direction.
wet scrubber	An air pollution control device used to remove pollutants by bringing a gas stream into contact with a liquid.
nsf	Abbreviation for National Sanitation Foundation Testing Laboratory
emissions	Physical or chemical evidence given off to the environment by a process as a result of its activity
toc	Total Organic Carbon
comma cloud	A feature seen on satellite images with a distinctive comma-shape
organisational aspects	Refers to issues which need to be addressed when analysing institutional systems for MSWM
calorie	the quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 oC at 1 atmosphere pressure.
adjudication	Refers to a judicial process whereby water rights are determined or decreed by a court of law
sediment-transport curve	Usually the relation between water discharge and Suspended-Sediment Discharge, but it can be between water discharge and Bed-Load Discharge, Unmeasured Sediment Discharge, or Total Sediment Discharge.
heat stroke	Introduced to the body by overexposure to high temperatures, particularly when accompanied by high humidity
geomorphic	Pertaining to the form or general configuration of the Earth or of its surface features.
cross-sectional analysis	(Statistics) Observations or characteristics of a variable analyzed without respect to variations due to time
recharge area	An area where rainwater soaks through the ground to reach an aquifer.
carbon tetrachloride	A colorless, nonflammable toxic liquid that was widely used as a solvent in dry-cleaning and in fire extinguishers. It is listed as a cancer-causing chemical under Proposition 65.
environmentally sensitive areas	areas requiring special management attention to protect important scenic values, fish and wildlife resources, historical and cultural values, and other natural systems or processes.
ltar	See Long-Term Acceptance Rate (of Soils).
return seepage	Water which percolates from canals and irrigated areas to underlying strata, raising the ground-water level, and eventually returning to natural channels.
aqueous solubility	The extent to which a compound will dissolve in water
receiving waters	(1) Rivers, lakes, oceans, or other water courses or bodies of water that receive waters from another source
protein	A chain of up to several hundred amino acids, folded into a more or less compact structure
filtration	Separation from a fluid of suspended particles or flocks.
incidental recharge	Ground water recharge (infiltration) that occurs as a result of human activities unrelated to a recharge project, for example, irrigation and water diversion (unlined canals)
purgeable organics	Volatile organic chemicals which can be forced out of the water sample with relative ease through purging.
hydrologic cycle	the circulation of water from the sea, through the atmosphere, to the land, and thence back to the sea by overland and subterranean routes.
saccharification	A conversion process using acids, bases, or enzymes in which long-chain carbohydrates are broken down into their component fermentable sugars.
diversity	The distribution and abundance of different plant and animal communities.
client function	Refers to distinct roles inherent to MSWM services
subtidal	Areas in shallow coastal areas which are below the low tide mark.
cerclis	The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System is a database that includes all sites which have been nominated for investigation by the Superfund program.
nonpersistent emergents	Emergent Hydrophytes whose leaves and stems break down at the end of the growing season so that most above-ground portions of the plants are easily transported by currents, waves, or ice
conventional water	A natural freshwater supply as opposed to desalted or brackish water.
stability index	See Langelier's Index.
90th percentile	(Water Quality) Term used in conjunction with water sampling standards as required under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and amendments thereto
fungi	Plant-like organisms with cells with distinct nuclei surrounded by nuclear membranes, incapable of photosynthesis
flood plain	Any lowland that borders a stream and is inundated periodically by its waters.
exports	In solid waste program, municipal solid waste and recyclables transported outside the state or locality where they originated.
anadromous	Pertaining to fish that spend a part of their life cycle in the sea and return to freshwater streams to spawn, for example, salmon, steelhead, and shad
hydrocarbon	Any of a series of chemical compounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen.
normal	a solution concentration of one gram equivalent per liter of solution.
volcanic water	Juvenile Water (new water) furnished by lava flows and volcanic activity.
irrigate	(1) To supply (dry land) with water by means of ditches, pipes, or streams; to water artificially
flammables	A class of compounds that ignite easily and burn rapidly
clarifer	A large circular or rectangular tank or basin in which water is held for a period of time, during which the heavier suspended solids settle to the bottom
venturi meter	A meter, developed by Clemens Herschel, for measuring flow of water or other fluids through closed conduits or pipes
stream channel	The bed where a natural stream of water runs or may run; the long narrow depression shaped by the concentrated flow of a stream and covered continuously or periodically by water.
point source	A stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged; any single identifiable source of pollution.
permafrost	Perennially frozen layer in the soil, found in alpine, arctic, and antarctic regions.
interfacial tension	the strength of the film separating two immiscible fluids (e.g., oil and water) measured in dynes per, or millidynes per, centimeter.
added risk	The difference between the cancer incidence under the exposure condition and the background incidence in the absence of exposure.
percolation rate	The rate, usually expressed as a velocity, at which water moves through saturated granular material
homogeneous	Having a uniform consistency or ingredients; composed of similar ingredients.
vegetation clearing window	a period of least risk for vegetation disturbance when there will be a reduced risk of impacting bird eggs, nests, and young
vapor barrier	A continuous plastic membrane which surrounds the entire thermal envelope of a house and prevents moisture penetration into the wall cavity
swale	A piece of meadow, often a slight depression or valley, as in a plain or moor, marshy and rank with vegetation
tarn	a relatively small and deep, steep-sided lake or pool occupying an ice-gouged basin amid glaciated mountains.
dechlorination process	a process by which excess chlorine is removed from water to a desired level
calibration	to check, adjust, or determine by comparison that a computer model will produce results that meet or exceed some defined criteria within a specified degree of confidence.
soil gas	Gaseous elements and compounds in the small spaces between particles of the earth and soil
irrigation diversion	Generally, a ditch or channel that deflects water from a stream channel for irrigation purposes.
public-service corporation	A corporation providing essential services, such as water or electricity, to the public.
fauna	the entire animal life of a region (see also flora)
incremental energy costs	The cost of producing and/or transporting the next available unit of electrical energy above a previously determined base cost.
bright band	A narrow, intense radar echo due to water-covered ice particles at the melting level where reflectivity is at its greatest.
floodway	The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land area that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height.
water bar	shallow channel (cross-drain) or raised barrier (packed earth or a thin pole) laid diagonally across the surface of a road to guide water off the road.
project yield	The water supply attributed to all features of a project, including integrated operation of units that could be operated individually
accretion	a gradual increase in land area adjacent to a river.
frac-out	the escape of drilling mud (from the horizontally directionally drilled [HDD] borehole to the ground surface, other than at the borehole entry or exit points) into the environment as a result of a spill, tunnel collapse or the rupture of mud to the surface.
flood capacity	The flow carried by a stream or floodway at bankfull water level
reliction	A recession of the sea or other water body leaving land uncovered
floor sweep	Capture of heavier-than-air gases that collect at floor level.
galactan	The polymer of galactose with a repeating unit of C6H10O5
ll	Location & Linkages section
vapor pressure	The partial pressure of water vapor in the atmosphere.
flood	a period of above average rain with excess water encroaching on the land
kilogram	One thousand grams.
residual	The amount of a specific material remaining in the water following a water treatment process; may refer to material remaining as a result of incomplete removal (see leakage), or to material meant to remain in the treated water
cooling tower	A structure that helps remove heat from water used as a coolant; e.g., in electric power generating plants.
nick point	The point where the stream is actively eroding the stream bed to a new base level
invertebrate	Animals that have no spinal column or backbones.
levelized life-cycle cost	The present value of the cost of a resource, including capital, financing and operating costs, expressed as a stream of equal annual payments
range condition	The state of the plant community on a range site in relation to the potential natural plant community for that site
rectangular mesh	Wire cloth with a different mesh count in the fill than in the warp. Sometimes called “oblong mesh” or, in the case of finer meshes, “off-count”.
flood	any relatively high streamflow that overflows the natural or artificial banks of a stream.
percolating waters	waters passing through the ground beneath the Earth's surface without a definite channel.
perfection	The process of meeting terms and conditions of a water right permitting process which results in a Perfected Water Right.
water wheel	(1) A device such as a turbine or similar engine to transform the energy of flowing water into mechanical power
riparian	Relating to the bank or shoreline of a body of water.
probable maximum precipitation	The maximum amount of precipitation for a given period that can reasonably be expected to occur in a specific drainage basin.
blackwater	Water that contains waste of humans, animals or food.
micron	A unit to discribe a measure of length, equal to one millionth of a metre.
stream-gaging station	A gaging station where a continuous record of the discharge of a stream is obtained.
rated flow	Normal operating flow rate at which a product is passed through a vessel; flow rate which a vessel and media are designed to accommodate.
toxaphene	chemical that causes adverse health effects in domestic water supplies and is toxic to fresh water and marine aquatic life.
isopleth	The line or area represented by an isoconcentration.
public notice	Notification by a regulatory agency (such as EPA or EPD) informing the public of agency actions such as the issuance of a draft permit or scheduling of a hearing
water line	(Nautical) (1) The line on the hull of a ship to which the surface of the water rises
seston	All material, both organic and inorganic, suspended in a waterway.
softened water	Any water that is treated to reduce hardness minerals to 1.0 GPG (17.1 mg/L) or less, expressed as calcium carbonate.
alternating current	current that reverses its direction at regular intervals, such as a common 220 volt circuit.
reduced tillage	a soil management system in which tillage is avoided as much as possible
protozoa	One-celled animals that are larger and more complex than bacteria
eco-assessment	an evaluation of your home or workplace with the aim of cutting your energy and water usage
portable exchange	Water softeners, deionizers, and filters which are designed for removal from its point of application for transport to a central station or plant for regeneration or servicing.
free chlorine	(See free available chlorine.)
reverse osmosis	A process for the removal of dissolved ions from water, in which pressure is used to force the water through a semi-permeable membrane, which will transmit the water but reject most other suspended and dissolved materials
zeta potential	(Water Quality) In a Colloidal system, the difference in potential between the immovable layer attached to the surface of the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium
fly ash	gas-borne solid particles resulting from the combustion of fuel and other materials.
cumulative infiltration	The summation of the depth of water absorbed by a soil in a specified elapsed time in reference to the time of initial water application.
beach nourishment	Artificial process of replenishing a beach with material from another source. Also referred to as beach renourishment and beach recharge.
transmissibility	The capacity of a rock to transmit water under pressure
neritic zone	The relatively shallow water zone that extends from the high tide market to the edge of the Continental Shelf
groundwater	Subsurface water and underground streams that can be collected with wells or that flow naturally to the earth's surface through springs.
grade	the slope of road, channel, or natural ground.
debris flow	A rapid moving mass of rock fragments, soil, and mud, with more that half of the particles being larger that sand size.
atmospheric inversion	invertebrate: Any animal that lacks an internal skeleton, and in particular a backbone.
silt	Substrate particles smaller than sand and larger than clay.
piezometric surface	the imaginary surface to which groundwater rises under hydrostatic pressure in wells or springs.
live cull	A classification that includes live cull trees
reasonable worst case	An estimate of the individual dose, exposure, or risk level received by an individual in a defined population that is greater than the 90th percentile but less than that received by anyone in the 98th percentile in the same population.
alluvial	Relating to and/or sand deposited by flowing water.
clay	Substrate particles that are smaller than silt and generally less than 0.003 mm in diameter.
sloughing	Movement of a mass of soil down a bank into the channel (also called slumping)
return on investment	(ROI) The interest rate at which the net present value of a project is zero
noggin	A unit of liquid measure equal to one quarter of a pint.
water-related disease	An epidemic event caused by Waterborne virus or bacteria
permit	a permit issued by a state or the federal government to discharge effluent into waters of the state or the United States
hydric soil	A soil that, in its undrained condition, is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop Anaerobic conditions that favor the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation (Hydrophytes).
surrogate data	Data from studies of test organisms or a test substance that are used to estimate the characteristics or effects on another organism or substance.
strategy	Develops MSWM at the metropolitan level within the overall policy, taking account of all the strategic aspects as identified within the overall
icefall	(1) The part of a glacier resembling a frozen waterfall that flows down a steep slope
digestion	the biochemical decomposition of organic matter which results in the formation of mineral compounds and simple organic compounds.
channel	An area that contains continuously or periodically flowing water that is confined by banks and a stream bed.
soot	Carbon dust formed by incomplete combustion.
regenerant	The solution used to restore the activity of an ion exchanger
asbestos	The various forms of asbestos are: serpentine (chrysoltile), riebeckite (crocidolite), cummingtonite-grunerite, anthophyllite and actinolite-tremolite.
isotherm	line that connects points of equal temperature.
arid	A term used for an extremely dry climate
barotropy	The state of a fluid in which surfaces of constant density or temperature are coincident with surfaces of constant pressure
gamma radiation	A high-energy photon (ray) emitted from the nucleus of certain radioactive atoms
cultures and stocks	Infectious agents and associated biologicals including cultures from medical and pathological laboratories; cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories; waste from the production of biologicals; discarded live and attenuated vaccines; and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures
buffer	land that surrounds and protects an environmentally valuable resource against adverse effects of activities on, or encroachment from, adjacent land.
cyanazine	A herbicide listed by the U.S
acidity	the quantitative capacity of aqueous solutions to react with hydroxyl ions
hydrology	the science that deals with water as it occurs in the atmosphere, on the surface of the ground, and underground.
cistern	a tank used to collect rainwater runoff from the roof of a house or building.
arranged delivery	Operation of a water delivery system to meet predetermined needs, generally based on user water orders
biodiversity	A large number and wide range of species of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms
water quality	The condition of water with respect to the amount of impurities in it.
lignin	A complex polymer that serves as a component of wood and vascular plants, making them firm and rigid
crumb rubber	Ground rubber fragments the size of sand or silt used in rubber or plastic products, or processed further into reclaimed rubber or asphalt products.
measuring weir	A shaped notch, typically in rectangular, trapezoidal, or triangular shape, through which flowing water is measured.
generator	Any person or organisation whose actions or process generate MSW.
runoff percentage	Runoff expressed as a percentage of the precipitation.
watershed	The region draining into a river, river system, or body of water.
krill	Small abundant crustaceans that form an important part of the food chain in Antarctic waters.
aquasol	A water soil
btu	British Thermal Unit
canyon	A canyon is a deep valley with very steep sides - often carved from the Earth by a river.
bmp	Best Management Practice
ingestion	Swallowing
inoculum	Microorganisms produced from a pure culture; used to start a new culture in a larger vessel than that in which they were grown.
completion	Sealing off access of undesirable water to the well bore by proper casing and/or cementing procedures.
cost sharing	A publicly financed program through which society, as a beneficiary of environmental protection, shares part of the cost of pollution control with those who must actually install the controls
drinking water equivalent level	Protective level of exposure related to potentially non-carcinogenic effects of chemicals that are also known to cause cancer.
overburden	The earth, rock, and other materials that lie above a desired ore or mineral deposit.
national response center	The 24-hour a day federal operations center receives notifications of all releases of oil and hazardous substances into the environment
freeze	(1) To pass from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat
magnesium	One of the elements making up the earth’s crust
contaminant	Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse affect on air, water, or soil.
sinking	Controlling oil spills by using an agent to trap the oil and sink it to the bottom of the body of water where the agent and the oil are biodegraded.
sludge digester	tank in which complex organic substances like sewage sludge are biologically dredged
saturated	(1) in organics, a chemical compound with all carbon bonds satisfied; it does not contain double or triple bonds and thus cannot add elements or compounds
climate zones	the climate of a project's location can have a significant effect on environmental design and construction (particularly in terms of heating and cooling); thus the LEED for Homes rating system awards credit to projects that include sustainable goals appropriate for the local climate.
swash marks	The wavy lines of fine sand or bits of debris left on the beach at the upward limit of the rush of water following the breaking of a wave.
biogas	Principally methane and carbon dioxide produced by bacterial fermentation of organic matter.
inclined grate	A type of furnace in which fuel enters at the top part of a grate in a continuous ribbon, passes over the upper drying section where moisture is removed, and descends into the lower burning section
material category	In the asbestos program, broad classification of materials into thermal surfacing insulation, surfacing material, and miscellaneous material.
post-emergence	stage in a plant life-cycle after seedlings emerge from the soil surface.
tclp	Test Similar to the EP Tox Test referred to elswhere in this glossary
hydropathy	Internal and external use of water as a therapeutic treatment for all forms of disease
environmental restoration	The act of repairing damage to a site caused by human activity, industry or natural disasters
active storage capacity	The total amount of usable reservoir capacity available for seasonal or cyclic water storage
riparian zone	Pertaining to or located on the bank of a body of water, especially a stream.
plate count	A count of the number of colonies gives the number of bacteria in the portion of the sample that was taken.
pollutant pathways	Avenues for distribution of pollutants
submerged aquatic vegetation	Vegetation rooted in the substrate of a body of water (usually no deeper than 10 feet), that does not characteristically extend above the water surface and usually grows in associations or beds
thermal gradient	temperature difference between two areas.
guttation	The loss of water in liquid form from the uninjured leaf or stem of the plant, principally through water stomata (the microscopic opening in the epidermis of plants, surrounded by guard cells and serving for gaseous exchange); the exudation of water from leaves as a result of root pressure.
subtropical air	An air mass that forms over the subtropical region
slurry	a watery mixture of insoluble matter resulting from some pollution control techniques.
microtopography	Topography on a smaller scale
xenobiote	Any biotum displaced from its normal habitat; a chemical foreign to a biological system.
carbon monoxide	A very poisonous, colorless and odorless gas formed when carbon-containing matter burns incompletely, as in automobile engines or in charcoal grills used indoors without proper ventilation.
risk for non-endangered species	Risk to species if anticipated pesticide residue levels are equal to or greater than LC50.
wedge	Primarily refers to an elongated area of shallow high pressure at the earth's surface
endoreic	A term used to describe areas with terminal lakes and an interior drainage basin
process control	RDF
gram	The unit of mass in the metric system
leaching	a process where soluble materials such as nutrients or salts in the soil (as well as contaminants) are washed into lower layers of soil or are dissolved and carried away by water.
effluent	Outflow from a particular source, such as a stream that flows from a lake or liquid waste that flows from a factory or sewage-treatment plant.
stemflow	The rainfall or snowmelt led to the ground down the trunks or stems of plants.
scour pools	A pool formed by flow directed either laterally or obliquely against a partial channel obstruction or bank.
gabion	A wire basket or cage that is filled with gravel or cobble and generally used to stabilize stream banks.
food chain	the chain of living things in an ecosystem in which each link in the chain feeds on a link below it and is fed upon by the one above it.
co-generation	The technology of producing electric energy and another form of useful energy (usually thermal) for industrial, commercial, or domestic heating or cooling purposes through the sequential use of the energy source.
aqueduct	(1) A pipe, conduit, or channel designed to transport water from a remote source, usually by gravity
lead and copper rule	Water quality standards covered under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and amendments thereto, as set by the U.S
heu	Highly Enriched Uranium Enriched uranium containing at least 90% U-235; used in bomb manufacture, research and naval reactors.
migration	fish and other animal movements between two or more separate habitats (e.g., from over-wintering habitat to spawning habitat).
casing	a tubular structure intended to be watertight installed in the excavated or drilled hole to maintain the well opening and, along with cementing, to confine the ground waters to their zones of origin and prevent the entrance of surface pollutants.
grit removal	The process of removing sand and fine gravel from a stream od domestic waste in a Grit Chamber.
dry well	an underground structure that collects runoff and distributes it over a large area, increasing absorption and preventing erosion.
taxonomy	The science of classifying plants and animals.
erosion	The wearing away of the land surface by wind, water, ice or other geological agents
stenohaline	Pertaining to an aquatic organism unable to withstand wide variation in salinity of the surrounding water.
fema	Federal Emergency Management Agency; The federal agency responsible for dealing with emergency flood conditions and flood insurance.
isohyet	line that connects points of equal rainfall.
salt water intrusion	the invasion of fresh surface or ground water by salt water
native vegetation	Plant species that are indigenous to an area or biome, not exotic (e.g
geogrid	a deformed or non-deformed regular grid structure of polymeric material formed by joined intersecting ribs used for reinforcement with foundations, soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical engineering related material
losses incidental to irrigation	The quantity of water depleted by irrigation in excess of the beneficial irrigation consumptive use.
makeup water	Water added to the flow of water used to cool condensers in electric power plants
co2 emissions	(See Greenhouse gas)
combined-cycle power plant	The combination of a gas turbine and a steam turbine in an electric generation plant
sauna	(1) A Finnish steam bath in which the steam is produced by pouring water over heated rocks; a bathhouse or room for taking such a steam bath
succession	(Biology) Directional, orderly process of change in a living community in which the community modifies the physical environment to eventually establish an ecosystem which is as stable as possible at the site in question.
slip-off slope bank	The bank of a meandering stream which is not eroded by stream action, and which may be built up gradually.
formaldehyde	A water-soluble gas used widely in the chemical industry and in the construction and building industries, largely in wood products and in foam insulation
disinfectant time	The time it takes water to move from the point of Disinfectant application (or the previous point of residual disinfectant measurement) to a point before or at the point where the residual disinfectant is measured.
acre-foot	The volume of water which would cover an area of one acre to a depth of one foot
rootwad	The mass of roots associated with a tree adjacent or in a stream that provides refuge and nutrients for fish and other aquatic life.
draft	1
interstices	The openings or pore spaces in a rock, soil, and other such material
fractured bedrock aquifer	An aquifer composed of solid rock, but where most water flows through cracks and fractures in the rock instead of through pore spaces
mean temperature	The average of temperature readings taken over a specified amount of time
average annual runoff	For a specified area, it is the average value of annual runoff amounts calculated for a whole hydrologic cycle of record that represents average hydrologic conditions.
ambient air quality standards	(See: Criteria Pollutants and National Ambient Air Quality Standards.)
fish habitat	The aquatic environment and the immediately surrounding terrestrial environment that meet the necessary biological and physical requirements of fish species during various life stages.
biofiltration	the act of filtering out contaminants and sediments through biological means.
demography	The statistical science dealing with the distribution, density, vital statistics, and other related characteristics of population
efficiency	The ratio of output per unit input or the effectiveness of performance of a system; in an ion exchange system, often expressed as the amount of regenerant required to produce a unit of capacity, such as the pounds of salt per kilograin of hardness removal.
flash point	The lowest temperature at which evaporation of a substance produces sufficient vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air.
gabion	A wire basket or cage that is filled with gravel and generally used to stabilize stream banks and improve degraded aquatic habitat.
sheet erosion	The removal by surface runoff of a fairly uniform layer of soil from a bank slope from "sheet flow" or runoff that flows over the ground surface as a thin, even layer not concentrated in a channel.
decomposition	The conversion of chemically unstable materials to more stable forms by chemical or biological action
secular trend	(Data Analysis) A trend existing to some characteristic or phenomena over a relatively long period of time
dredging	A method for deepening streams, swamps, or other waters by scraping and removing solid materials from the bottom
multicell storm	A thunderstorm made up of two or more single-cell storms.
pool	A reach of a stream that is characterized by deep, low-velocity water and a smooth surface.
alluvial	Deposited by running water.
hardwood	One of the botanical groups of dicotyledonous trees that have broad leaves in contrast to the conifers or softwoods
dissolved solids	Very small pieces of organic and inorganic material contained in water
playa	a dry, flat area at the lowest part of an undrained desert basin in which water accumulates and is quickly evaporated; underlain by stratified clay, silt, or sand and commonly by soluble salts; term used in Southwestern United States.
restriction enzymes	Enzymes that recognize specific regions of a long DNA molecule and cut it at those points.
clay soil	Soil material containing more than 40 percent clay, less than 45 percent sand, and less than 40 percent silt.
groundwater monitoring	The periodic measurement of ground water levels
drawdown	The vertical drop in the height between the water level in a well prior to pumping, and the water level in the well during pumping.
overrunning	This occurs when a relatively warm air mass is forced above a cooler air mass of greater density
sorting rejects	Materials not recovered during industrial sorting
continent	A large land mass rising abruptly from the deep ocean floor, including marginal regions that are shallowly submerged
dump	A site used to dispose of solid waste without environmental controls.
precipitation	water droplets or ice particles condensed from atmospheric water vapor and sufficiently massive to fall to the Earth’s surface, such as rain, sleet, or snow.
channel	The deeper, narrow elogated or more sharply trenched part of a lake bottom.
household and similar waste	Waste generated by retailers, trades people, offices and industry collected at the same time and under the same conditions as household waste.
solute	chemical or pollutant in a specified volume or weight of solvent, air, water, soil or other medium, accumulating a level of some material over and above the level found in the ambient environment, generally applied to an organism.
artificial beach	A bathing beach created by removing peat or muck and subsequently filling with sand or fine gravel
viscosity	A measure of the ease with which a liquid can be poured or stirred
raw water	Untreated water from wells or from surface sources or any water before it reaches a water treatment device or process.
risk	A measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property, and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard.
well plug	a seal installed in a borehole or well preventing movement of fluids.
neurotransmitter	A molecule that is responsible for signal transmission in the nervous system.
circulation loop	a system that returns cold water to the water heater (instead of down the drain) until hot water reaches the faucet
lime	any of a family of chemicals consisting essentially of calcium hydroxide made from limestone (calcite) which is composed mostly of calcium carbonate or a mixture of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
cogeneration	This clean technology enables the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a given type of fuel.
interstate compact	States administer water rights within their own political boundaries; however, the process becomes more complicated when involving an interstate body of water (Interstate Water)
thermal plant	A power generating plant which uses heat to produce energy
herbivorous	Feeding exclusively or mainly on plants.
sinuous stream	Characterized by many curves or turns; winding.
water year	a division based on a general pattern of annual wet and dry periods rather than a calendar year
cove	A cove is small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along the coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of soft rock.
curb stop	A water service shutoff valve located in a water service pipe near the curb and between the water main and the building.
hygrophyte	Plants extremely sensitive to dry air, growing only in habitats where relative humidity is always high
partial penetration	A well constructed in such a way that it draws water directly from a fractional part of the total thickness of the aquifer
absorption barrier	Any of the exchange sites of the body that permit uptake of various substances at different rates (e.g
diversion	1
consumable water supply	That amount of river water available for consumption at a given point on the river after existing prior water rights have been met.
freshwater	marine, brackish).
sulfur	A yellowish, solid element (S)
cutie-pie	An instrument used to measure radiation levels.
colloidal suspension	Suspension in water of particles so finely divided that they will not settle under the action of gravity, but will diffuse, even in quiet water, under the random impulses of Brownian Movement
marsh	an area periodically inundated and treeless and often characterized by grasses, cattails, and other monocotyledons
gravel	rock measuring 0.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter with no more than three percent of the material passing a number 200 sieve screen (0.074 millimeter diameter openings).
chronic exposure	Multiple exposures occurring over an extended period of time or over a significant fraction of an animal's or human's lifetime (Usually seven years to a lifetime.)
peat	Partially decomposed plants and other organic material that build up in poorly drained wetland habitats.
dutch oven furnace	One of the earliest types of furnaces
free product	A petroleum hydrocarbon in the liquid free or non aqueous phase
bailer	A pipe with a valve at the lower end, used to remove slurry from the bottom or side of a well as it is being drilled, or to collect groundwater samples from wells or open boreholes
slush	Snow or ice on the ground that has been reduced to a softy watery mixture by rain and/or warm temperatures.
operational spill	(1) A loss or waste of water in an irrigation system caused by operation of the system
precipitator	Pollution control device that collects particles from an air stream.
water witch	A person who predicts the presence of underground water with hand-held tools such as forked twigs (Divining Rod) or metal rods
prescription	A method of acquisition of title or the use of water by immemorial or long-continued enjoyment
ion exchanger	A permanent, insoluble material which contains ions that will exchange reversibly with other ions in a surrounding solution
ntp	Normal conditions of temperature and pressure. Whenever this term is used, it refers to a gas measured at a pressure one (1) atmosphere absolute (760 mm
quench	(1) To slake one's thirst
suspended solids	Fine materials carried by water
riprap	large rocks placed along the bank of a waterway to prevent erosion.
channelization	The process of changing and straightening the natural path of a waterway.
personal air samples	Air samples taken with a pump that is directly attached to the worker with the collecting filter and cassette placed in the worker's breathing zone (required under OSHA asbestos standards and EPA worker protection rule).
spur	A ridge of land that extends partly across a valley.
glass recycling	Glass bottles and jars can be recycled endlessly
dry wash	A defined drainage channel in arid regions that is dry except following a major storm or heavy spring snowmelt.
a posteriori classification	A classification made based upon the results of experimentation.
specific conductance	Method to estimate the dissolved solid content of a water supply by testing its conductivity.
release	Any discharge to the environment
routing	The detailed assignment of MSW collection vehicles and labour to collection routes such that collection efficiency is optimised.
des	A synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol is used as a growth stimulant in food animals
anoxia	The absence of oxygen or a pathological deficiency of oxygen.
scrubber-high energy	Scrubber-Low Energy
compost	Conditioning Chamber
dye testing	A testing process using non-toxic dye to assist in the location and quantifying of specific defects in a sewer line
fluid	a substance which yields readily to any force which tends to alter its shape; fluids possess no definite shape; the term includes both liquids and gases.
exceedence	(Water Quality) The violation of the pollutant levels permitted by environmental protection standards.
disking	A mechanical method of scarifying the soil to reduce competing vegetation and to prepare a site to be seeded or planted.
channelization	The process of changing (usually straightening) the natural path of a waterway.
bilge water	Water that collects and stagnates in the bilge or bottom-most areas of a ship.
dredging	an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or freshwater areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them in a different location
hammer mill	A high-speed machine that uses hammers and cutters to crush, grind, chip, or shred solid waste.
cyst	(See spore.)
flood-related erosion prone area	A land area adjoining the shore of a lake or other body of water, which due to the composition of the shoreline or bank and high water levels or wind-driven currents, is likely to suffer flood-related erosion damage.
channel inflow	Water which at any instant is flowing into the channel system from surface flow, subsurface flow, base flow, and rainfall directly on the channel.
inhibitor	chemical that interferes with a chemical reaction, such as precipitation.
influent water	Water that flows into sink holes, open cavities, and porous materials and disappears into the ground.
radarsonde observation	An upper air observation used to determine winds and other meteorological data, by tracking the range, elevation, and azimuth of a radar target carried aloft
toe	The break in slope at the foot of a stream bank where the bank meets the bed.
pyrolysis	Decomposition of a chemical by extreme heat.
renewable energy resource	An energy resource that can be replaced as it is used, including solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass
hardpan	A hard impervious layer composed chiefly of clay or organic materials cemented by relatively insoluble materials, which does not become plastic when wet, and definitely limits the downward movement of water and roots.
limb	The part of the Hydrograph in which the discharge is steadily increasing or decreasing.
surface erosion	The detachment and transport of soil particles by wind, water, or gravity
hydrocarbon	An organic chemical compound of hydrogen and carbon in either gaseous, liquid, or solid phase
ocean	An ocean is a large body of salt water that surrounds a continent
residue on evaporation	A procedure for establishing the mineral content of a water.
irreversible effect	Effect characterized by the inability of the body to partially or fully repair injury caused by a toxic agent.
bank	The ground at the side of a river
canal freeboard	The amount of canal lining available above maximum design water depth.
pathogens	Microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, viruses or parasites) that can cause disease in humans, animals and plants.
non-attainment pollutants	See "Criteria pollutants". If any of the criteria pollutants exceed established health-based levels in a given air basin, they are identified as "non-attainment pollutants".
public utility commissions	State agencies that regulate investor-owned utilities operating in the state.
impedance	total opposition to flow of current, measured in ohms; combined effort of resistance, inductance, and capacitance.
soil moisture regime	The changes in the moisture content of soil during a year.
bosque	a dense growth of trees and underbrush.
corrosivity	Ability of water to dissolve or break down certain substances, particularly metals.
hydrology	The science that deals with water as it occurs in the atmosphere, on the surface of the ground, and underground.
domestic wastewater facility	Refers to those facilities that receive or dispose of wastewater derived principally from residential dwellings, business or commercial buildings, institutions, and the like
piping	erosion by percolating water in a layer of subsoil, resulting in caving and in the formation of narrow conduits, tunnels, or "pipes" through which soluble or granular soil material is removed.
biodegradable	Capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic)
chute	portion of the channel with homogeneous depths and velocity.
physical weathering	breaking down of parent rock into bits and pieces by exposure to temperature and changes and the physical action of moving ice and water, growing roots, and human activities such as farming and construction
witch	To use a divining rod to find underground water or minerals; Dowse.
video logging	A method for close-up inspection of the interior of a well or pipe by means of a color camera that can view the well casing and screen at 90 degrees to the well's axis.
kilowatt hour	One kilowatt of power applied for one hour.
kilograin	One thousand grains.
softwood	Generally, one of the botanical groups of trees that in most cases have needle-like or scale-like leaves; the conifers; also the wood produced by such trees
suspended sediment	sediment that is transported in suspension by a stream.
degradation	(1) A progressive lowering of the channel bed due to scour
crop residue management	A year-round system beginning with the selection of crops that produce sufficient quantities of residue and may include limited secondary harvest of residue
aridic	A soil moisture regime that has no moisture available for plants for more than half the cumulative time that the soil temperature at 19.7 inches (50 centimeters) is above 5C (41F) and has no period as long as 90 consecutive days when there is moisture for plants while the soil temperature at 50 centimeters is continuously above 8C (46.4F).
data quality objectives	Qualitative and quantitative statements of the overall level of uncertainty that a decision-maker will accept in results or decisions based on environmental data
braided	A stream that forms an interlacing network of branching and recombining channels separated by branch islands or channel bars.
septic system	an on-site system designed to treat and dispose of domestic sewage
water storage pond	An impound for liquid wastes designed to accomplish some degree of biochemical treatment.
compounds	Two or more different elements held together in fixed proportions by attractive forces called chemical bonds.
celestial equator	The projection of the plane of the geographical equator upon the celestial sphere.
residual sodium carbonate	The excess milliequivalents of carbonate and bicarbonate over the milliequivalents of calcium and magnesium in a sample of water, where:RSC = ( CO3-2 + HCO3-2 ) â ( Ca+2 + Mg+2 )where all concentrations are expressed in milliequivalents per liter (meq/l)
frost line	The depth to which frost penetrates the earth.
dynamic system	A system or process in which motion occurs, or includes active forces, as opposed to static conditions with no motion.
bucket	(1) A cylindrical vessel used for holding or carrying water or other liquids; a pail
ground cover	Plants grown to keep soil from eroding.
administrative procedures act	A law that spells out procedures and requirements related to the promulgation of regulations.
delivery box	An irrigation structure for diverting water from a canal to a farm unit, often including measuring devices.
presedimentation	(Water Quality) A pretreatment process used to remove gravel, sand, and other gritty material from raw water before it enters the main treatment plant
physical landscape	Natural land forms and associated natural phenomena of a region.
flow rate	The rate, expressed in gallons or liters-per-hour, at which a fluid escapes from a hole or fissure in a tank
water table	The level of the top of the zone of saturation, in which free water exists in the pores and crevices of rocks and other earth strata.
orographic precipitation	rainfall that occurs as a result of warm, humid air being forced to rise by topographic features such as mountains
endangered species preservation act	Passed in 1966, this represented the first legislated effort towards identification and protection of animal species in the United States threatened by extinction
channel	A groove in the land that a river flows along.
buoyancy	the tendency of a body to float or rise when immersed in a fluid; the power of a fluid to exert an upward force on a body placed in it.
woodland	an area with scattered trees where the portion of the land surface covered by the crowns is more than 30% (open woodland) but less than 60% (forest)
bank stabilization	any works undertaken to protect or amour a bank or shore from erosion.
riparian vegetation	Plants adapted to moist growing conditions found along waterways and shorelines
stilling well	A device used to allow monitoring of water levels in turbulent flow.
dry slot	An area of dry, and usually cloud-free, air that wraps into the southern and eastern sections of a synoptic scale or mesoscale low pressure system
breakdown	failure of insulator or insulating medium to prevent discharge or current flow.
removal action	Short-term immediate actions taken to address releases of hazardous substances that require expedited response
seepage	The gradual movement of a fluid into, through, or from a porous medium.
risk assessment	the process of determining the adverse consequences of some technology or process to the individual and/or the society
bifurcate	Dividing structure which splits the flow of water.
conductance	a measure of the conducting power of a solution equal to the reciprocal of the resistance
externality	A cost or benefit not accounted for in the price of goods or services
mouth	The end of the river
buttress dam	A dam consisting of a watertight upstream face supported at intervals on the downstream side by a series of buttresses
holocellulose	The total carbohydrate fraction of wood; cellulose plus hemicellulose.
total coliform	The Escherica coli and similar gram negative bacteria that are normal inhabitants of fecal discharges
shallows	a term applied to a shallow place or area in a body of water; a shoal.
energy crop	A commodity (crop) grown specifically for its fuel value
virus	The smallest form of life known to be capable of producing disease or infection, usually considered to be of large molecular size
geohydrology	a term which denotes the branch of hydrology relating to subsurface or subterranean waters; that is, to all waters below the surface.
lwd	large woody debris
poles/polar	The poles are the geographic point at 90 degrees latitude North and South on the earth's surface
kw	kilowatt
downdraft gasifier	A gasifier in which the product gases pass through a combustion zone at the bottom of the gasifier.
physiographic province	an area with similar characteristics based on geology, soil type, and topography.
chlorophyll mapping	Showing the variation of chlorophyll over the surface of a water body on a map.
flora	The population of plants in a given area, environment, formation, or time span
return flow	that part of irrigation water that is not consumed by evapotranspiration and that returns to its source or another body of water.
dredger	a ship or boat employed in dredging.
heat rate	The amount of fuel energy required by a power plant to produce one kilowatt-hour of electrical output
level of concern	The concentration in air of an extremely hazardous substance above which there may be serious immediate health effects to anyone exposed to it for short periods
interface	The common boundary between two substances such as a water and a solid, water and a gas, or two liquids such as water and oil.
hydraulic gradient	The slope of the water surface (see also stream gradient).
floatation	the process of removing finely divided particles from a liquid suspension by agitating the liquid with gas bubbles thus increasing the buoyancy of the particles, and concentrating them at the surface of the liquid medium.
secondary standards	Allowable amounts of materials in air or water that are set to retain environmental qualities not related to the protection of human health
fungus	Molds, mildews, yeasts, mushrooms and puffballs; a group of organisms that are lacking in chlorophyll and usually non-mobile, filamentous and multicellular
flow	The amount of water passing a particular point in a stream or river, usually expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs).
vascular plant	a plant composed of or provided with vessels or ducts that convey water or sap
diatoma	A small genus of fresh-water diatoms typifying the family Diatomaceae
maximum sustainable yield	The greatest amount of a renewable natural resource (e.g., forests or wildlife) that can be removed without diminishing the continuing production and supply of the resource.
elimination	The act, process, or an instance of eliminating or discharging, as the removal from a molecule of the constituents of a simpler molecule for example, ethylene is formed by the elimination of water from ethanol.
venom	A toxin produced by an animal.
co-firing	The use of a mixture of two fuels within the same combustion chamber.
bioaccumulation	The accumulation by organisms of contaminants through ingestion or contact with skin or respiratory tissue; the net accumulation of a substance by an organism as a result of uptake from all environmental sources
altitude	How high a place is above sea level.
wringer	One that wrings, especially a device in which laundry is pressed between rollers to extract water.
corrosion	The destructive disintegration of metals by electromechanical means
water discharge	The amount of water and sediment flowing in a channel, expressed as volume per unit of time
purify	to clean.
archipelago	An archipelago is a group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.
scour	process of water eroding material through high velocities in conjunction with moving sediment.
reaeration	(1) Absorption of oxygen into water from the atmosphere
gated pipe	(Irrigation) Portable pipe with small gates installed along one side for distributing water to corrugations or furrows.
fluvial	Of or pertaining to rivers and streams; growing or living in streams ponds; produced the action of a river or stream.
dry farming	A type of farming practiced in arid areas without irrigation by planting drought-resistant crops and maintaining a fine surface tilth or mulch that protects the natural moisture of the soil from evaporation
substrate	What lines the bottom of an aquarium or enclosure use to hold herps
candidate species	Plant or animal species designated by the Department of the Interior, U.S
barrel sampler	Open-ended steel tube used to collect soil samples.
clear-span bridge	a stream crossing structure that spans the bankfull channel and does not involve the construction or installation of any structure within the banks of the stream.
environmental lien	A charge, security, or encumbrance on a property's title to secure payment of cost or debt arising from response actions, cleanup, or other remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum products.
stover	The dried stalks and leaves of a crop that remain after the grain has been harvested.
mixture	Various elements, compounds or both, that are mixed.
co-fire	Burning of two fuels in the same combustion unit; e.g., coal and natural gas, or oil and coal.
forbs	Term for any plant that is not a grass.
herbaceous	plants which do not develop wood in the stem or branches, but die down every year after flowering; also the soft succulent stems of such plants.
seven seas	Figuratively, all the waters or oceans of the world
degasification	A water treatment process that removes dissolved gases from the water.
nurp	National Urban Runoff Program
continental shelf	The zone around the continents extending from the low-water mark seaward, typically ending in steep slope to the depths of the ocean floor.
scour	the erosive action of running water in streams, which excavates and carries away material from the bed and banks
distillation	the process of heating a liquid to its boiling point, removing the vapors through a cooling and condensing apparatus, and finally collecting the condensed liquid in a separate receiver
approximate original contour	The surface configuration achieved by backfilling and grading of mined areas so that the reclaimed area, including any terracing or access roads, closely resembles the general surface configuration of the land prior to strip mining and blends into and complements the drainage pattern of the surrounding terrain.
plug	cement, grout, or other material used to fill and seal a hole drilled for a water well.
ppm	Parts per million.
aromatics	A type of hydrocarbon that contains a ring structure, such as benzene and toluene
pneumoconiosis	Health conditions characterized by permanent deposition of substantial amounts of particulate matter in the lungs and by the tissue reaction to its presence; can range from relatively harmless forms of sclerosis to the destructive fibrotic effect of silicosis.
activated carbon	Substance used in the water treatment process to remove dissolved organic matter from raw drinking water.
disinfectant by-product	A compound formed by the reaction of a Disinfectant such as Chlorine with organic material in the water supply
diamond drill	a piece of equipment used to drill through hard rock, the drill has a diamond on the drill bit and can cut through hard rock better than a metal drill bit Dilution
discharge	the volume of water that passes a given point within a given period of time
flood plain	The area adjacent to a stream that is on average inundated once a century.
water use	used for a specific purpose, i.e., domestic, agricultural or industrial.
drainage basin	the land area drained by a river or stream.
atom	Basic building unit of matter
infectious disease	a disease caused by agents including bacteria, viruses or parasitic worms
specific storage	The volume of water removed or added within the unit volume of an aquifer per unit change in head.
giardia lamblia	A common protozoan found in water and is derived from animal droppings
electrolyte	Substance that dissociates into ions when it dissolves in water.
social behavior	Communicating with behaviors and sounds (a few species vocalize).Generally this kind of "talking" is with members of your own species
water transfer	Artificial conveyance of water from one area to another across a political or hydrological boundary
critical habitat	The area of land, water, and airspace required for normal needs and survival (e.g., forage, reproduction, or cover) of a plant or animal species.
7q10	The period of lowest stream flow during a seven-day interval that is expected to occur once every 10 years
terminal velocity	The final velocity of falling solid particles in water or in air or of raindrops in air.
degraded	Condition of the quality of water that has been made unfit for some specified purpose.
steady-state conditions	Synonymous with Equilibrium conditions.
suspect material	Building material suspected of containing asbestos; e.g., surfacing material, floor tile, ceiling tile, thermal system insulation.
perceived obsolesence	The art of making products that go out of fashion or "date", so you buy more slightly different ones, for example the fashion industry
weir	Usually a barrier constructed to catch upstream migrating adult fish.
average year water demand	The demand for water under average hydrologic conditions for a defined level of development.
pothole	(1) A deep hole or pit, especially a deep, round hole formed in the rock of a river bed by gravel whiling in water
salinity	The percentage of salt in water.
seiche	An oscillation of the water surface of a lake or other body of water due to variations of atmospheric pressure, wind, or minor earthquakes
swim	To move through water by means of the limbs, fins, or tail.
emergent	Rising above a surrounding medium, especially a fluid
radionuclide	An unstable nuclide capable of spontaneous transformation into other nuclides by changing its nuclear configuration or energy level
lake	separated by the fairly thin thermocline zone, from the lower, colder, denser zone of water, the hypolimnion.
faecal coliforms	Naturally occurring bacteria in the intestines of mammals (including humans) and birds
ecotype	A locally adopted population of a species which has a distinctive limit of tolerance to environmental factors.
solder	an alloy of lead/tin used for making permanent electrical connections between parts and wire.
noxious plant	A harmful plant species.
seepage losses	A measure of water losses in a conveyance system due to water being seeped into the surrounding soils
siberian high	The semi-permanent high pressure area that forms over Siberia during the winter
oxbow lake	A small arc-shaped lake formed when a meander is sealed off by deposition
pre-emergence	stage in a plant life-cycle before seedlings emerge from the soil surface.
river	a natural stream of water of considerable volume.
runoff	water (originating as precipitation) that flows across surfaces rather than soaking in; eventually enters a waterbody; may pick up and carry a variety of pollutants.
syllabus	Concise statement of the main objectives, content, learning experiences, resources and assessment strategies to be used in teaching a specific subject or field of knowledge
embayment	small, deep, backwater typically at the mouth of a temporary or intermittent stream.
terrestrial	A term used to describe Animals living on land.
abandonment	Failure to put a water right to Beneficial Use for generally five or more years, in which the owner of the water right states that the water right will not be used, or takes such actions that would prevent the water from being beneficially used
well	A deep hole with the purpose to reach underground water supplies.
solid waste management	Supervised handling of waste materials from their source through recovery processes to disposal.
thermoelectric power water use	Water used in the process of the generation of Thermoelectric Power
no till farming	Planting crops without prior seedbed preparation, into an existing cover crop, sod, or crop residues, and eliminating subsequent tillage operations.
low clouds	A term used to signify clouds with bases below 6,000 feet and are of a stratiform or a cumuliform variety
tributary	A stream or river that feeds into a larger watercourse.
fungus	Funguses, or fungi, are types of plants that have no leaves, flowers or roots
transmission lines	Pipelines that transport raw water from its source to a water treatment plant, then to the distribution grid system.
ecological integrity	ecotoxicology: Study of the directly poisonous effects of chemicals in ecosystems, plus indirect effects such as changes in habitat or food abundance caused by toxic exposures
consent decree	(Environmental) A legal document approved by a judge, that formalizes an agreement reached between the U.S
air padding	Pumping dry air into a container to assist with the withdrawal of liquid or to force a liquefied gas such as chlorine out of the container.
swill	(1) To flood with water, as for washing
hydrophone	An electrical instrument for detecting or monitoring sound transmitted through water.
brine	(1) Water saturated with or containing large amounts of a salt, especially of sodium chloride
cyclone collector	A device that uses centrifugal force to remove large particles from polluted air.
stream flow	The rate at which water passes a given point in a stream or river, usually expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs).
floe ice	Ice usually several feet thick, which has formed on the surface of a body of water and then has broken into pieces and is floating on the water's surface.
farm irrigation efficiency	An expression comparing the amount of water actually required for growing a crop to the amount of irrigation water that is diverted at the farm headgate
fuel cell	a technology that uses an electrochemical process to convert energy into electrical power
blowing sand	Sand that is raised by the wind to heights of six feet or greater
hydrated	Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a Hydrate.
polycarbonate	A clear, tough polymer with good temperature and chemical resistance. Polycarbonate can be molded and is sometimes used for filter housings.
fjord	A fjord is a long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered by steep cliffs.
halogens	A family of elements that includes bromine, chlorine, fluorine, astatine, and iodine
ultimate analysis	The determination of the elemental composition of the organic portion of carbonaceous materials
natural	sustainable architecture)
tuberculation	The process in which blister-like growths of metal oxides develop in pipes as a result of the corrosion of the pipe metal
cut-off low	A closed cold core low completely removed from the primary westerly flow
transpiration ratio	The number of pounds of water required for transpiration per pound of dry plant tissue produced.
cottage-water ratio	The ratio between the number of shoreland cottages or lake homes (whose owners or occupants have access to the water) and the area (expressed in acres) of the lake surface.
standard	An enforceable rule, principle or measure established by a regulating authority e.g
benefit-cost analysis	An economic method for assessing the benefits and costs of achieving alternative health-based standards at given levels of health protection.
groundwater recharge	the inflow to a ground water reservoir.
snow creep	A continuous, extremely slow, downhill movement of a layer of snow.
skin diving	The sport of swimming under water with a face mask and flippers and especially without a portable breathing device.
specific gravity	a comparison by weight to an equal volume of pure water, at a standard temperature.
controlled reaction	A chemical reaction under temperature and pressure conditions maintained within safe limits to produce a desired product or process.
gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer	Instrument that identifies the molecular composition and concentrations of various chemicals in water and soil samples.
ester	A compound formed from the reaction between an acid and an alcohol
odors	Are self-descriptive
buddle	An inclined trough in which crushed ore is washed with running water to flush away impurities.
undercast	In aviation, it is an opaque cloud layer viewed from an observation point above the layer
gallon	A common unit of liquid volume; the US gallon has a volume of 231 cubic inches or 3.78533 liters; the British (Imperial) gallon has a volume of 277.418 cubic inches or 4.54596 liters.
hydrogeological cycle	The natural process recycling water from the atmosphere down to (and through) the earth and back to the atmosphere again.
opalized	A rock whose original constituents have been replaced by opaline silica, a form of Silica (SiO2) containing varying percentages of water.
old	(1) (Geology) Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action
mobile source	Any non-stationary source of air pollution such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, airplanes, and locomotives.
plumb	A weight on the end of a line, used to determine water depth.
lateral moraine	a low ridgelike moraine carried on, or deposited near, the side margin of a mountain glacier.
lead	Harmful to the environment used in a lot of paints
gabion	A wire basket or cage that is filled with gravel or cobble and generally used to stabilize streambanks.
mulching	The use of plant residues or other suitable materials on the soil surface, primarily to reduce evaporation of water and erosion of soil.
continuous discharge	A routine release to the environment that occurs without interruption, except for infrequent shutdowns for maintenance, process changes, etc.
microorganisms	Bacteria, yeasts, simple fungi, algae, protozoans, and a number of other organisms that are microscopic in size
aerate	To supply or charge a liquid or body of water with a gas, as to expose a body of water to the circulation of air for purification
bacterial water contamination	The introduction of unwanted bacteria into a water body.
renewable energy	alternative energy sources such as wind power or solar energy that can keep producing energy indefinitely without being used up.
well hydrograph	A graphic representation of the fluctuations of the water surface in a well, plotted as Ordinate, against time, plotted as Abscissa.
solute	the substance that is dissolved to form a solution.
bioindicators	organisms that are used to detect changes in environmental pollutant levels, such organisms are usually sensitive to changes in their surroundings Biomagnification
guild	a group of species or organisms that use the same environmental resources (habitat, food source, etc.) or life history strategy (such as reproduction) in the same way.
losing stream	A stream or reach of a stream that is losing water by seepage into the ground
chs	Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services
secchi disc	A circular plate, generally about 10-12 inches (25.4-30.5 cm) in diameter, used to measure the transparency or clarity of water by noting the greatest depth at which it can be visually detected
mulching	Any loose covering of soil with organic residues, such as grass, straw, or wood fibers, to check erosion and stabilize exposed soil.
pallial line	a linear depression on the inside of the shell
abandoned well	a well which is no longer used
cost effectiveness analysis	Involves the identification and consistent evaluation of all costs, allowance for their phasing over time, and the application of decision criteria to rank and select between project options
pump test	A field test by which a well is pumped for a period of time and data are collected for use in assessing characteristics of subsurface water-bearing zones, or aquifers.
nitrogen fixation	The biological or chemical process by which elemental nitrogen, from the air, is converted to organic or available nitrogen.
request identification number	A number assigned by EPA to identify your Freedom of Information Act request (e.g., 1234-99)
sound dead	The net volume in salvable dead trees.
beryllium	The MCL is 0.004 mg/L and it can cause intestinal lesions.
precursor	In photochemistry, a compound antecedent to a pollutant
watershed	See drainage basin.
debris torrent	Rapid movement of a large quantity of materials (wood and sediment) down a stream channel during storms or floods
meridional flow	Atmospheric circulation in which the north and south, or meridional, component of motion is unusually pronounced
oxalic acid	Can be used for the removal of iron stains from most washable fabrics
sensitivity analysis	Analysis of how errors in one or more estimates would affect the conclusion drawn from the estimates.
rdf	Recycling
service run	That portion of the operating cycle of a water conditioning unit during which treated water is being delivered, as opposed to the period when the unit is being backwashed, recharged or regenerated.
depth	How deep the water is.
fabric filters	A device which uses fabric to remove particles from flue gas
risk management	The process of evaluating and selecting alternative regulatory and non-regulatory responses to risk
cta	Cellulose triacetate
tideland	(1) Land overflowed during flood tide
troughing system	A collection and containment system designed to collect leaks of oil that have been contaminated with PCBs.
background concentration	A concentration of a substance in a particular environment that is indicative of minimal influence by human (anthropogenic) sources.
xerophyte	Any plant growing in a habitat in which an appreciable portion of the rooting medium dries to the wilting coefficient at frequent intervals
manning's roughness	a coefficient in Manning's equation that accounts for energy loss due to the friction between the channel and the water
forfeited water right	a water right canceled because of several consecutive years of nonuse.
fungicide	A pesticide used to control fungi.
previously developed	a site with preexisting paving, construction or other types of altered landscapes
superfund list	A list of the hazardous waste disposal sites most in need of cleanup
pumping test	A test that is conducted to determine aquifer or well characteristics
honeydew	sticky liquid excreted by aphids as they feed on plants.
tail separation	A defensive feature found in many lizard species, where the tail vertebrae are easily broken, so that the tail will break off if it is grabbed by a predator. Same as "caudal autonomy."
percent sodium	The percent of cationic equivalents in a water which is attributable to sodium.
organotins	Chemical compounds used in anti-foulant paints to protect the hulls of boats and ships, buoys, and pilings from marine organisms such as barnacles.
environmental impact	the positive or negative effect of any action upon a given area or source.
mine tailings	The decomposed outcrop of a bed or vein of valuable material.
creep	Slow mass movement of soil and soil material down relatively steep slopes, primarily under the influence of gravity but facilitated by saturation with water and by alternate freezing and thawing.
ground water	its occurrence and movements, its replenishment and depletion, the properties of rocks that control ground water movement and storage and the methods of investigation and utilization of ground water.
jetteau	a jet of water.
seiche	a sudden oscillation of the water in a moderate-size body of water, caused by wind.
rfi program	RCRA Facility Investigation Program EPA-regulated investigation of a solid waste management unit with regard to its potential impact on the environment.
hydrophobic	Having a strong aversion for water.
dod	U.S
calcareous fens	Peatlands formed in areas of groundwater discharge, where cold, anoxic, mineral-rich water provides a specialized habitat for disproportionately large numbers of rare and endangered plants
upwelling	The process by which water rises from a lower to a higher depth, usually as a result of divergence and offshore currents
ecube	a wax cube which mimics food in a fridge to save it energy
lagoon	A shallow pond where sunlight, bacterial action, and oxygen work to purify wastewater.
sulfate	In the range of 30 gpg, sulfate salts can cause laxative effects and medicinal taste
terrestrial	Living or growing on land rather than in water or air.
chemical stability	Resistance to chemical change which ion exchange resins must posses despite contact with aggressive solutions.
sediment	Particles and/or clumps of particles of sand, clay, silt, and plant or animal matter carried in water.
sludge disposal	The removal and discarding of thick watery suspensions of particulate waste matter
infiltration index	The average rate of infiltration, in inches per hour, derived from a time intensity graph of rainfall, so that the volume of rainfall in excess of this rate equals the total direct runoff
carcinogen	Any dissolved pollutant that can induce cancer.
coliform organism	Microorganisms found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals
metabolite	Molecules formed as a result of the metabolism of another molecule.
flood	High water flow or an overflow of rivers or streams from their natural or artificial banks, inundating adjacent low lying areas.
nondegradation	an environmental policy that does not allow any lowering of naturally occurring water quality regardless of pre-established health standards.
scarify	In land Restoration activities, to stir the surface of the ground with an implement in preparation for replanting.
subirrigation	(1) Irrigation below the surface (as by a periodic rise of the water table or by a system of underground porous pipes)
irradiation	Exposure to radiation of wavelengths shorter than those of visible light (gamma, x-ray, or ultra- violet), for medical purposes, to sterilize milk or other foodstuffs, or to induce polymerization of monomers or vulcanization of rubber.
laboratory blank	An artificial sample, usually distilled water, introduced to a chemical analyzer to observe the response of the instrument to a sample that does not contain the material being measured
voc	Volatile Organic Compound
impaired water body	a water body that has been determined under state and federal law as not meeting water quality standards, or having the potential to do so in the future.
fix a sample	A sample is "fixed" in the field by adding chemicals that prevent water quality indicators of interest in the sample from changing before laboratory measurements are made.
detachment	The removal of transportable fragments of soil material from a soil mass by an eroding agent, usually falling raindrops, running water, or wind
carbon monoxide	A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion
anabranch	a secondary channel of a stream which leaves and then rejoins the main channel
chelate	To form a complex chemical compound in which an ion, usually metallic, is bound into a stable ring structure.
jet stream	a long narrow meandering current of high-speed winds near the tropopause blowing from a generally westerly direction and often exceeding a speed of 250 miles per hour.
dose-response relationship	The quantitative relationship between the amount of exposure to a substance and the extent of toxic injury or disease produced.
waste treatment stream	The continuous movement of MSW from generator to treater and disposer.
vaporize	Conversion of a liquid into vapour.
brine mud	Waste material, often associated with well-drilling or mining, composed of mineral salts or other inorganic compounds.
environment	aggregate of external conditions that influence the life of an individual organism or population.
point velocity	velocity measured at a single point in the water column of flowing water
nrcs	National Resource Conservation Service
cost-effective alternative	An alternative control or corrective method identified after analysis as being the best available in terms of reliability, performance, and cost.
hydrocompaction	The settling and hardening of land due to application of large amounts of water for irrigation.
phosphorus	An element essential to the growth and development of plants, but which, in excess, can cause unhealthy conditions that threaten aquatic animals in surface waters.
ets	See "Environmental Tobacco Smoke."
end point	that stage in the titration at which an effect, such as a color change, occurrs, indicating that a diesired point in the titration has been reached.
bcwmc	Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission
clean air act	A federal law passed in 1955 and extensively modified in 1970
mean free path	The average distance that a molecule in a fluid (air or water) moves before colliding with another molecule.
steering committee	High-level committee to oversee in this case MSWM strategic planning process
dosage/dose	1
youth	(Geology) The first stage in the erosion cycle.
aerobic treatment	Process by which microbes decompose complex organic compounds in the presence of oxygen and use the liberated energy for reproduction and growth.
pm2.5	Particles in the atmosphere with a diameter of less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers
peterson dredge	A device used to collect sediment samples for the identification of bottom-dwelling animals in lakes and streams
ccf	Hundreds of cubic feet - the measure of water consumption used in computing water bills.
flash point	The lowest temperature at which evaporation of a substance produces enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air.
rain garden	a swale, or low tract of land into which water flows, planted with vegetation that requires or tolerates high moisture levels
divining rod	A forked branch or stick that is believed to indicate subterranean water or minerals by bending downward when held over a source
colluvial material	(Geology) Material consisting of Alluvium in part and also containing angular fragments of the original rocks
abandoned water right	a water right which was not put to beneficial use for a number of years, generally five to seven years.
emersed	(Botany) Rising above the surface of water as emersed aquatic plants.
adit	A horizontal or nearly horizontal passage, driven from the surface, for the working or dewatering of a mine
volatile liquids	Liquids which easily vaporize or evaporate at room temperature.
supplemental irrigation	When irrigation water supplies are obtained from more than one source, the source furnishing the initial supply is commonly designated the primary source, and the source(s) furnishing the additional supplies, the Supplemental Sources.
calcareous	composed of, or containing lime or limestone
geomorphology	Geomorphology is the scientific field that investigates how landforms are formed on the Earth (and other planets).
flow duration curve	A cumulative frequency curve that shows the percentage of time that specified discharges are equaled or exceeded.
geomorphology	The science that treats the general configuration of the Earth's surface; the description of landforms.
silica	Silica can be found in water as a natural forming mineral or an additive to public water supplies
categorical pretreatment standard	A technology-based effluent limitation for an industrial facility discharging into a municipal sewer system
nutrient cycle	the cyclic conversions of nutrients from one form to another within biological communities
freeze	to harden into ice or into a solid body; to change from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat.
assimilate	To take up or absorb
overchute	A Flume (or bridge with sideboards) for passing flood water across an irrigation ditch or canal.
hydraulic ram	A device which uses the energy of falling water to force a small portion of the water to a height greater than the source
flood of record	The highest observed river stage or discharge at a given site during the period of record keeping
psid	Pounds per square inch differential.
afnor	The French Standards Association
affordability	Ability of the community to pay for the MSWM services as proposed.
hailstone	A hard pellet of snow and ice.
beach erosion	The carrying away of beach materials by wave action, tidal currents, or littoral currents, or by wind.
diversion	to remove water from a water body
dispersion	the movement and spreading of contaminants out and down in an aquifer.
calcium magnesium	Two of the principal elements making up the earth’s crust; its compounds, when dissolved, make the water hard
endangered species	a species in danger of becoming extinct within all or part of its range
equilibrium reaction	A chemical reaction which proceeds primarily in one direction until the concentrations of reactants and products reach an equilibrium.
debris guard	A screen or grate at the intake of a channel, drainage, or pump structure for the purpose of stopping debris.
swale	a slight depression, sometimes filled with water, in the midst of generally level land.
acid deposition	The introduction of acidic material to the ground or to surface waters
coulee	(1) (Western U.S.) A deep gulch or ravine with sloping sides, often dry in summer
thalweg	the line of maximum depth in a stream
catchment	(1) The catching or collecting of water, especially rainfall
pool/riffle ratio	The ratio of surface area or length of pools to the surface area or length of riffles in a given stream reach; frequently expressed as the relative percentage of each category
global reporting initiative	Global Reporting Initiative
channelization	the straightening and deepening of a stream channel to permit the water to move faster or to drain a wet area for farming.
noble metal	Chemically inactive metal such as gold; does not corrode easily.
specific gravity	The ratio of the weight of a specific volume of a substance to the weight of the same volume of pure water at 4 C.
partial pressure	That pressure of a gas in a liquid, which is in equilibrium with the solution
cover	Anything that provides protection for fish and/or wildlife from predators or ameliorates adverse conditions of stream flow and/or seasonal changes in metabolic costs
quaternary ammonium	A basic chemical group [N(CH3)3+] which provides the site of activity of certain anion exchange resins.
instream use	use of water that does not require withdrawal or diversion from its natural watercourse; for example, the use of water for navigation, recreation, and support of fish and wildlife.
parts per million	A common basis for reporting the results of water and waste water analyses, indicating the number of parts by weight of a dissolved or suspended constituent, per million parts by weight or water or other solvent
flux	(1) A flowing or flow
fermentation	Chemical reactions carried out by living microbes that are supplied with nutrients in the presence of heat, pressure, and light
adulterated	1
dike	(1) (Engineering) An embankment to confine or control water, especially one built along the banks of a river to prevent overflow of lowlands; a levee
phase	May be continuous, as the basic product flowing through a vessel; or discontinuous, as the material to be removed from the basic product. Both are distinct and separate.
nonporous	something which does not allow water to pass through it
bicarbonates	Salts containing the anion HCO3-
grout curtain	(Dam) A barrier produced by injecting grout into a vertical zone, usually narrow horizontally, in the foundation of a dam to reduce seepage under the dam
periphyton	Microscopic underwater plants and animals that are firmly attached to solid surfaces such as rocks, logs, and pilings.
nocturnal thunderstorms	Thunderstorms which develop after sunset
barrier winds	Refers to the westerly flow of air along the northern slope of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska that precedes the arrival of colder air from the north.
anisotropy	In hydrology, the conditions under which one or more hydraulic properties of an aquifer vary from a reference point.
water hole	A small natural depression in which water collects, especially a pool where animals come to drink.
island	Land completely surrounded by water.
phenols	Organic compounds that are byproducts of petroleum refining, tanning, and textile, dye, and resin manufacturing
pm-10/pm-2.5	PM 10 is measure of particles in the atmosphere with a diameter of less than ten or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers
thunderbird	(Mythology) A spirit of thunder, lightning, and rain in the form of a huge bird in the mythology of certain Native American peoples.
lower detection limit	The smallest signal above background noise an instrument can reliably detect.
indicator	a compound that changes color at a particular pH, or over a particular narrow range of pH, used to show titration end points.
cropland pasture	Land used for long-term crop rotation
legionella	A genus of bacteria, some species of which have caused a type of pneumonia called Legionaires Disease.
confluence	(1) the act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams; also, the place where these streams meet; (2) the stream or body of water formed by the junction of two or more streams; a combined flood.
grain	(gr.) A unit of weight equal to 1/7000th of a pound, or 0.0648 gram.
keyed in	Refers to tying the ends of a structure into the bank to prevent water from going behind it.
buran	A violent windstorm of the Eurasian steppes, accompanied in summer by dust and in winter by snow.
recovery boiler	A pulp mill boiler in which lignin and spent cooking liquor (black liquor) is burned to generate steam.
tacking	The binding of Mulch fibers by mixing them with an adhesive chemical compound during land Restoration projects.
char	The remains of solid biomass that has been incompletely combusted (e.g., charcoal, if wood is incompletely burned).
tropical dry forest	Similar to Tropical Rain Forest in as much as characterized by high temperatures throughout the year, but there is also a well-defined dry season that limits plant growth and animal activity
incineration	1
geyser	a thermal spring that erupts intermittently and to different heights above the surface of the Earth; eruptions occur when water deep in the spring is heated enough to turn into steam, which forces the liquid water above it out into the air glacial striations - lines carved into rock by overriding ice, showing the direction of glacial movement glacier - a large mass of ice formed on land by the compacting and recrystallization of snow; glaciers survive from year to year, and creep downslope or outward due to the stress of their own weight groundwater - water under ground, such as in wells, springs and aquifiers gullying - small-scale stream erosion
bac	see Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) Process.
hummock	(1) A small but steep, irregular hill rising above the general level of the surrounding land; a low mound or ridge of earth, a knoll
compensated hardness	A calculated value based on the total hardness, the magnesium to calcium ratio, and the sodium concentration of a water
melting	the changing of a solid into a liquid.
assimilative capacity	The amount of pollutants that a water body may absorb while maintaining corresponding water quality standards including the protection of best use.
turbulence	A state of fluid flow in which instantaneous velocities exhibit irregular and apparently random fluctuations.
sublittoral zone	The part of the shore from the lowest water level to the lower boundary of plant growth; the transition zone from the Littoral to Profundal bottom.
aqui	A prefix for water, e.g., Aquifer.
burning	Co-Disposal
blanch	To scald or parboil in water or steam in order to remove the skin from, whiten, or stop enzymatic action in (as food for freezing).
macrophytic algae	Algal plants large enough either as individuals or communities to be readily visible without the aid of optical magnification.
water delivery system	Reservoirs, canals, ditches, pumps, and other facilities to move water.
camp scar	Camp sites on wilderness and primitive lakes are easily recognized from the water surface and air by their lighter tone and barren character
emergency spillway	A dam spillway built to carry runoff in excess of that carried by the principal spillway; a secondary spillway designed to operate only during exceptionally large floods
bulkhead	A low wall of stones, concrete, or piling built to protect a shore, or fills, from wave erosion.
residual	The amount of a specific material remaining in the water following a water treatment process
water reactive	Describing any substance that reacts spontaneously with water to release a flammable or toxic gas, such as sodium metal.
porosity	The ratio of void volume to total cake volume. Also describes filter media which may have larger pores than any other cake media.
transpiration	process in which water absorbed by the root systems of plants moves up through the plants, passes pores (stomata) in their leaves or other parts, and then evaporates into the atmosphere as water vapor; the passage of water vapor from a living body through a membrane or pores.
phosphogypsum piles	Principal byproduct generated in production of phosphoric acid from phosphate rock
condensation	The process by which water vapor undergoes a change in state from a gas to a liquid
perched ground water	unconfined ground water separated from an underlying main body of ground water by an unsaturated zone.
point of diversion	The point from which water is diverted from a source.
concentrated	being of full strength, or undiluted.
mwip	Municipal Waste Incineration Plant
live cribwall	A rectangular framework of logs or timber constructed with layers of live plant cuttings that are capable of rooting.
sewer cleanout	A vertical section of pipe leading from the surface to a service line or mainline
chezy's equation	the empirical equation used to estimate the hydraulic conditions of flow within a channel cross section
uniformity coefficient	The degree of variation in the size of the grains that constitute a granular material; the ratio of (a) the diameter of a grain of a size that is barely too large to pass through a sieve that allows 60 percent of the material (by weight) to pass through, to (b) the diameter of a grain of a size that is barely too large to pass through a sieve that allows 10 percent of the material (by weight) to pass through
adaptation	Changes in an organism's physiological structure or function or habits that allow it to survive in new surroundings.
canopy	the overhanging cover formed by branches and foliage.
rectangular pattern	An arrangement of stream courses in which tributaries flow into larger streams at angles approaching 90.
siltation	deposition of silt-sized particles.
check valve	A valve that allows water to stream in one direction and will then close to prevent development of a back-flow.
potential evapotranspiration	the amount of moisture which, if available, would be removed from a given land area by evapotranspiration, expressed in units of water depth.
ocean discharge waiver	A variance from Clean Water Act requirements for discharges into marine waters.
nonpotable	not suitable for drinking
critical low-flow	Low flow conditions below which some standards (Criteria) do not apply
dissolved air flotation	A procedure of induced flotation with very fine air bubbles or 'micro bubbles', of 40 to 70 microns.
head	Difference in elevation between intake and discharge points for a liquid
erosion	The wearing away, in this case by water and rocks constantly rubbing
river basin	The land area drained by a river and its tributaries.
criterion/criteria	Principle or standard that an alternative (opinion/strategy) is judged by.
immiscibility	the inability of two or more substances or liquids to readily dissolve into one another, such as soil and water.
diurnal	Relating to the daytime; occurring during daylight hours
reactive	A class of compounds which are normally unstable and readily undergo violent change, react violently with water, can produce toxic gases with water, or possess other similar properties
clr	Classical Linear Regression Model.
environmental impact statement	A report required by Section 102(2)(c) of Public Law 91-190, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for all major projects which significantly impact on the quality of the human environment or are environmentally controversial
acute effect	An adverse effect on any living organism which results in severe symptoms that develop rapidly; symptoms often subside after the exposure stops.
piping	The process by which water forces an opening around or through a supposedly sealed structure, such as a check dam or levee
sediment control plan	a plan developed by a qualified professional to control sediment, and implemented prior to site preparation and construction.
alpha particle	A positively charged particle emitted from the nucleus of an atom having the same charge and mass as that of a helium-4 (4He) nucleus (two protons and two neutrons).
drainage basin	The area of land that drains water, sediment, and dissolved materials to a common outlet at some point along a stream channel.
sprawl	Unplanned development of open land.
flood probability	The statistical probability that a flood of a given size will be equaled or exceeded in a given period of time.
tackifier	material sprayed onto a soil surface to bind soil particles and prevent erosion.
smoke	Particles suspended in air after incomplete combustion.
fuel switching	1
gray water	Waste water from a household or small commercial establishment which specifically excludes water from a toilet, kitchen sink, dishwasher, or water used for washing diapers.
colloid	Very finely divided solid particles which will not settle out of a solution; intermediate between a true dissolved particle and a suspended solid which will settle out of solution
desublimation	The process when a gas transforms into a solid
plain	A large area of nearly flat land which does not have any significant hills.
miscellaneous materials	Interior building materials on structural components, such as floor or ceiling tiles.
hydraulic conductivity	the rate at which water can move through a permeable medium.
irrigation efficiency	The efficiency of water application and use
gas flare	General Contractor
endpoint	The point at which a process is stopped because a predetermined value of a measurable variable is reached.
drainage	An area (basin) mostly bounded by ridges or other similar topographic features, encompassing part, most, or all of a watershed and enclosing some 5,000 acres.
natural resource	any form of matter or energy obtained from the environment that meets human needs.
water service reliability	The degree to which a water service system can successfully manage water shortages.
copper	The MCL is 1 mg/L
channel	a natural or artificial watercourse that continuously or intermittently contains water, with definite bed and banks that confine all but overbanking streamflows.
sewage treatment return flow	Water returned to the hydrologic system by a Sewage Treatment Plant.
glacier	a huge mass of land ice that consists of recrystallized snow and moves slowly downslope or outward.
dry proofing	A flood-proofing method used to design and construct buildings so as to prevent the entrance of floodwaters.
element	A unique atom determined by its number of protons. There are 98 naturally occurring elements on Earth.
washoff	Materials transported from a land or soil surface by overland flow, often used to describe soil materials transported off runoff test plots.
percolating water	Water that passes through rocks or soil under the force of gravity.
sediment yield	The quantity of sediment arriving at a specific location.
warm spring	A spring that brings warm water to the surface
air handling unit	Equipment that includes a fan or blower, heating and/or cooling coils, regulator controls, condensate drain pans, and air filters.
surge	The increase in sea water height from the level that would normally occur were there no storm
potometer	An apparatus for measuring the rate of transpiration in a plant by determining the amount of water absorbed.
instantaneous flows	The velocity of a volume of water.
stream	a general term for a body of flowing water.
faecal streptococci	Often used interchangeable with enterococci, but should indicate only one group of streptococci included in the total enterococci group.
nephelometric turbidity unit	An arbitrary unit of measuring the turbidity in water by the light scattering effect of fine suspended particles in a light beam (contrast to "Jackson Turbidity Unit").
water jacket	A casing containing water circulated by a pump, used around a part to be cooled, especially in water-cooled internal-combustion engines.
source	where the stream begins: usually where there is a spring, and quite high up
epiphyte	A plant that grows on another plant and depends on that plant for mechanical support but not for nutrients.
filox-r	A naturally occurring ore which serves as a catalytic filter media in the removal of iron, hydrogen sulfide and manganese
lift	The completed layer of compacted MSW in a cell at a landfill.
worms	distinguished from non-segmented roundworms and flatworms, (see worms, polychaetes and oligochaetes).
geyser	A geyser is a natural hot spring that occasionally sprays water and steam above the ground.
finished water	Water is "finished" when it has passed through all the processes in a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers.
satellite plant	Generally refers to a wastewater treatment facility in an outlying area, not connected to the main plant.
potable	Drinking, (water).
salinisation	the process by which soluble salt levels in the soil increase to the point where plant growth is affected (see secondary salinity)
solvent	The liquid, such as water, in which other materials (solutes ) are dissolved.
facilities plans	Plans and studies related to the construction of water treatment works necessary to comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA)
bypass	A connection or a valve system that allows untreated water to flow through a water system while a water treatment unit is being regenerated, backwashed or serviced; also applied to a special water line installed to provide untreated water to a particular tap, such as a sill cock.
intermittent stream	A stream that flows only when it receives water from rainfall runoff or springs, or from some surface source such as melting snow.
hard water	water containing a high level of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals
public water use	Water supplied from a Public Water Supply System and used for such purposes as fire fighting, street washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools
mcl	See Maximum Contaminant Level.
laminar flow	A flow in which rapid fluctuations are absent.
agricultural levee	A levee that protects agricultural areas where the degree of protection is usually less than that of a flood control levee.
self-produced water	A water supply (usually from wells) developed and used by an individual or entity
pupa	the stage between the larva stage and the adult in insects that undergo complete metamorphosis; a non-feeding and usually an inactive stage
rational method	A simple procedure for calculating the direct precipitation peak runoff from a watershed, using the rainfall intensity, the area of the watershed, and the runoff coefficient appropriate for the type of watershed runoff surface.
key habitats	flow-sensitive habitats as well as habitats that support key species.
tidal flats	Saltwater wetlands that are characterized by mud or sand and daily tidal fluctuations.
floating plant	A non-anchored plant that floats freely in the water or on the surface; e.g., water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) or common duckweed (Lemna minor).
crustacea	small aquatic invertebrates that are food for fish, free living forms are common in benthic and planktonic samples, some species are parasitic.
co-disposal	Combustion
kinetic energy	The energy inherent in a substance because of its motion, expressed as a function of its velocity and mass, or MV2/2.
ecosystem	the relationship between all the parts (living and non-living) within an environmental community.
angstrom unit	A unit of length equal to one ten-billionth of a meter.
rainfall intensity frequency	The average time interval between the occurrence of the rainfall or precipitation of a given or greater intensity.
mass	the quantity of matter in a body as measured by its resistance to a change in acceleration; different but proportional to weight.
zero tillage	a production system in which there is no tillage at all
lentic	Characterizing aquatic communities found in standing water
phytoremediation	Low-cost remediation option for sites with widely dispersed contamination at low concentrations.
kilograin	A unit of weight; one thousand grains, 17100 ppm, or 0.1429 pounds.
primary stakeholders	Those p ersons, groups or institutions directly affected, either positively (beneficiaries) or negatively (for example, those involuntarily resettled) by a proposed action or plan.
institutional aspects	Concerns the distribution of functions and responsibilities of MSWM (see also Organisational Aspects).
rainstick	A common term for a type of tubular rattle that mimics the sound of rainfall; a primitive musical instrument in which sound is produced by the movement of particles (sand, stones, etc.) through a hollow tube with an internal matrix that is closed on each end.
acetylcholine	Neurotransmitter found naturally in the body.
riverine	Open-water habitats
antidegradation policy	Rules or guidelines that are required of each state by federal regulations implementing the Clean Water Act (CWA), stating that existing water quality be maintained even if the current water quality in an area is higher than the minimum permitted as defined by federal ambient water quality standards
closed canopy	Forest trees dense enough that tree crowns fill or nearly fill the canopy layer.
storage containers	Vessels used to contain MSW during storage.
forest	The Australian definition (National Forest Inventory) is 'an area dominated by trees having usually a single stem and a mature stand height exceeding two metres with an existing or potential crown cover equal to or greater than 20%'
floating dock	(1) A structure that can be submerged to permit the entry and docking of a ship and then raised to lift the ship from the water for repairs
proton	A subatomic particle with a positive charge that is found in an atom's nucleus.
hydroponics	Cultivation of plants in nutrient solution rather than in soil.
water demand	The water requirements for a particular purpose, such as irrigation, power production, municipal supply, plant transpiration, or storage.
hydropower	Power (e.g., electrical energy) produced by falling water; the utilization of the energy available in falling water for the generation of electricity.
halogens	The family of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine
drought	a prolonged period of less-than-normal precipitation such that the lack of water causes a serious hydrologic imbalance.
water table	The depth or level below which the ground is saturated with water.
extinction	the process of becoming extinct; dying out or coming to an end.
biotic community	A naturally occurring assemblage of plants and animals that live in the same environment and are mutually sustaining and interdependent
temperature	The degree of hotness or coldness.
biomonitoring	the use of living organisms to test the suitability of effluent for discharge into receiving waters and to test the quality of such waters downstream from a discharge.
force mains	Pipes in which wastewater is transported under pressure; the system is used in some areas having small elevation changes with distance and therefore needing to augment the gravity flow.
low-level outlet	An opening at a low level from a reservoir generally used for emptying or for scouring sediment and sometimes for irrigation releases
flood damage	The direct and indirect economic loss caused by floods including damage by inundation, erosion, or sediment deposition
groundwater runoff	the portion of runoff which has passed into the ground, has become ground water, and has been discharged into a stream channel as spring or seepage water.
radon	A colorless naturally occurring, radioactive, inert gas formed by radioactive decay of radium atoms in soil or rocks.
service pipe	The pipeline extending from the water main to the building served or to the consumer's system.
landscape indicator	A measurement of the landscape, calculated from mapped or remotely sensed data, used to describe spatial patterns of land use and land cover across a geographic area
moisture holding capacity	the amount of liquid that can be held against gravity, by waste materials or soil, without generating free liquid.
trade winds	a system of easterly winds that dominate most of the tropics
epa	Environmental Protection Agency. The federal regulatory agency responsible for protecting environmental quality throughout the nation
pool	A small part of a stream reach with little velocity, commonly with water deeper than surrounding areas.
shelf ice	An extension of glacial ice into coastal waters that is in contact with the bottom near the shore but not toward the outer edge of the shelf.
health assessment	An evaluation of available data on existing or potential risks to human health posed by a Superfund site
tidal marsh	low, flat marshlands traversed by channels and tidal hollows, subject to tidal inundation; normally, the only vegetation present is salt-tolerant bushes and grasses.
perennial streams	Streams that flow continuously.
bottom ash	Bottom ash is the slag and solid residue left after waste combustion and recovered from the bottom of furnaces
palustrine	Pertaining to a Marsh or Wetlands; wet or marsh habitats.
lead	Lead in drinking water is a common problem, it comes from lead pipes, solder, and brass fittings
hydroelectric plant	electric power plant in which the energy of falling water is used to spin a turbine generator to produce electricity.
saline	Salty water - water from the sea is known as saltwater, or saline
acreage	(1) An area of land or water measured in acres
carbonate hardness	Hardness of water caused by carbonate and bicarbonate by-products of calcium and magnesium.
inorganic soil	soil with less than 20 percent organic matter in the upper 16 inches.
bulk sample	A small portion (usually thumbnail size) of a suspect asbestos-containing building material collected by an asbestos inspector for laboratory analysis to determine asbestos content.
nutrients	materials which are considered essential to the support of biological life.
british thermal unit	the quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 oF.
distribution graph	A Unit Hydrograph of direct runoff modified to show the portion of the volume of runoff that occurs during successive equal units of time.
recycle/reuse	Recovering and re-processing useable MSW that might otherwise end disposed in landfills (i.e
confidential business information	Material that contains trade secrets or commercial or financial information that has been claimed as confidential by its source (e.g
majors	Larger publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) with flows equal to at least one million gallons per day (mgd) or servicing a population equivalent to 10,000 persons; certain other POTWs having significant water quality impacts
capillary action	Water that at some point rises higher than that portion of its surface, not in contact with the solid surface
return flow credit	The concept of water use allocations based only on actual Consumptive Use; waters returned to the system are credited, in whole or part, against the original allowable allocations.
moisture stress	A condition of physiological stress in a plant caused by a lack of water.
wilderness	'a large tract of land remote at its core from mechanised access or settlement, substantially unmodified by modern technological society or capable of being restored to that state, and of a sufficient size to make practicable its long-term protection of its natural systems'
weather surveillance radar	The newest generation of Doppler radars, the 1988 Doppler weather radar
substrate	The substance, base, surface, or medium in which an organism lives and grows.
subtropical	The region between the tropical and temperate regions, an area between 35° and 40° North and South latitude
delegated state	A state (or other governmental entity such as a tribal government) that has received authority to administer an environmental regulatory program in lieu of a federal counterpart
wash load	In a stream system, the relatively fine material in near-permanent suspension which is transported entirely through the system without deposition.
appurtenant water right	A water right that is incident to the ownership or possession of land.
slickensides	a smooth striated polished surface produced on rock by movement along a fault.
bgs	Balanced Groundwater Scenario.
demand-controlled circulation	the automatic circulation of water, triggered by a switch or motion sensor, through a looped system to ensure that hot water is immediately available while keeping unused cold water in the system, saving both water and energy.
drifts	Normally used when referring to snow or sand particles are deposited behind obstacles or irregularities of the surface or driven into piles by the wind.
surface runoff	water flowing along the ground into rivers, lakes, and oceans surface water - all water, fresh and salty, on the Earth's surface suspended - the state of floating in water rather than being dissolved in it suspension - a method of sediment transport in which air or water turbulence supports the weight of the sediment particles, thereby keeping them from settling out or being deposited
chemosterilant	A chemical that controls pests by preventing reproduction.
hydroscope	An optical device used for viewing objects far below the surface of water.
stratocumulus	A low cloud composed of layers or patches of cloud elements
atomic number	A specific number that differs for each element, equal to the number of protons in the nucleus of each of its atoms.
crustacean	A fresh and salt water animal that has a hard shell
hardness	A characteristic of natural water due to the presence of dissolved calcium and magnesium; water hardness is responsible for most scale formation in pipes and water heaters and forms insoluble "curd" when it reacts with soaps
mariculture	The cultivation of marine organisms for use as a food resource
hazardous waste	Waste that poses a risk to human health or the environment and requires special disposal techniques to make it harmless or less dangerous.
class i area	Under the Clean Air Act
cooling water	Water used for cooling purposes by electric generators, steam condensers, large machinery or products at industrial plants, and nuclear reactors
ground-penetrating radar	A geophysical method that uses high frequency electromagnetic waves to obtain subsurface information.
sanctions	Actions taken by the federal government for failure to provide or implement a State Implementation Plan (SIP)
reaeration	the replenishment of oxygen in water from which oxygen has been removed.
scale	The precipitate that forms on surfaces in contact with water as the result of a physical or chemical change.
stream	the volume of water that passes a given point within a given period of time, an all-inclusive outflow term, describing a variety of flows such as from a pipe to a stream or from a stream to a lake or ocean, usually expressed in cubic feet per second.
vernal pools	(1) Wetlands that occur in shallow basins that are generally underlain by an impervious subsoil layer (e.g., a clay pan or hard pan) or bedrock outcrop, which produces a seasonally perched water table
mulch-till	Disturbance of the soil prior to planting
riparian area	the area adjacent to a stream that may be subject to temporary, frequent or seasonal inundation, and supports plant species that are typical of an area of inundated or saturated soil conditions, and that are distinct from plant species on freely drained adjacent upland sites because of the presence of water
pump lift	The distance between the ground water table and the overlying land surface.
free-flowing stream	A stream or a portion of a stream that is unmodified by the works of man or, if modified, still retains its natural scenic qualities and recreational opportunities.
bolson	an extensive, flat, saucer-shaped, alluvium-floored basin or depression, almost or completely surrounded by mountains and from which drainage has no surface outlet; a term used in the desert regions of the Southwestern United States.
header	A central piping system with two or more side outlets located at the bottom of a water conditioning system
deposition	The settling out of a soil particle or aggregate of particles from the water column.
source	A source is the beginning of a river.
dehydrogenation	The removal of hydrogen from a chemical compound.
chlorine demand	A measure of the amount of chlorine which will be consumed by organic matter in a water before a chlorine residual will be found.
marine life	Plants and animals of the sea, from the high-tide mark along the shore (also see Shore Life) to the depths of the ocean
magnetometer survey	A magnetometer is an instrument that can detect metal objects buried underground
total dissolved solids	The weight of solids per unit volume of water which are in true solution, usually determined by the evaporation of a measured volume of filtered water, and determination of the residue weight.
present value	The value now of a sum of money to be paid or received in the future.
contract	Any repayment or water service contract between the United States and a district providing for the payment of construction charges to the federal government, including normal operation, maintenance, and replacement costs pursuant to federal reclamation law
coefficient of mechanical diffusion	The rate at which solutes are mechanically mixed during Advective Transport, caused by the velocity variations at the microscopic level.
biomonitoring	The use of living organisms to test the suitability of an effluent for discharge into receiving waters or to test the quality of such receiving waters downstream from the discharge
resolution	The breaking of an emulsion into its individual components.
camel	A device used to raise sunken objects, consisting of a hollow structure that is submerged, attached tightly to the object, and pumped free of water
recirculation	Water reused within a plant unit
benthic	Of or pertaining to animals and plants living on or within the substrate of a water body.
upstream	Opposite to the currents flow - towards the source of the river
sediment	soil particles, sand, and minerals washed from the land into aquatic systems as a result of natural and human activities.
nevada project wet [nevada]	See Water Education for Teachers (Project WET) [Nevada].
summation layer amount	The amount of sky cover for each layer is given in eighths of sky cover attributable to clouds or obscurations
aquatic habitat	Habitat that occurs in water.
suspension culture	Cells growing in a liquid nutrient medium.
bed	The ion exchange or filter media in a column or other tank or operational vessel.
micron	A linear measure equal to one millionth of a meter.
radical	A group of atoms that is capable of remaining unchanged during a series of chemical reactions
ply	The number of individual yarns twisted together to make a composite yarn.
potamon zone	Stream reach at lower elevations characterized by reduced flow, higher temperature, and lower dissolved oxygen levels
bar screen	in wastewater treatment, a device used to remove large solids from the incoming wastewater stream.
cape	A cape is a pointed piece of land that sticks out into a sea, ocean, lake, or river.
dry ton	2,000 pounds of biomass on a moisture-free basis.
genotype	phenotypic plasticity: The variable expression of genetic information of an individual, depending on environmental influences during development.
aldoses	Occurs when the carbonyl group of a monosaccharide is an aldehyde
benefit-cost ratio	The relationship of the economic benefits of an action to its total costs.
riparian water right	the legal right held by an owner of land contiguous to or bordering on a natural stream or lake, to take water from the source for use on the contiguous land.
mgd	Million gallons per day
recession hydrograph	A Hydrograph which shows the decreasing rate of runoff following a period of rain or snowmelt
polymerization	The union of monomers or molecules to form a polymer consisting of giant molecules. Two to many thousand molecules may be required to form one polymer molecule.
indicator	(Water Quality) An organism, species, or community that shows the presence of certain environmental conditions.
iaq	See "Indoor Air Quality."
backwater	(1) A small, generally shallow body of water attached to the main channel, with little or no current of its own
stratification	(Statistics) The subdivision of a Population into groups or strata, each of which is more homogeneous in respect to the variable being measured than the population as a whole
ecology	The study of the inter-relationships of living things to one another and to the environment.
carcinogen	A cancer-causing substance.
disembogue	To discharge or pour fourth; to flow out or empty, as water from a channel.
non-methane organic gases	The sum of all organic air pollutants
divergence	Wind movement that results in a horizontal net outflow of air from a particular region
evergreen	(Botanical) Remaining verdant, as coniferous trees and many tropical plants
amphibious	(Biology) (1) Living or able to live both on land and in water
exposure	Amount of radiation or pollutant present in a given environment that represents a potential health threat to living organisms.
forest health	A condition of ecosystem sustainability and attainment of management objectives for a given forest area
micron	A measure of length; one millionth of a meter.
stream bank	the portion of the channel cross section that restricts lateral movement of water at normal water levels
tributary	A stream that flows into another stream, river, or lake.
fall line	imaginary line marking the boundary between the ancient, resistant crystalline rocks of the Piedmont province of the Appalachian Mountains, and the younger, softer sediments of the Atlantic Coastal Plain province in the Eastern United States
visual resource	The composite of basic terrain, geologic features, hydrologic features, vegetative patterns, and land use effects that typify a land unit and influence the visual appeal that the unit may have for visitors.
douche	A stream of water, often containing medicinal or cleansing agents, that is applied to a body part or cavity for hygienic or therapeutic purposes.
inert	Lacking the ability to chemically react with other substances.
radionuclides	Radioactive chemicals that are usually naturally occurring and found in drinking water
adsorbate	Any substance that is or can be adsorbed
dune	Accumulations of wind-blown sand in ridges or mounds that lie landward of the beach and usually parallel to the shoreline.
environment	the sum of all conditions and influences affecting the life of organisms.
cullet	Crushed glass.
bankfull channel width	The top surface width of a stream channel when flowing at a bank full discharge.
phagotroph	An organism that obtains nutrients through the ingestion of solid organic matter
operation	The process of waste handling and associated management activities.
cut line	a line cut through a forest area to facilitate cadastral or seismic surveys, or to create firebreaks.
geographic information system	A computer system designed for storing, manipulating, analyzing, and displaying data in a geographic context.
hypersensitivity	Exaggerated immune system response to an allergen.
watershed area	The watershed area at a point in the stream refers to the area of the earth from which the water concentrates toward that point, through the drainage system.
onfarm	Activities (especially growing crops and applying irrigation water) that occur within the legal boundaries of private property.
usgs	United States Geological Survey
tundra	A type of Ecosystem or Biome dominated by lichens, mosses, grasses, and woody plants
open woodlands	an area with scattered trees in which the tree crowns cover less than about 30% of land surface (see woodland)
walk-off mat	an interior pad designed to trap dust and debris.
commercial waste	All solid waste emanating from business establishments such as stores, markets, office buildings, restaurants, shopping centers, and theaters.
particle size classification	Agrees with recommendations made by the American Geophysical Union Subcommittee on Sediment Terminology
integrated solid waste management	Landfill
slash and burn	(Environmental) An agricultural practice involving the rapid destruction of natural forest for limited farming activity
land voiding	The process of damaging land by gully action causing this land to be unproductive for agricultural uses and relegating its use primarily to wildlife and recreation.
acidic	the condition of water or soil that contains a sufficient amount of acid substances to lower the pH below 7.0.
water monitoring	The process of constant control of a body of water by means of sampling and analyses.
mulch	A layer of material (wood chips, straw, leaves, etc.) placed around plants to hold moisture, prevent weed growth, and enrich or sterilize the soil.
oxidized rhizosphere	A zone around a plant root system in Hydric Soils that shows staining from oxidation ("rust" stains).
landfill	An earthworks designed for the disposal of solid waste
hydration	The chemical combination of water with another substance.
fluvial deposit	A sedimentary deposit consisting of material transported by suspension or laid down by a river or stream.
glucan	The polymer of glucose with a repeating unit of C6H10O5
mist	(1) A mass of fine droplets of water in the atmosphere near or in contact with the earth; liquid particles measuring 40 to 500 microns, formed by condensation of vapor
hydrologic unit	(1) A geographic area representing part or all of a surface drainage basin or distinct hydrologic feature
crest	A crest is a formation on the top of a reptiles head
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons	See polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
quicksilver water	A solution of mercury nitrate used in gilding.
oxygen	Eighth element in the periodic table. Each atom consists of 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons.
naiad	a freshwater mussel navigation channel - an artificially maintained waterway that ensures a minimum water depth to allow unimpeded passage for a variety of vessels
inorganic	containing no carbon; matter other than plant or animal.
sodium adsorption ratio	An expression of relative activity of sodium ions in exchange reactions with soil, indicating the sodium or alkali hazard to soil
branch water	(Chiefly Southern United States) Plain water from a stream, especially when mixed with a liquor such as whiskey.
river	A large stream of water that flows along a certain path.
fluorosis	An abnormal condition caused by excessive intake of Fluorine, as from fluoridated drinking water, characterized chiefly by mottling of the teeth.
wild rivers	Rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and water unpolluted.
selectivity	Propensity of a molecule to act in a limited, specific manner.
atom	The smallest unit of matter that is unique to a particular element
perennial stream	A watercourse that flows throughout the year or most of the year (90%), in a well defined channel
weathering	The response of materials that were once in equilibrium within the earth's crust to new conditions at or near contact with water, air, or living matter
bmp	See Best Management Practices (BMP) and Best Management Practices (BMP)âUrban Water Use.
resource management system	A combination of conservation practices identified by the primary use of land or water that, if effected, will at a minimum protect the resource base by meeting tolerable soil losses, maintaining acceptable water quality, and maintaining acceptable ecological and management levels for the selected resource use
smogginess	air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog
terrain	physical features of a tract of land.
population at risk	A population subgroup that is more likely to be exposed to a chemical, or is more sensitive to the chemical, than is the general population.
sluiceway	(1) An artificial channel, especially one for carrying off excess water
prop scour	the erosive action of water, resulting from the action of a boat propeller, that removes and carries away material from the bed and banks of a waterbody
eddy	A current, as of water or air, moving contrary to the direction of the main current, especially in a circular motion.
surface impoundment	an indented area in the land's surface, such a pit, pond, or lagoon.
flora	the entire plant life of a region (see also fauna)
slump	The sliding or gravitational movement of an overlying layer of soil, typically from becoming saturated, and lying on a rock layer or other relatively impermeable layer.
turbidity	"The term ""turbid"" is applied to waters containing suspended matter that interferes with the passage of light through the water or in which visual depth is restricted."
barge	a flat-bottomed freight boat.
stage-capacity curve	A graph showing the relation of the surface elevation of the water in a reservoir, usually plotted as the ordinate, to the volume below that elevation, plotted as the abscissa.
karstic river	A river which originates from a karstic spring or flows in a Karstic Region.
effluent monitoring	The collection and analysis of samples or measurements of liquid and gaseous effluents for purposes of characterizing and quantifying the release of contaminants, assessing radiation exposures to members of the public, and demonstrating compliance with applicable standards.
cost sharing	The practice of allocating project funds to pay part of the cost of constructing or implementing a BMP
stable canal system	A canal system in which flow disturbances are attenuated.
drainage layer	(Dam) A layer of permeable material in a dam to relieve pore pressure or to facilitate drainage of fill material.
irrigation pit	A small storage reservoir constructed to regulate or store the supply of water available to the irrigator.
subsoil	Soil material underlying the surface soil.
hyporheic zone	The area under the stream channel and flood plain where groundwater and the surface waters of the stream are exchanged freely.
solvent	a liquid used to dissolve another substance.
base	An alkali that releases hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water
waterworn	Worn, smoothed, or polished by the action of water.
moisture-free basis	Biomass composition and chemical analysis data is typically reported on a moisture free or dry weight basis
process water	water that is used in an industrial process and is not intended for human consumption Reclamation
salinity intrusion	The movement of saltwater into a body of freshwater
flush	1
scheduled delivery	Operation of a water delivery system to meet predetermined needs, generally based on user water orders
whole tree chips	Wood chips produced by chipping whole trees, usually in the forest, so that the chips contain both bark and wood
facultative bacteria	Bacteria that can live under Aerobic or Anaerobic conditions.
debris	Any material, organic or inorganic, floating or submerged, moved by a flowing stream.
deed notification	A notice placed on a property deed to alert future buyers about contamination on a property.
irradiated food	Food that has been briefly exposed to radioactivity (usually gamma rays) to kill insects, bacteria, and mold
broad-leaved deciduous	Woody Angiosperms (trees or shrubs) with relatively wide, flat leaves that are shed during the cold or dry season; e.g., black ash (Fraxinus nigra).
invasive species	plants, animals, and micro-organisms that colonize and take over the habitats of native species
flammable	Any material that ignites easily and will burn rapidly.
gust	A sudden significant increase in or rapid fluctuations of wind speed
base flow	The fair-weather or sustained flow of streams; that part of stream discharge not attributable to direct runoff from precipitation, snowmelt, or a spring
in-situ vitrification	Technology that treats contaminated soil in place at extremely high temperatures, at or more than 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.
boundaryconditions	Flow conditions imposed at the ends of a pipeline or canal reach by various physical structures, which must be described mathematically to solve the general equation of flow for hydraulic transient computer models.
evaporate	to convert or change into a vapor.
hungry water	Clear water minus its expected suspended sediment load, usually released from an impoundment that has excess energy, which erodes sediment from the downstream channel.
habitat	An area in which an organism lives
sodium hydrosulfite	A strong reducing agent used as the main ingredient of several resin cleaners used to clean iron fouled in ion exchange resin beds.
cellulose	A carbohydrate that is the principal component of wood
qualitative water assessment	Analyses of water used to discribe the visible or aestetic charcteristics of water.
pilot tests	The testing of a cleanup technology under actual site conditions in a laboratory in order to identify potential problems before implementation.
ben	EPA's computer model for analyzing a violator's economic gain from not complying with the law.
moisture tension	The equivalent negative pressure in the soil water
net heat of combustion	See lower heating value.
jtu	see jackson turbidity unit.
multiple use	Harmonious and coordinated management of the various surface and subsurface resources, without impairment of the land, that will best meet the present and future needs of the people
composite sample	A mixture of a number of single or "grab" samples intended to produce a typical or average sample when wide variations in quality or characteristics may occur; may be made up of equal volumes of individual samples or of single samples proportioned to variations in flow or usage.
potable	suitable, safe, or prepared for drinking
stratosphere	The layer of the atmosphere located between the troposphere and the mesosphere, characterized by a slight temperature increase and absence of clouds
defog	To remove condensed water vapor from a surface.
adsorb pollutants	used in some water treatment systems to remove certain organic chemicals and radon gas.
escarpment	the topographic expression of a fault.
regional metamorphism	The large scale regional alteration of pre-existing rocks under elevated temperatures and pressures resulting from burial in the earths crust
drought condition	Hydrologic conditions during a defined Drought period during which rainfall and runoff are much less than average.
varve	(Geology) (1) A layer or series of layers of sediment deposited in a body of still water in one year
radioactivity	The spontaneous emission of radiation, generally alpha or beta particles or gamma rays, from the nucleus of an unstable isotope.
secondary materials	Materials that have been manufactured and used at least once and are to be used again.
ecological exposure	Exposure of a non-human organism to a stressor.
gasifier	A device that converts solid fuel to gas
aeration tank	a chamber used to inject air into water.
secondary salinity	human induced, largely believed to be related to irrigation, results from rise in naturally saline watertable to less than one metre from the root zone, causing salinisation (see salinisation)
bacteria	plants and animals.
bath	The act of soaking or cleansing a body, as in water or steam
biological oxidation	Decomposition of complex organic materials by microorganisms
submarine	(1) Beneath the surface of the water; undersea
parts per million	Expressed as ppm; a measure of concentration
species richness	The number of species (taxa) present in a defined area or sampling unit.
viruses	The smallest life forms known, that are not cellular in nature
felling	The process of cutting down standing trees.
share or stock	A certificate representing ownership of one unit of the company's capital
incised river	A river that erodes its channel by the process of degradation to a lower base level than existed previously or is consistent with the current hydrology.
dissolved gas concentrations	The amount of chemicals normally occurring as gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen, that are held in solution in water, expressed in units such as milligrams of the gas per liter of liquid
well screen	A filtering device used to keep sediment from entering a water well.
wind scale	A systematic arrangement of words and/or numbers used for expressing and recording the velocity or force of the wind
irrigation releases	Refers to those waters released from storage primarily for irrigation
correlative rights	rights that are coequal or that relate to one another, so that any one owner cannot take more than his share.
by-product	Material, other than the principal product, generated as a consequence of an industrial process or as a breakdown product in a living system.
protozoa	Large microrganisms, which consume bacteria.
pervious zone	A part of the cross section of an Embankment Dam comprising material of high permeability.
riparian habitat	Areas adjacent to rivers and streams with a high density, diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species relative to nearby uplands.
condensate	water obtained by evaporation or a product that has changed from a gaseous or vaporous form to a liquid form.
littoral transport	The movement of sedimentary, either parallel (long-shore transport) or perpendicular (on-shore transport), to the shoreline.
temperature regulation	The processes through which an organism's temperature is adjusted to certain metabolic requirements or conditions in its environment
representative sample	A portion of material or water that is as nearly identical in content and consistency as possible to that in the larger body of material or water being sampled.
bioaccumulation	biodegradation: The breakdown of organic molecules into simpler compounds through the metabolic actions of microorganisms.
aquatic	although many are planktonic, some species are extremely large.
canal system operation	Water transfer from its source to points of diversion for irrigation, municipal and industrial, fish and wildlife, and drainage purposes.
rapid	A reach of stream that is characterized by small falls and turbulent, high-velocity water.
concentration	The amount of a substance contained in a unit volume or mass of a sample.
catchment area	The area draining into a river, reservoir, or other body of water.
raceway	A rectangular fish rearing unit that has a continuous flow of freshwater to maintain suitable oxygen, temperature, and cleanliness for intensive production.
outfall	The place where a wastewater treatment plant discharges treated water into the environment.
revetment	engineered facing of stone, wood, or other natural materials placed on the bank to protect the slope against wave action and currents.
geyser	a periodic thermal spring that results from the expansive force of super heated steam.
flue gas	The exhaust gases from a combustion process contained for a time in the flue.
atomic absorption	quantitative chemical method used for the analysis of elemental constituents.
fanglomerate	Heterogeneous materials that were originally deposited in an Alluvial Fan but since deposition have been cemented into solid rock.
chlorine-contact chamber	The part of a water treatment plant where effluent is disinfected by chlorine.
standard deviation	Statistical measure of the dispersion or scatter of a series of values
wildlife refuge	An area designated for the protection of wild animals, within which hunting and fishing are either prohibited or strictly controlled.
snow course	A line laid out and permanently marked on a drainage area along which the snow is sampled at definite distances or stations
deconstruction	A process to carefully dismantle or remove useable materials from structures, as an alternative to demolition
domestic use	The quantity of water used for household purposes such as washing, food preparation, and bathing.
hydrology	The science of waters of the earth; water's properties, circulation, principles, and distribution.
mitigation	actions taken during the planning, design, construction, and operation of a project to control, reduce or eliminate a potential adverse impact of a project.
cross linkage	The bonding of linear polymers into a resinous product with a material such as divenylbenzene (DVB)
distribution	The management of water which allows water users to receive the amount of water to which they are entitled by law and as supply permits.
point-source contaminant	Any substance that degrades water quality and originates from discrete locations such as discharge pipes, drainage ditches, wells, concentrated livestock operations, or floating craft.
hard water	Water that contains a great number of positive ions
ch4	Methane
oxygenated solvent	An organic solvent containing oxygen as part of the molecular structure
land breeze	The land-to-sea surface wind that occurs in coastal areas at night
virus	a protein body capable of infecting and multiplying like living organisms within a host plant or animal; usually causing disease.
aerated lagoon	a holding and/or treatment pond that speeds up the natural process of biological decomposition of organic waste by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria that degrade organic waste.
unsaturated	any chemical compound with more than one bond between adjacent atoms, usually carbon, and thus reactive toward the addition of other atoms at that point; for example: olefins, diolefins, and unsaturated fatty acids.
biota	All living organisms in a region or ecosystem.
fallout	The radioactive dust particles that settle to earth after the denotation of a nuclear device. It is also used to describe dust particles settling from smoke, etc.
perched water table	groundwater standing unprotected over a confined zone.
reach	A continuous part of a stream between two specified points.
understory	Plants growing beneath the canopy of other plants
aeration	process of blowing air (or another gas such as carbon dioxide) through a liquid or solid Aerobic
diversity index	A numerical expression of the evenness of distribution of aquatic organisms
suitability	(Environmental) The appropriateness of applying certain resource management practices to a particular area of land, as determined by an analysis of the economic and environmental consequences.
riparian area	An area of land and vegetation adjacent to a stream that has a direct effect on the stream
breakwater	A barrier that protects a harbor or shore from the full impact of waves.
aerobic	pertaining to or caused by the presence of oxygen.
parts per million	the unit commonly used to represent the degree of pollutant concentration where the concentrations are small
settling tank	A holding area for wastewater, where heavier particles sink to the bottom for removal and disposal.
gully erosion	Severe erosion in which trenches are cut to a depth greater than 30 centimeters (a foot)
aquifer--confined	a formation in which the groundwater is isolated from the atmosphere, by impermeable geologic formations
biologically effective dose	The amount of a deposited or absorbed compound reaching the cells or target sites where adverse effect occur, or where the chemical interacts with a membrane.
fuel efficiency	The proportion of energy released by fuel combustion that is converted into useful energy
sleet	Also known as ice pellets, it is winter precipitation in the form of small bits or pellets of ice that rebound after striking the ground or any other hard surface
hydrographic region [nevada]	Nevada has been divided into 14 hydrographic regions or basins, which are now used by the Nevada Division of Water Resources, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the U.S
silviculture	The art of producing and caring for a forest.
other glass	Recyclable glass from furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics
catalyst	A substance that changes the speed or yield of a chemical reaction without being consumed or chemically changed by the chemical reaction.
anaerobic	Any process that can occur without molecular oxygen; also applicable to organisms that can survive without free oxygen.
launch	(Nautical) To put (a boat) into the water in readiness for use.
irrigation systems	See Irrigation.
air toxics	Any air pollutant for which a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) does not exist that may reasonably be anticipated to cause serious or irreversible chronic or acute health effects in humans.
fish ladder	(1) A series of small pools arranged in an ascending fashion to allow the migration of fish upstream past construction obstacles, such as dams
echard	Soil water not available for absorption by plants.
benthos	All the plant and animals living on or closely associated with the bottom of a body of water (within or attached to the sediment of lakes, streams, and oceans)
drying	Moisture removal from biomass to improve serviceability and utility.
fathom	The common unit of depth in the ocean for countries using the English system of measurement
hundred-year flood	The magnitude of a flood which has one chance in one hundred (i.e., one percent) of being exceeded in any future one-year period
common sense initiative	Voluntary program to simplify environmental regulation to achieve cleaner, cheaper, smarter results, starting with six major industry sectors.
chrysophyte	Golden or yellow-green algae, algae of the division Chrysophyta.
acid aerosol	Very small liquid or solid particles that are acidic and are small enough to become airborne.
giardia lamblia	Protozoan in the feces of humans and animals that can cause severe gastrointestinal ailments
debris	an accumulation of loose, predominantly coarse grained soil and rock fragments, and sometimes with large organic material such as limbs and trunks of trees, that have become mixed together in an unsorted fashion
electrolysis	Process where electrical energy will change in chemical energy
bank-full capacity	the rate of water flow that completely fills a channel; the flow rate at which the water surface is level with the flood plain.
cover	(1) Vegetation or other material providing protection to a surface
activated carbon	A material produced by heating coal or wood in such a manner as to yield a porous structure, creating a very large internal surface area
upstream/downstream design	A water quality monitoring design that utilizes two water quality monitoring sites
asbestos-containing waste materials	Mill tailings or any waste that contains commercial asbestos and is generated by a source covered by the Clean Air Act Asbestos NESHAPS.
open	An unobstructed area of land or water.
sublimation	The transitions of water directly from the solid state to the gaseous state, without passing through the liquid state.
demonstration project	A project designed to install or implement pollution control practices primarily for educational or promotional purposes.
colon bacillus	(Microbiology) A rod-shaped bacterium, especially Escherichia coli (E
food processing waste	Food residues produced during agricultural and industrial operations.
kibble	An iron bucket used in wells or mines for hoisting water, ore, or refuse to the surface.
leaching	The process by which soluble constituents are dissolved and filtered through the soil by a percolating fluid.
salts	minerals that cause salinity
recombinant bacteria	A microorganism whose genetic makeup has been altered by deliberate introduction of new genetic elements
plastic	man-made durable and flexible synthetic-based product
environmental audit	An independent assessment of the current status of a party's compliance with applicable environmental requirements or of a party's environmental compliance policies, practices and controls.
health risk assessment	A process which estimates the likelihood that people who could be exposed to chemicals may have health effects
submersed	(Botany) Growing or remaining under water.
stover	The dried stalks and leaves of a crop remaining after the grain has been harvested.
point-of-contact measurement of exposure	Estimating exposure by measuring concentrations over time (while the exposure is taking place) at or near the place where it is occurring.
established treatment technologies	Technologies for which cost and performance data are readily available
mechanical turbulence	Random irregularities of fluid motion in air caused by buildings or other nonthermal, processes.
valence	the relative ability of a biological substance to react or combine; a positive number that characterizes the combining power of an element for other elements, as measured by the number of bonds to other atoms which one atom of the given element forms upon chemical combination – hydrogen is assigned valence 1, and the valence is the number of hydrogen atoms, or their equivalent, with which an atom of the given element combines.
sound	A sound is a wide inlet of the sea or ocean that is parallel to the coastline; it often separates a coastline from a nearby island.
acgih	American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; an organization of professional personnel in governmental agencies or educational institutions engaged in occupational safety and health programs.
slack tide	See Slack Water.
intermittent flow	The term usually applied to the interrupted patterns of water usage; also used in reference to specific on-off flow patterns selected to test the performance of water conditioning equipment under standard conditions which may or may not be similar to actual patterns of use.
woody debris	Generally referring to naturally occurring wood in streams.
allogenic	Exogenous, caused by external factors, such as a change in a habitat or environment caused by flooding
percolation	the movement of water through the subsurface soil layers, usually continuing downward to the groundwater or water table reservoirs.
easement	A legal instrument enabling the giving, selling, or taking or certain land or water rights without transfer of title, such as for the passage of utility lines
inch-degrees	The product of inches of rainfall times temperature in degrees above freezing (Fahrenheit), used as a measure of the snowmelting capacity of rainfall.
cooling water load	The waste heat energy dissipated in the cooling water.
naturalized conditions	an estimate of natural conditions obtained by attempting to remove effects of human activities from a set of measured conditions.
reservoir	A constructed impoundment or natural body of freshwater of considerable size, whose open-water and deep-bottom zones (no light penetration to bottom) are large compared to the shallow-water (shoreline) zone, which has light penetration to its bottom.
public awareness and education	Public Awareness and Education campaigns can take many shapes and forms
necrosis	Death of plant or animal cells or tissues
contour	A line on a map that indicates a line of equal elevation on the land or water in feet over mean sea level
flow rate	The rate, expressed in gallons-or liters-per-hour, at which a fluid escapes from a hole or fissure in a tank
swash	(1a) A splash of water or other liquid hitting a solid surface; (1b) The sound made by such a splash
chemtrec	The industry-sponsored Chemical Transportation Emergency Center; provides information and/or emergency assistance to emergency responders.
invertebrate	an animal without a backbone composed of vertebrae; examples include insects, worms, snails, mussels, prawns and cuttlefish (see vertebrate)
unmeasured sediment discharge	The difference between Total Sediment Discharge and measured Suspended-Sediment Discharge.
intercepting drain	A drain constructed at the upper end of an area to intercept and carry away surface or ground water flowing toward the area from higher ground
soaker hose	A low-flow watering device with small holes throughout the surface of the hose used to soak plant beds and gardens.
glacial outwash	Stratified material, chiefly sand and gravel deposited by meltwater streams in front of the margin of a glacier.
portal-of-entry effect	A local effect produced in the tissue or organ of first contact between a toxicant and the biological system.
macrointervebrate	an animal without a backbone, large enough to be seen without magnification and unable to pass through a 0.595 mm mesh.
rcra	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
hydrogeology	The part of geology concerned with the functions of water in modifying the earth, especially by erosion and deposition; geology of ground water, with particular emphasis on the chemistry and movement of water.
tropical disturbance	An area of organized convection, originating in the tropics and occasionally the subtropics, that maintains its identity for 24 hours or more
open river channel	A navigation channel in a natural river with improvements limited to removal of obstructions and dredging to obtain adequate depths.
water-soluble substance	a substance that can readily disperse through the environment.
cabotage	Trade or transport in coastal waters or airspace or between two points within a country.
phase inversion	Precipitation from a polymer phase from a solution. This is the process commonly used to make microporous membranes.
current	a movement of electrons through a conductor
hydrologic cycle	The water cycle, including precipitation of water from the atmosphere as rain or snow, flow of water over or through the earth, and evaporation or transpiration to water vapor in the atmosphere
community	(1) A naturally occurring, distinctive group of different organisms which inhabit a common environment, interact with each other, and are relatively independent of other groups
game fish	Those species of fish considered to possess sporting qualities on fishing tackle, such as salmon, trout, black bass, striped bass, etc.; usually more sensitive to environmental changes than Rough Fish.
beach	A sloping landform on the shore of larger water bodies, generated by waves and currents and extending from the water to a distinct break in landform or substrate type (e.g., a foredune, cliff, or bank.)
phytotoxic	damaging or injurious to plants, often by destroying the protective surface on plant leaves.
environmental tobacco smoke	Mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and smoke exhaled by the smoker
combined sewer system	A sewage system that carries both sanitary sewage and storm water runoff
small craft advisory	An advisory issued for marine interests, especially for operators of small boats or other vessels
narghile	A water pipe that originated in the Near East.
black smoker	A vent in a geologically active region of the sea floor from which issues superheated water laden with minerals (as sulfide precipitates).
air pollution	One or more chemicals in sufficient concentration in the air to harm humans, other animals, vegetation or materials
sludge	solid matter that settles to the bottom of sedimentation tanks in a sewage treatment plant and must be disposed of by digestion or other methods or recycled to the land.
designated uses	Those water uses identified in state water quality standards that must be achieved and maintained as required under the Clean Water Act (CWA)
cavitation	The formation and collapse of gas pockets or bubbles on the blade of an impeller or the gate of a valve; collapse of these pockets or bubbles drives water with such force that it can cause pitting of the gate or valve surface.
lotic	(1) Of, relating to, or living in moving water
lacustrine wetlands	According to criteria of the U.S
emergency suspension	Suspension of a pesticide product registration due to an imminent hazard
dobson unit	Units of ozone level measurement
non-cohesive soil	Soil particles that have no natural resistance to being pulled apart at their point of contact, for example, silt, sand, gravel.
smog	a term that combines the words "smoke" and "fog," coined originally in Los Angeles to characterize a visible combination of smoke and fog
reclamation	Restoration of materials found in the MSW stream to a beneficial use which may be for purposes other than the original use (use in recycling).
transpiration	The process in which living plants release water vapor into the atmosphere, a significant part of the hydrologic cycle.
market	A market is created whenever potential sellers of a good or service are brought into contact with potential buyers
primary drinking water standards	Enforceable standards related directly to the safety of drinking water; set by the U.S
wellhead	(1) The source of a well or stream
plane	To skim across the surface of the water.
floodplain	The flood plain is the flat land of the river valley close to the river banks
concentration	The relative amount of a substance mixed with another substance
particulate phosphate	That portion of the total amount of phosphate (PO4-3) suspended in water that is attached to particles and will not pass through a filter
building cooling load	The hourly amount of heat that must be removed from a building to maintain indoor comfort (measured in British thermal units (Btus).
wetted perimeter	The length of the wetted contact between a stream of flowing water and its containing conduit or channel, measured in a plane at right angles to the direction of flow.
operable unit	An administrative term used to identify a portion of a site that can be addressed by a distinct investigation and/or cleanup approach
mean depth	The average depth of water in a stream channel or conduit
intermittent stream	a watercourse that does not flow continuously, or flows during spring and summer only Inuit-Owned Land (IOL)
radio frequency radiation	(See non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation.)
runoff	that portion of precipitation not immediately absorbed into or detained upon the soil and which thus becomes a surface flow
density	Solid waste has many different densities, all valid
ion exchange	The replacement of undesirable ions with a certain charge by desirable ions of the same charge in a solution, by an ion-permeable absorbent.
sediment trapping efficiency	the ratio of sediment retained within the reservoir to the sediment inflow to the reservoir.
recharge zone	A land area into which water can infiltrate into an Aquifer relatively easily
hydrologic cycle	Movement or exchange of water between the atmosphere and earth.
hydropneumatic system	A system utilizing both air and water in its operation, such as the pressure tank used with many well systems, which utilizes an air chamber to maintain pressure on the water when the pump is not operating.
seepage trench	A narrow trench (about 450 mm) which may be shallow (about 300 mm) or deep (about 500 mm) in which a perforated effluent distribution pipe is laid on aggregate infill
aeration zone	The zone between the land surface and the water table which characteristically contains liquid water under less than atmospheric pressure and water vapor and air or other gases at atmospheric pressure
ecosphere	total of all the ecosystems on the planet, along with their interactions; the sphere of air, water, and land in which all life is found.
floodwater	The water of a flood
reclamation project	A water development project based on the Reclamation Act of 1902 for the irrigation of arid lands, particularly in the western United States, and for other purposes administered by the U.S
tapered aeration	A modification of the activated sludge process wherein air is introduced at a higher rate at the head of the tank than in subsequent sections.
saturated zone	A subsurface area in which all pores and cracks in rock and/or soil are filled with water.
algae wash	Shoreline drift composed mainly of filamentous algae
hydraulic control	a feature in a stream (such as a constriction or a weir) that controls the upstream water surface elevation.
ultrapure water	No standards exist describing ultrapure water though it is not considered to be sterile
skimming	using a machine to remove oil or scum from the surface of the water.
river	but some comes from public sources.
solar energy	Energy from the sun.
cloud	A visible collection of minute particle matter, such as water droplets and/or ice crystals, in the free air
unconsolidated deposits	Sediment not cemented together; may consist of sand, silt, clay, and organic material.
wire gauge	wire size, measured in diameter.
imminent threat	A high probability that exposure is occurring.
plug	(1) The procedure by which a well is sealed after it has been abandoned
drinking water	A term used synonymously with Potable Water, and refers to water that meets federal drinking water standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act [SDWA] (Public Law 93-523) as well as state and local water quality standards and is considered safe for human consumption
ldr	Land Disposal Restrictions; mandated by the U.S
environmental assessment	The critical appraisal of the likely effects of a proposed project, activity, or policy on the environment, both positive and negative.
bed depth	The height of the resin or filter media in the column after it has been properly conditioned for effective operation, usually expressed in inches
water resource district	A legal entity established by state statute to facilitate local administration in all phases of water development, utilization, and control.
analytical watershed	For planning purposes, a drainage basin subdivision used for analyzing cumulative impacts on resources.
specific heat	the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a kilogram of a substance (water) by 1 degree Celsius.
bridge	An over the lake, stream or river structure built so that people can get from one side to the other.
nasolabial groove	A depression or trough running from the external naris (nostril) to the edge of the upper lip in Plethodontid (lungless) salamanders.
unconsolidated formations	naturally occurring earth formations that have not been lithified
carnivore	An organism that feeds primarily on other animals.
remediation	Cleanup or other methods used to remove or contain a toxic spill or hazardous materials from a site.
strategic planning for mswm	Planning process for the long-term, simultaneously meeting short-term needs, and flexible enough to react to changes that are anticipated to occur in the future
aquaduct	A pipe or conduit made to bring water from a source.
native species	A species that is a part of an area's original fauna or flora.
thermocline	Zone of rapid temperature and density change in a stratified water body; marks the transition zone between the epilimnion and the hypolimnion
pics	Products of Incomplete Combustion, ie carbon monoxide (CO2) and other compounds.
mesosphere	stress-tolerator: Long-lived plants adapted to habitats that are marginal in terms of climate, moisture, or nutrient supply, but are infrequently disturbed and therefore stable, such as tundra and desert.
depletion	The amount of water that flows into a valley, or onto a particular land area, minus the water that flows out of the valley or off from the particular land area.
headwaters	the upper parts of a river drainage system
anion	ion having a negative charge; an atom with extra electrons
diversion	The transfer of water from a stream, lake, aquifer, or other conduit to another watercourse or to the land, as in the case of an irrigation system.
total solids	(Water Quality) A measure of the amount of material that is either dissolved or suspended in a water sample, obtained by allowing a known volume to evaporate and then weighing the remaining residue
brush layer	Live branch cuttings laid in crisscrossed fashion on benches between successive lifts of soil.
load line	The line on a ship indicating the depth to which it sinks in the water when properly loaded
alpine snow glade	a marshy clearing between slopes above the timberline in mountains.
lime softening	Often used by municipalities for partial reduction of water hardness
anatomy	the structure of a plant or animal
consumptive water use	Water removed from available supplies without return to a water resources system, e.g
canal	An artificial or man-made river channel.
co2	Carbon dioxide
residual saturation	saturation level below which fluid drainage will not occur.
algaecide	chemical agent added to water to destroy algae.
live stream	See Perennial stream.
baffle	A flat board or plate, deflector, guide, or similar device constructed or placed in flowing water or slurry systems to cause more uniform flow velocities to absorb energy and to divert, guide, or agitate liquids.
ground wire	a conductor leading from electrical equipment to a low resistance connection with the earth.
net reservoir evaporation	The difference between the total evaporation from the reservoir water surface and the Evapotranspiration from the reservoir area under pre-reservoir conditions, with identical precipitation considered for both conditions.
evaporation	The physical process by which a liquid (or a solid) is transformed to the gaseous state
biological control	In pest control, the use of animals and organisms that eat or otherwise kill or out-compete pests.
surface runoff	That part of the runoff which travels over the soil surface to the nearest stream channel
silt fence	a synthetic barrier erected to restrict the movement of unconsolidated material from a disturbed area to any sensitive areas
spray tower scrubber	A device that sprays alkaline water into a chamber where acid gases are present to aid in the neutralizing of the gas.
primary effect	An effect where the stressor acts directly on the ecological component of interest, not on other parts of the ecosystem
nutrient	Any substance that promotes growth with living organisms
acgih	American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; an organization of professional personnel in governmental agencies or educational institutions engaged in occupational safety and health programs
interstices	the void or empty portion of rock or soil occupied by air or water.
slough	An inlet or backwater, sometimes an alternate branch of a river.
solum	The top two soil layers, composed of the topsoil (A-Horizon) and the subsoil (B-Horizon, or layer of leached material deposition)
aquatic life use	a beneficial use designation in which the water body provides suitable habitat for survival and reproduction of desirable fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms.
discharge	In the simplest form, discharge means outflow of water
dissolved load	All the material transported by a stream or river in solution, as contrasted with Bed Load and Suspended Load.
limestone	brittle, sedimentary rock that has many cracks which can fill with water
100-year flood	A flood so large, it has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year
rated softener capacity	A water softener capacity rating based on grains of hardness removed while producing soft water between successive regeneration’s, and related to the pounds of salt required for each regeneration as determined under standard test conditions.
anadromous	Pertaining to fish that spend a part of their life cycle in the sea and return to freshwater streams to spawn.
alternating system	As in the pressure in the sewer system or the creation of a negative pressure in the water supply line
base level	The lowest level to which a land surface can be reduced by the action of running water.
environmental quality	ecological justice: Refers to a worldview in which all species (i.e., not just humans) have a right to equitable access to the necessities of life and happiness (see also social justice).
performance measures	The result of processing indicators, generally by relating them to either time or costs
emulsion	a liquid system in which one liquid is finely dispersed in another liquid in such a manner that the two will not separate through the action of gravity alone.
wet/dry collection systems	A collection system that allows wet organic materials to be separated by generators from dry MSW
hydration	The chemical combination of water into a substance.
scour	The erosive action of running water in streams, which excavates and carries away material from the bed and banks
pelage	The fur or other soft surface covering of a mammal.
echo sounder	A device for measuring the depth of water or the depth of an object below the surface by sending pressure waves down from the surface and recording the time until the echo returns from the bottom.
middle latitudes	The latitude belt roughly between 35 and 65 degrees North and South
pathogen	An organism which may cause disease.
end user	Consumer of products for the purpose of recycling
berm	A curb, ledge, wall or mound used to prevent the spread of contaminants
limnology	The study of life in lakes, ponds, and streams.
hydrology	the study of water, its properties, distribution on Earth, and effects on the Earth’s environment.
marina	A water-based facility used for storage, service, launching, operation, or maintenance of watercraft.
lag time	the time from the center of a unit storm to the peak discharge or center of volume of the corresponding unit hydrograph.
conventional filtration	(See: complete treatment.)
weir	A spill over device used to measure or control water flows.
headland	(1) A point of land, usually high and with a sheer drop, extending out into a body of water; a promontory
other ferrous metals	Recyclable metals from strapping, furniture, and metal found in tires and consumer electronics but does not include metals found in construction materials or cars, locomotives, and ships
stoke's law	A method to calculate the rate of fall of particles through a fluid, based on density, viscosity and particle size.
caustic	Any substance capable of burning or destroying animal flesh or tissue
microscale	The smallest scale of meteorological phenomena that range in size from a few centimeters to a few kilometers
calcium carbonate equivalent	All forms of water hardness and other salts are commonly expressed in terms of calcium carbonate equivalents
headwater	the source of a stream or river.
molal	a solution concentration having a mole of solute per 1,000 grams of solvent, usually water.
discharge measurement	Total discharge is equal to the cross-sectional area of the water in a channel or pipe times its average velocity.
downstream processors	Industries dependent on crop production (e.g
viable	Alive and capable of continued life
pre-harvest interval	The time between the last pesticide application and harvest of the treated crops.
firn	Old snow on the top of glaciers that has become granular and compact through temperature changes, forming the transition stage to glacial ice
subordinate municipal legislation	Defined as a legislation applicable and enforceable only within the legal borders of a municipality
caa	Clean Air Act (EPA)
organic nitrogen	nitrogen combined in organic molecules such as protein, amines, and amino acids.
environment	The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development and survival of an organism.
soil air	Below-ground air in the pore spaces between soil particles
surfacing acm	Asbestos-containing material that is sprayed or troweled on or otherwise applied to surfaces, such as acoustical plaster on ceilings and fireproofing materials on structural members.
heterogenic aquifer	an aquifer that has a variety of forms or characteristics, such as differering permeabilities
condensation funnel	A funnel-shaped cloud consisting of condensed water drops that has possible rotation.
caustic	capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action; a hydroxide of a light metal.
herbaceous	with characteristics of an herb; a plant with no persistent woody stem above ground.
ambient air	Any unconfined portion of the atmosphere: open air, surrounding air.
epilimnion	Warm, oxygen-rich, upper layer of a stratified water body; usually a seasonal phenomenon.
environmental stress	the damaging influence of human activities on the environment (for example, through pollution or consumption of natural resources) or that generated by natural events such as storms or droughts
porous	something which allows water to pass through it
habitat diversity	The number of different types of habitat within a given area.
mean velocity	The average cross-sectional velocity of water in a stream channel
primary data	(Data Analysis) Typically, data acquired by direct interaction, such as direct observation through measurements, tabulation, or surveys
zone	(1) (Ecology) An area characterized by similar flora or fauna; a belt or area to which certain species are limited
rainfall rate	The amount of precipitation occurring in a unit of time; generally expressed in inches per hour.
slough	A shallow backwater inlet that is commonly exposed at low tide.
stratiform	Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit no or have very little vertical development
delta p	The pressure drop or loss in psi between the inlet and the outlet of a water conditioner as the water flows.
hydrogenation	Treatment of substances with hydrogen and suitable catalysts at high temperature and pressure to saturate double bonds.
alternate concentration limits	One of the three types of standards that may be applied when a leak is detected at a treatment, storage, or disposal facility and groundwater compliance monitoring is required
parts per million	the number of parts of a given substance in a million parts of some other substance
thiokol	A trademark used for any of various polysulfide polymers in the form of liquids, water dispersions, and rubbers used in seals and sealants.
irrigation water use	Artificial application of water on lands to assist in the growing of crops and pastures or to maintain vegetative growth on recreational lands, such as parks and golf courses.
grit chamber	A small detention basin designed to permit the settling of inorganic materials while passing the organic fraction.
seepage	See also "leachate".
channel lining	Protection of the channel bottom and banks with concrete or Riprap.
atomic mass unit	a unit of mass equal to 1/12 the mass of the carbon isotope with mass number 12, approximately 1.6604 x 10E-24 gram.
anaerobic	living or occurring only in the absence of free oxygen.
sensitive species	Those plant or animal species susceptible or vulnerable to activity impacts or habitat alterations
producer responsibility	In order to reduce generation of packaging and other commercial waste, many governments have introduced the legislation requiring certain type of 'producers' to minimise their packaging and/or accept back their own products which have no more value for consumers
chemical precipitation	(1) the process of utilizing chemicals to produce a separable solid phase within a liquid medium; in analytical chemistry, precipitation is used to separate a solid phase in an aqueous solution
cooperative agreement	An assistance agreement whereby EPA transfers money, property, services or anything of value to a state, university, non-profit, or not-for-profit organization for the accomplishment of authorized activities or tasks.
diatom	Any of the microscopic unicellular or colonial algae constituting the class Bacillarieae
storm sewer	A system of pipes (separate from sanitary sewers) that carries water runoff from buildings and land surfaces.
sluice	(1a) An artificial channel for conducting water, with a valve or gate to regulate the flow; (1b) A valve or gate used in such a channel; a Floodgate or Sluice Gate
forced draft	Flue Gas
fountain	(1) An artificially created jet or stream of water; a structure, often decorative, from which a jet or stream of water issues
sharp-crested weir	A device for measuring water, featuring a notch cut in a relatively thin plate and having a sharp edge on the upstream side of the crest.
riverwash	Barren alluvial land, usually coarse-textured, exposed along streams at low water, and subject to shifting during normal high water.
headwater	Referring to the source of a stream or river.
evaporation	process in which the heat energy of the sun causes the water on the Earth’s surface to change into a vapor.
moisture content	The fraction or percentage of a substance or soil that is water.
habitat	the part of the physical environment in which a plant or animal lives.
fatty acid	A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid (an acid with a -COOH group) with long hydrocarbon side chains.
offset	(Irrigation) The difference between the controlled variable and the referenced input, for example, in a canal system, the difference between the actual water level in the canal and the water level at design flow.
cypress ponds	Ponds or lakes characterized by growths of cypress (Taxodium spp.).
anaerobic	Characterizing organisms able to live and grow only where there is no air or free oxygen, and conditions that exist only in the absence of air or free oxygen.
regenerant	A solution of a chemical compound used to restore the capacity of an ion exchange system
radon daughters/radon progeny	Short-lived radioactive decay products of radon that decay into longer-lived lead isotopes that can attach themselves to airborne dust and other particles and, if inhaled, damage the linings of the lungs.
nonpoint source controls	General phrase used to refer to all methods employed to control or reduce nonpoint source pollution.
backwater	(a) a pool type formed by an eddy along channel margins downstream from obstructions, such as bars, rootwads or boulders, or as a result of back flooding upstream from an obstructional blockage
recharge area	The area in which water reaches the Zone of Saturation by surface infiltration
chr	Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources
beak	the raised part of the dorsal margin of the shell; also called the umbo
meander	A circuitous winding or bend in the river.
controlled drainage	(Irrigation) Regulation of the water table to maintain the water level at a depth favorable for optimum crop growth.
fault scarp	A cliff formed by a fault, usually modified by erosion unless the fault is very recent.
flood frequency	how often, on average, a discharge of a given magnitude occurs at a particular location on a stream
aphytal	The plantless zone of a lake bottom
salt pan	An undrained natural depression in which water gathers and leaves a deposit of salt on evaporation.
subwatershed	Topographic perimeter of the catchment area of a stream tributary.
phenolphthalein alkalinity	a measure of the hydroxides plus one-half of the normal carbonates in aqueous suspension
feedstock	Any material used directly as a fuel, or converted to another form of fuel or energy product
contract rate	The repayment or water service rate set forth in a contract to be paid by a district to the federal government.
isoconcentration	More than one sample point exhibiting the same isolate concentration.
waterflood	The process of waterflooding an oil well; to pump water into the ground around an oil well nearing depletion in order to loosen and force out additional oil.
disinfection	(Water Quality) The process of killing a large portion of microorganisms in or on a substance, but not bacterial spores
equipotential surface	A surface (or line) in a three-dimensional ground-water flow field such that the total hydraulic head is the same everywhere on the surface.
histosols	Organic soils.
vfa	Volatile Fatty Acids - Volatile fatty acids are fatty acids with a carbon chain of six carbons or fewer
abutment	the end of a dam, or other structure, consisting of a wall of natural formation
lowest acceptable daily dose	The largest quantity of a chemical that will not cause a toxic effect, as determined by animal studies.
grit	Dense inorganic matter, such as sand and gravel, present in water or sewage.
tetrachlorophenol	Tetrachlorophenol is a toxic fungicide.
flume	(1) A narrow gorge, usually with a stream flowing through it
drown	(1) To kill by submerging and suffocating in water or another liquid
tannin	Tannin is a common natural occurrence in well water
drum	A container or a barrel usually mild steel or plastic, in which waste is stored.
point precipitation	Precipitation at a particular site, in contrast to the mean precipitation over an area.
attrition	The process in which solids are worn down by friction, often between particles of the same material
subsidence	sinking down of part of the earth's crust due to underground excavation, such as removal groundwater.
fermentation	The conversion of organic matter to methane, carbon dioxide and other molecules by anaerobic bacteria.
well monitoring	measurement by on-site instruments or laboratory methods of well water quality.
hydathode	(Botany) A water-excreting microscopic epidermal structure in many plants.
gras	An acronym for the phrase "Generally Recognized As Safe" under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
decant	To draw off the upper layer of liquid (water) after the heavier material (a solid or another liquid) has settled.
tertiary treatment	An enhancement of normal sewage treatment operations to provide water of potable quality using further chemical and physical treatment; the highest drinking water standard achieved in the U.S.
demand delivery	A method of irrigation water delivery whereby the project delivers water to the headgate upon farm irrigator demand; usually is associated with high head (cfs) delivery rates
drainage density	(1) The relative density of natural drainage channels in a given area, obtained by dividing the total length of the stream channels by the area
point-of-use treatment device	(Water Quality) An approach to the management of the quality of drinking water that locates a water treatment device at the faucet in an individual household
cyclone	Density
lotic environment	Characterizing aquatic communities found in running water
willstatter lignin	Lignin obtained from the lignocellulosic complex after it has been extracted with hydrochloric acid.
white water	Turbulent or frothy water, as in rapids or surf.
stream morphology	The form and structure of streams.
nuisance species	undesirable plants and animals, commonly exotic species.
routing	(1) The derivation of an outflow Hydrograph of a stream from known values of upstream inflow, using the wave velocity and/or the storage equation
base	any substance which contains hydroxyl (OH) groups and furnishes hydroxide ions in solution; a molecular or ionic substance capable of combining with a proton to form a new substance; a substance that provides a pair of electrons for a covalent bond with an acid; a solution with a pH of greater than 7.
instream cover	The layers of vegetation, like trees, shrubs, and overhanging vegetation, that are in the stream or immediately adjacent to the wetted channel.
holotype	The specimen of an animal (or plant) which is designated in the publication when the organism is named, as representing what is meant by the new name
artesian water	groundwater that is under pressure and rises to the land surface when tapped by a well.
channel density	The ratio of the length of stream channels in a given basin to the area of the basin, expressed in feet per acre (meters per hectare).
flash flood	A flood that rises and falls quite rapidly with little or no advance warning, usually as the result of intense rainfall over a relatively small area
perforated	Describes material in which holes have been punched, such as the materials of which the center tube of a cartridge is made.
relative humidity	the ratio of the amount of moisture in the air to the maximum amount of moisture the air could hold under the same conditions; usually expressed as a percentage reservoir - a pond or lake where water is collected and stored until it is needed rills - small grooves, furrows, or channels in soil made by water flowing down over its surface; also another name for a stream - usually a small stream runoff - liquid water that travels over the surface of the Earth, moving downward due to the law of gravity; runoff is one way in which water that falls as precipitation returns to the ocean
extirpation	(Biology) To destroy or remove completely, as a species from an particular area, region, or habitat
prover tank	Vessel for proving the volumetric accuracy of positive displacement meters. Also called meter calibrating tank or meter proving tank.
radioisotopes	Chemical variants of radioactive elements with potentially oncogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects on the human body.
groundwater law	the common law doctrine of riparian rights and the doctrine of prior appropriation as applied to ground water.
armoring	A natural or artificial process where an erosion-resistant layer of relatively large particles is established on the surface of the streambed through the removal of finer particles by stream flow
coal slurry pipeline	A pipeline which transports pulverized coal suspended in liquid, usually water.
watery	(1) Filled with, consisting of, or soaked with water; wet or soggy
performance bond	Cash or securities deposited before a landfill operating permit is issued, which are held to ensure that all requirements for operating ad subsequently closing the landfill are faithful performed
autooxidation	oxidation caused by the atmosphere; an oxidation reaction that is self-catalyzed and spontaneous; an oxidation reaction begun only by an inductor.
supralittoral zone	That portion of the seashore adjacent to the tidal or spray zone
ecosphere	The "bio-bubble" that contains life on earth, in surface waters, and in the air
hypersensitivity diseases	Diseases characterized by allergic responses to pollutants; diseases most clearly associated with indoor air quality are asthma, rhinitis, and pneumonic hypersensitivity.
mean discharge	The arithmetic mean of individual daily mean discharges of a stream during a specific period, usually daily, monthly, or annually.
resin impregnated	Treatment of cellulose used in paper elements. Impregnation is carefully controlled in the manufacture of cellulose and provides a binder for the fibers which must be cured to specification during cartridge manufacture to preserve all the properties of the original specification for the cellulose.
floodplain management measures	Refers to an overall community program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing future flood damage
bathythermograph	A device used to obtain a record of temperature against depth (pressure) in the ocean
particle count	A practice of counting particles of solid matter in groups based on relative size. Frequently used in engineering a filter to a specific task or to evaluate the performance of a filter under specific operating conditions. When used as data to engineer a filter, proper consideration can be given the type of media to be used, expectant life of the media, and the true cost of operation.
hydrophobic	Not capable of uniting with or absorbing water.
flood abatement	See Flood Control.
tsp	suspended particulate matter of variable size
combined heat and power	More commonly referred to as CHP
contamination	Deposition of unwanted material on the surfaces of structures, areas, objects, or personnel
bed stability	occurs when the average elevation of the streambed does not change significantly over time
mirage	An optical phenomenon that creates the illusion of water, often with inverted reflections of distant objects, and results from distortion of light by alternate layers of hot and cool air
pesticides	Chemical materials that are used for the control of undesirable insects, diseases, vegetation, animals or other forms of life.
pesticide regulation notice	Formal notice to pesticide registrants about important changes in regulatory policy, procedures, regulations.
filter area	The effective area through which water approaches the filter media often expressed in square feet
interstate carrier water supply	A source of water for drinking and sanitary use on planes, buses, trains, and ships operating in more than one state
parts per billion	the number of parts of a given substance in a billion parts of some other substance
bathythermograph	An instrument designed to record water temperature as a function of depth.
opaque	A condition where a material, such as a cloud, blocks the passage of radiant energy, especially light
intertidal mudflat	Areas of accumulated sediment, dominantly of a clay or silt grain size exposed at low tide.
spring	(1) A concentrated discharge of ground water coming out at the surface as flowing water; a place where the water table crops out at the surface of the ground and where water flows out more or less continuously
storm sewer	A sewer that carries only surface runoff, street wash, and snow melt from the land
district heating networks	Comprising a central production plant and a reticulated network, they provide heating and air conditioning to public and private institutions (schools, hospitals, offices and homes).
static	Fixed in position, resting, or without motion, as opposed to dynamic or moving.
normal solution	A solution containing a gram equivalent weight of a substance in one liter of solution
surface detention	That part of the rain which remains on the ground surface during rain and either runs off or infiltrates after the rain ends; surface detention does not include Depression Storage.
elevation	The measure of height with respect to a point on the earth's surface above mean sea level
blowout	a small saucer or trough-shaped hollow or depression formed by wind erosion on a pre - existing dune or other sand deposit.
supplier of water	Any person who owns or operates a public water supply.
abiota	Those non-living factors which are present in and affect the characteristics of a given ecosystem.
slurry	mixture of 70 per cent water and 30 per cent sand/silt/clay size particles; term used in dredging.
comparative risk analysis	An environmental decision-making tool used to systematically measure, compare and rank environmental problems or issue areas
polonium	A radioactive element that occurs in pitchblende and other uranium-containing ores.
sleet	precipitation which is a mixture of rain and ice.
private sector	The part of economy in which economic activity is carried out by private enterprise as distinct from the public sector.
bmp	See best management practices.
vadose	Of, relating to, or being water that is located in the Zone of Aeration in the earth's crust above the ground water level.
debris flow	A rapidly moving mass of rock fragments, soil, and mud, with more than half of the particles being larger than sand size.
biogas	Gas formed by digestion of organic materials
topography	The general configuration of the land surface including relief and position of natural and man-made features.
venturi tube	A closed conduit that gradually contracts to a throat, causing a pressure head by which the velocity through the throat may be determined.
undertow	the current beneath the surface that sets seaward or along the beach when waves are breaking on the shore.
scupper	(1) (Nautical) Openings along the side of a ship at deck level to allow water to run off
analyte	A chemical being tested for in a laboratory test.
maturity	the stage in the development of a stream at which it has reached its maximum efficiency, when velocity is just sufficient to carry the sediment delivered to it by tributaries; characterized by a broad, open, flat-floored valley having a moderate gradient and gentle slope.
copepodites	The penultimate five, out of a total of twelve, life history stages of copepods.
ionization	The dissociation of molecules into simpler, electronically charged particles
osha	Occupational Safety and Health Administration
hydrocarbons	Chemical compounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen.
erosion	The movement of soil or rock from one area to another by the action of the sea, running water, moving ice, precipitation, or wind.
waterproof	(1) Impervious to or unaffected by water
delta	a collection of rocks and soil at the mouth of a river
cold air funnel	Funnel clouds, usually short-lived, that develop from relatively small showers or thunderstorms when the air aloft is very in cold
alvusion	a sudden or perceptible change in a river's margin, such as a change in course or loss of banks due to flooding.
transpiration	direct transfer of water from the leaves of living plants to the atmosphere
photolysis	Chemical reaction with light.
toxicity test	the means to determine the toxicity of a chemical or an effluent using living organisms
alkali	A substance which creates a bitter taste and a slippery feel when dissolved in water and will turn red litmus paper blue
mare's tail	The name given to thin, wispy cirrus clouds composed of ice crystals that appear as veil patches or strands, often resembling a horse's tail.
perched ground water	Ground water in a saturated zone of material underlain by a relatively impervious stratum which acts as a barrier to downward flow and which is separated from the main ground water body by a zone of unsaturated material above the main ground water body.
braiding	Successive division and rejoining of riverflow with accompanying islands.
humidification	The addition of water vapour to air.
evapo-transpiration	The process by which water in the soil matrix is both transpired through the roots and foliage of vegetation and evaporated from exposed (soil) surfaces.
discharge	volume of water passing by a given location within a given time period. Usually expressed in either cubic feet per second (cfs) or gallons per minute (gpm).
nutrient pollution	a nourishing contamination that causes unwanted plant growth
milligrams per liter	this is a weight per volume designation used in water and wastewater analysis
swale	Small depressions, natural or artificial, that carry water only after a rainfall.
fungicide	a pesticide used to control fungi that cause plant diseases.
base level	The elevation to which a stream-channel profile has developed.
agonist	A molecule that binds to a receptor and activates it.
bioengineering	the use of living plant materials to perform an engineering function, usually to enhance soil stability (e.g., willow planting, brush layering or transplanted trees).
hydrosol	A disperse system (colloid) in which water is the disperse medium.
ecoregion	An area of similar climate, landform, soil, potential natural vegetation, hydrology, or other ecologically relevant variables.
aerobic treatment	Process by which microbes decompose complex organic compounds in the presence of oxygen and use the liberated energy for reproduction and growth
absorbed dose	The energy imparted to a unit mass of matter by ionizing radiation
dribble	To flow or fall in drops or an unsteady stream; trickle.
clay	Substrate particles that are smaller than silt and generally less than 0.004 mm in diameter.
tipping fee	A fee for unloading MSW at a landfill, transfer station or recycling facility.
vapor	The gaseous state of a substance which under ordinary conditions exists as a liquid or solid.
water	a clear liquid, solid, or gas made up of tiny molecules of 2 parts hydrogen and one part oxygen.
freeboard	the vertical distance between the lowest point along the top of a surface impoundment dike, berm, levee, treatment works or other similar feature and the surface of the liquid contained therein.
mixed plastic	Recovered plastic unsorted by category.
inflow design flood	The maximum probable flood defined as the largest flood that can be expected to occur on a given stream at a selected point
radon	A gaseous, radioactive alpha particle-emitting element with a half-life of about four days
dereliction	(Legal) (1) A gaining of land by the permanent recession of the water line
human exposure evaluation	Describing the nature and size of the population exposed to a substance and the magnitude and duration of their exposure.
pleated	Describes a physical form of a cartridge made into a convoluted form to resemble the folds in an accordion.
ribonucleic acid	A molecule that carries the genetic message from DNA to a cellular protein-producing mechanism.
non-degradation	An environmental policy which disallows any lowering of naturally occurring quality regardless of preestablished health standards.
gully erosion	The widening, deepening, and headcutting of small channels and waterways due to erosion; severe erosion in which trenches are cut to a depth greater than 30 centimeters (approximately one foot)
recyclables	MSW fractions that still have useful physical and/or chemical properties after serving their original purpose and that can therefore, be reused or re-manufactured into additional products.
tarsal spur	A spur found on the back of the rear feet on male Veiled chameleons for use in breeding.
dp hole	Hole in the ground made with DP equipment
antarctic	Of or relating to the area around the geographic South Pole, from 90° South to the Antarctic Circle at approximately 66 1/2°South latitude, including the continent of Antarctica
rain sensor	A simple, relatively inexpensive device that measures rainfall and prevents unnecessary irrigation with an automatic controller.
dredging	The removal of material from the bottom of water bodies using a scooping machine
operation and maintenance	1
needle-leaved deciduous	Woody Gymnosperms (trees or shrubs) with needle-shaped or scale-like leaves that are shed during the cold or dry season; e.g., bald cypress (Taxodium distichum).
hydrolysis	The decomposition of organic compounds by interaction with water.
magmatic water	Water driven out of Magma during crystallization.
monomictic	lakes and reservoirs that are relatively deep, do not freeze over during winter, and undergo a single stratification and mixing cycle during the year (usually in the fall).
gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer	A highly sophisticated instrument that identifies the molecular composition and concentrations of various chemicals in water and soil samples.
efficiency	The effectiveness of the operational performance of an ion exchanger
percentage values	These are needed to calculate specific resin capacities for this water supply
biomonitoring	a test used to evaluate the relative potency of a chemical by comparing its effect on a living organism with the effect of a standard population on the same type of organism.
mill/kwh	A common method of pricing electricity in the United States
crest gate	A temporary or movable gate installed on top of a spillway crest to provide additional storage or prevent flow over the crest.
reserve margin	The amount by which the utility's total electric power capacity exceeds maximum electric demand.
hydraulic gradient	In general, the direction of groundwater flow due to changes in the depth of the water table.
snow blindness	Temporary blindness or impaired vision that results from bright sunlight reflected off the snow surface
riparian zone	see Riparian area.
diversion ditch	a ditch that directs water and silt into stabilized areas away from a watercourse.
moisture content	the amount of water lost from soil upon drying to a constant weight, expressed as the weight per unit of dry soil or as the volume of water per unit bulk volume of the soil.
regeneration	The process of returning the sodium ions to the mineral after it has exchanged all its sodium ions for calcium and magnesium from hard water
alternating current	current that reverses its direction at regular intervals, such as a common 115 volt circuit.
sedimentation	the deposition of soil and other natural solids in waterbodies
avulsion	A change in channel course that occurs when a stream suddenly breaks through its banks.
channel stabilization	Erosion prevention and stabilization of velocity distribution in a channel using jetties, drops, revetments, vegetation, and other measures.
commercial/retail waste	Material discarded by stores, offices, restaurants, warehouses, non-manufacturing activities at industrial facilities and other similar establishments or facilities.
anadromous fish	migratory species that are born in freshwater, live mostly in estuaries and ocean water, and return to freshwater to spawn.
open canopy	(Botany) Forest trees which are so scattered that there are frequent openings between tree crowns in the canopy.
algae	Chlorophyll-bearing nonvascular, primarily aquatic species that have no true roots, stems, or leaves; most algae are microscopic, but some species can be as large as vascular plants.
atomic mass	the mass of an atom expressed in atomic mass units (amu); the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
drop-in fuel	A substitute for conventional fuel that is completely interchangeable and compatible with conventional fuel
watershed	same as drainage basin.
hill	A hill is a raised area or mound of land.
condensation	water vapor that is forming droplets
flow control	Forced Draft
salinity	The presence of soluble minerals in water.
operable unit	Term for each of a number of separate activities undertaken as part of a Superfund site cleanup
phenols	organic compounds that are byproducts of petroleum refining; tanning; and textile, dye, and resin manufacturing
braided channel	A stream characterized by flow within several channels, which successively meet and divide
caustic soda	The common name for sodium hydroxide, (NaOH).
vein	hollow tube that carries blood back to the heart.
tree line	The dividing point, caused by changing latitudes or altitudes, between areas with environmental conditions supporting trees and those that do not
head	the pressure of a fluid owing to its elevation, usually expressed in feet of head or in pounds per square inch, since a measure of fluid pressure is the height of a fluid column above a given or known point.
ebit	(Earnings Before Interest and Tax) EBIT, an intermediate balance in a company's income statement, is operating income before restructuring costs and goodwill amortization
microdisturbance	compaction: A decrease in the pore space of soil (or increased bulk density) caused by the passage of heavy machinery.
residuals	The by-products of waste water treatment (other than treated effluent)
steady-state mass balance	the mathematical concept that the sum of upstream pollutant loads, each determined by the product of their concentration times flow, equals a resultant downstream load after mixing.
off-site impacts	consequences of an action or decision that occur beyond the area (e.g
lead service line	A service line made of lead which connects the water to the building inlet and any lead fitting connected to it.
npdes	National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
stewardship	(Ecology) Administrative and/or custodial actions taken to preserve and protect the Natural Resources, particularly the plant (Flora) and animal (Fauna) life, of an area or Ecosystem.
participation rate	A measure of the number of people participating in a recycling programme compared to the total number that could be participating.
cooling tower	A large tower or stack that is used for heat exchange of once-through cooling water generated by steam condensers
storet	a national U.S
discharge permit	A permit issued by the state to discharge effluent into waters of the state.
hydraulic gradient	The slope or the water surface
in situ	In its original place; unmoved unexcavated; remaining at the site or in the subsurface.
detection limit	the lowest level that can be determined by a specific analytical procedure or test method.
alluvium	Sediments deposited by erosion processes, usually by streams.
btex	Benzene, toluene, ethlybenzene, xylene; commonly used to determine the amount and type of hydrocarbon contamination in a soil.
gooseneck	A portion of a water service connection between the distribution system water main and a meter
micrograms per liter	One one-thousandth of a Milligram per Liter (mg/l)
operation and maintenance	The period following construction of a remedy during which elements of the remedy must be operated and maintained
ephemeral stream	A stream or part of a stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation; it receives little or no water from springs, melting snow, or other sources; its channel is at all times above the water table.
swamp	wetland dominated by shrubs and trees
backwashing	reversing the flow of water through a home treatment device filter or membrane to clean and remove deposits.
seepage	percolation of water through the soil from unlined canals, ditches, laterals, watercourses, or water storage facilities.
aquifuse	A formation that has no interconnected openings and hence cannot absorb or transmit water.
river	A watercourse that flows at all times, receiving water from ground or surface water, for example, from other streams or rivers
drop-off	Recyclable materials collection method in which individuals bring them to a designated collection site.
critical velocity	Velocity at which a given discharge changes from tranquil to rapid flow; that velocity in open channels for which the specific energy (the sum of the depth and velocity head) is a minimum for a given discharge.
glacier	A glacier is a long-lasting, slowly-moving river of ice on land.
ducts	Tubes used to pass gases from one process to the next
irrigation depletion	The amount of diverted water consumptively used, beneficially and nonbeneficially, in serving a cropped area
void volume	The volume of the spaces between particles of ion exchanger, filter media, or other granular material; often expressed as a percentage of the total volume occupied by the material.
logged	Sodden, especially with water, i.e
carnivorous	Of animals, meat eating
nadir	Refers to a low or the lowest point, as the lowest point of a lake or other body of water attained of a certain period of time (period of record).
meander	The turn of a stream, either live or cut off
live stake	Live branch cuttings that are tamped or inserted into the earth to take root and produce vegetative growth.
canal check gate structure	A structure designed to control the water surface level and flow in a canal, maintaining a specified water depth or head on outlets or turnout structures
deposit	Something dropped or left behind by moving water, as sand or mud.
heat exchanger	A component that is utilized to remove heat from or ad heat to a liquid.
gravel envelope	In well construction, a several-inch thickness of uniform gravel poured into the annular space between the well casing and the drilled hole
productivity	the rate of accumulation of organic material in an ecosystem or the rate of change in the physical agricultural production of a unit of land, as described by yield (tonnes/ha) per year
core	The uranium-containing heart of a nuclear reactor, where energy is released.
action levels	Regulatory levels recommended by
subcaudal scales	These are the scales underneath the snake's tail
turbidity	a cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic matter.
furrow irrigation	Irrigation method in which water travels through the field by means of small channels between each groups of rows.
rotten tree	A live tree of commercial species that does not contain a saw log now or prospectively, primarily because of rot (that is, when rot accounts for more than 50% of the total cull volume).
random variable	(Statistics) A variable characterized by random behavior in assuming its different possible values
pressure tendency	The pressure characteristic and amount of pressure change during a specified time period, usually the three hour period preceding the observation.
medical surveillance	A periodic comprehensive review of a worker's health status; acceptable elements of such surveillance program are listed in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for asbestos.
aquifer	an underground layer of rock or soil that contains water and can supply a large quantity of water to wells or springs Assessment
emap data	Environmental monitoring data collected under the auspices of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
deposition	A river lays down or drops the sediment or material that it is carrying such as sand, mud, and small stones or sticks
vadose zone	A soil or sediment zone unsaturated with water located above the water table.
regulated asbestos-containing material	Friable asbestos material or nonfriable ACM that will be or has been subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading or has crumbled, or been pulverized or reduced to powder in the course of demolition or renovation operations.
detectable leak rate	The smallest leak (from a storage tank), expressed in terms of gallons- or liters-per-hour, that a test can reliably discern with a certain probability of detection or false alarm.
mare liberum	A navigable body of water, such as a sea, that is open to navigation by vessels of all nations.
ep tox test	Fan
normal water level	For a reservoir with a fixed overflow, the lowest crest level of that overflow
tipping floor	Transfer Station
asbestos-containing waste materials	Mill tailings or any waste that contains commercial asbestos
subtropical jet	Marked by a concentration of isotherms and vertical shear, this jet is the boundary between the subtropical air and the tropical air
hardness	Water hardness is a historical term expressing the total concentration of cations, specifically calcium (Ca
structural measures	Measures that delay, reduce, or control flood flows
ion	An atom, or group of atoms which function as a unit, and has a positive or negative electrical charge due to the gain or loss of one or more electrons.
saturation	The condition of a liquid when it has taken into solution the maximum possible quantity of a given substance at a given temperature and pressure.
unit storm	A net rainfall one-inch deep which occurs over all parts of a drainage area at a uniform rate during a specified unit period of time.
perchloroethene	See Tetrachloroethene
thermal treatment	Use of elevated temperatures to treat MSW
landfills	Designed, controlled and managed disposal sites for MSW spread in layers, compacted to the smallest practical volume, and covered by material applied at the end of each operating day (see also sanitary landfill).
air pollution episode	A period of abnormally high concentration of air pollutants, often due to low winds and temperature inversion, that can cause illness and death
hydroelectric plant	A hydroelectric power plant which utilizes streamflow only once as the water passes downstream; electric power plant in which the energy of falling water is used to spin a turbine generator to produce electricity.
ss	Sustainable Sites section
celsius	C= 5/9 (F - 32).
media/medium	Specific environments that can contain contaminants
nickel	A metal used in alloys to provide corrosion and heat resistance for products in the iron, steel and aerospace industries. Nickel is used as a catalyst in the chemical industry. It is toxic and, in some forms, is listed as a cancer-causing agent under Proposition 65.
drainage basin	Part of the surface of the earth that is occupied by a drainage system, which consists of a surface stream or a body of impounded surface water together with all tributary surface streams and bodies of impounded surface water
obligate aerobes	Organisms that require the presence of molecular oxygen ([O(2)] for their metabolism.
reservoir surface	The surface of a reservoir at any level.
pumping test	a test conducted to determine aquifer or well characteristics.
wimple	A ripple, as on the surface of water.
zooplankton	Tiny aquatic animals eaten by fish.
moisture stress	A condition of physiological stress in a plant caused by lack of water.
hydrant	A discharge pipe with a valve and spout at which water may be drawn from a water main (as for fighting fires) called also fireplug; (2) Faucet.
international ngo	An organisation that has an international headquarters and branches in major world regions, often with the purpose of undertaking development assistance.
cholophyte	Green algae, algae of the division Chlorophyta.
bank stability	The ability of a streambank to counteract erosion or gravitational forces.
lead	A heavy metal present in small amounts everywhere in the human environment. Lead can get into the body from drinking contaminated water, eating vegetables grown in contaminated soil, or breathing dust when children play or adults work in lead-contaminated areas or eating lead-based paint. It can cause damage to the nervous system or blood cells. Children are at highest risk because their bodies are still developing. Lead and its compounds are listed as a reproductive toxic substance for women and men, and a cancer-causing substance under Proposition 65.
big water	To avoid reducing channel capacity, the San Antonio River Improvements Project plan calls for these wider stretches of water to be excavated just upstream of a grade control structure where the overall main channel can be widened
tropopause	The boundary in the Atmosphere between the layer next to the surface of the earth (Troposphere) and the next highest layer (Stratosphere).
sampling	Collecting a portion of a large amount as representative of the whole.
gully reclamation	Projects designed to prevent erosion in gullies by either filling them in or planting vegetation to stabilize the banks
hydrophobic	Having a strong aversion to water.
switchgrass	Panicum virgatum, is a native grass species of the North American Praries that has high potential as an herbaceous energy crop
secondarily improved pastures	Livestock pasture areas that have not been intensively land leveled or serviced by modern conveyance structures
ionization chamber	A device that measures the intensity of ionizing radiation.
red water	Water which has a reddish or brownish appearance due to the presence of precipitated iron and/or iron bacteria.
conservation easement	Easement restricting a landowner to land uses that that are compatible with long-term conservation and environmental values.
bottom outlet	An opening at a low level from a reservoir generally used for emptying or for scouring sediment and sometimes for irrigation releases
bend	A change in the direction of a stream channel in plan view.
runoff	Water that flows over the ground and reaches a stream as a result of rainfall or snowmelt.
electron	the sub-atomic particle, with a negative charge, that orbits the nucleus of an atom.
overhead irrigation	A pressurized irrigation system where water is distributed through pipes to the field and applied through a variety of sprinkler heads or nozzles
augmentation	the addition of water to meet flow needs.
water plan	A document of issues, policies, strategies and action plans intended to effectively and economically execute a Water Planning process
furrow stream	The size of water flow released into the furrow; the size of the stream is adjusted to prevent erosion, limited in amount to the capacity of the furrow, and as needed for the intake rates of the soil involved.
flood stage	elevation at which overflow of the natural banks of a water course begins.
semivolatile organic compound	Operationally defined as a group of synthetic organic compounds that are solvent-extractable and can be determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
saurophagous	Said of an animal that eats lizards.
eutrophication	The process by which water becomes enriched with plant nutrients, most commonly phosphorus and nitrogen.
trickle channel	A longitudinal channel constructed along the center and lowest part of a channel or through a detention or retention facility and intended to carry low flows
benthos	Collectively, all organisms living in, on, or near the bottom substrate in aquatic habitats (examples are oysters, clams, burrowing worms).
biodisc	(Water Quality) A large rotating cylinder possessing surface features that allow for the growth of attached microorganisms
morphology	The form, shape, or structure of a stream or organism.
half-life	radiological half-life The time required for half of a given number of atoms of a specific radionuclide to decay. Each nuclide has a unique half-life.
kettle	a steep-sided hole or depression, commonly without surface drainage, formed by the melting of a large detached block of stagnant ice that had been buried in the glacial drift.
hydrology	The scientific study of the water of the earth, its occurrence, circulation and distribution, its chemical and physical properties, and its interaction with its environment, including its relationship to living things.
antifluoridationist	One who is strongly opposed to the fluoridation of public water supplies.
lithia water	Mineral water containing lithium salts.
detergent	Synthetic washing agent that helps to remove dirt and oil
soap	One of a class of chemical compounds which possesses cleaning properties, formed by the reaction of a fatty acid with a base or alkali
sediment yield	That amount of sediment transported by a stream system that may be measurable at a particular location
national wilderness preservation system	All lands covered by the Wilderness Act of 1964 and subsequent wilderness designations, irrespective of the department or agency having jurisdiction.
rill erosion	Removal of soil particles from a bank slope by surface runoff moving through relatively small channels
comparative risk assessment	Process that generally uses the judgement of experts to predict effects and set priorities among a wide range of environmental problems.
tile drainage outlet	a pipe placed at suitable depths and spacings in the soil or subsoil to provide water outlets from the soil
fugitive emissions	Emissions not caught by a capture system.
sloughing	The downward slipping of a mass of soil, moving as a unit usually with backward rotation, down a bank
recombinant dna	DNA that has been artificially introduced into a cell, resulting in alteration of the genotype and phenotype of the cell, and is replicated along with natural DNA
chlorinated solvent	An organic solvent containing chlorine atoms(e.g
mesoscale convective system	A large organized convective weather system comprised of a number of individual thunderstorms
b20	A mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel based on volume.
desalination	The removal of salt from seawater or brackish water to produce drinking water, using various techniques.
nuclide	An atom specified by its atomic weight, atomic number, and energy state
methyl ethyl ketone	MEK is a flammable solvent that has many industrial uses, primarily in the plastic industry as a solvent. MEK is also used in the synthetic rubber industry, in the production of paraffin wax, and in household products such as lacquer and varnishes, paint remover, and glues.
refraction	The bending of light or radar beam as it passes through a zone of contrasting properties, such as atmospheric density, water vapor, or temperature.
light absorption	The amount of light a certain amount of water can absorb over time.
volcanic rock aquifer	An aquifer composed of rock that originated from a volcano, such as basalt
muck soils	Earth made from decaying plant materials.
receptacle load	the total demand on an electrical system from all power equipment.
action levels	1
hectare	Common metric unit of area, equal to 2.47 acres
local education agency	In the asbestos program, an educational agency at the local level that exists primarily to operate schools or to contract for educational services, including primary and secondary public and private schools
hydraulic mining	Mining by washing sand and dirt away with water, leaving the desired mineral.
hazard assessment	Evaluating the effects of a stressor or determining a margin of safety for an organism by comparing the concentration which causes toxic effects with an estimate of exposure to the organism.
altimeter	An instrument used to determine the altitude of an object with respect to a fixed level
gross heat of combustion	See higher heating value.
caudal autonomy	A defensive feature found in many lizard and salamander species, where the tail vertebrae are easily broken, so that the tail will break off if it is grabbed by a predator
flood peak	The highest magnitude of the stage of discharge attained by a flood
color	The shade or tint imparted to water by substances in true solution, and thus not removed by mechanical filtration; most commonly caused by dissolved organic matter, but may be produced by dissolved mineral matter.
salts	Minerals that water picks up as it passes through the air, over and under the ground, or from households and industry.
calcium nitrate treatment	A method of adding nitrate to lake sediments.
qhse	Quality, Health, Safety, Environment
fungicide	Pesticides which are used to control, deter, or destroy fungi.
nephelometric	method of measuring turbidity in a water sample by passing light through the sample and measuring the amount of light deflected.
geomorphology	the science that treats the general configuration of the Earth's surface; the description of landforms.
flammable	Describes any material that can be ignited easily and that will burn rapidly.
dissolve	to make a solution of, as by mixing with a liquid; blend with a liquid.
camouflage	Strategy that an organism uses to hide or blend in with its environment.
radiation	Transmission of energy though space or any medium
riprap	Usually refers to rocks or concrete structures used to stabilize stream or river banks from erosion.
flow control	A device designed to limit the flow of water or regenerant to a predetermined value over a broad range of inlet water pressures.
assay	a test for a specific chemical, microbe, or effect.
catalyst	A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed or produced by the reaction
instream cover	overhanging or instream structure, such as tree roots, undercut streambanks, boulders, or aquatic vegetation that offer protection for aquatic organisms.
standard atmosphere	A standard atmosphere has been defined by the International Civil Aeronautical Organization (ICAO)
annular space	the space between two concentric cylindrical objects, one of which surrounds the other, such as the space between the walls of a drilled hole and a casing.
sheet	(Geology) A broad, relatively thin deposit or layer of Igneous or Sedimentary Rock.
mpn	The abbreviation for "most probable number".
hazard	1
pier	a platform extending from a shore over water into navigable water for use as a landing place or promenade to protect or form a harbor
bed material	The sediment mixture that a stream bed is composed of.
defluoridation	The removal of fluoride from drinking water to prevent teeth damage.
hermaphrodite	an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs
drought year supply	The average annual supply of a water development system during a defined Drought Period
weather	day to day variation in atmospheric conditions
desert	A barren or desolate area, especially one characterized by dry, often sandy conditions of little rainfall, typically less than 10 inches of rain per year, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation
total hardness	The total dissolved salts in water, expressed as total parts of dissolved slats in a million parts of water
obligation	includes a requirement, restriction, limitation, condition and duty.
cirque	a deep, steep-walled half-bowllike recess or hollow situated high on the side of a mountain and commonly at the head of a glacial valley and produced by the erosive activity of mountain glaciers.
reclaimed waste water	Waste water that becomes suitable for a specific beneficial use as a result of treatment or brackish water demineralized for use
siltation	the settling of silt, the fine-particulate fraction of sediment.
gross erosion	The total of all sheet, gully, and channel erosion in a drainage basin, usually expressed in units of mass.
aquatic	Growing in water, living in water, or frequenting water.
concern	This is a stated actual or perceived problem, raised by an individual or stakeholder
white squall	A sudden squall occurring in tropical or subtropical waters, characterized by the absence of a dark cloud and the presence of white-capped waves or broken water.
fabric filters	FeedBack
beach profile	side view of a beach extending from the top of the dune line into the sea.
cycle of erosion	A qualitative description of river valleys and regions passing through the stages of youth, maturity, and old age with respect to the amount of erosion that has been effected.
biologicals	Vaccines, cultures and other preparations made from living organisms and their products, intended for use in diagnosing, immunizing, or treating humans or animals, or in related research.
toxic	Having an adverse physiological effect on man.
filling	Depositing dirt, mud or other materials into aquatic areas to create more dry land, usually for agricultural or commercial development purposes, and frequently with ruinous ecological consequences
meltwater	water that comes from the melting ice of a glacier or a snowbank.
riprap	Rock or other material with a specific mixture of sizes referred to as a "gradation" used to stabilize streambanks or riverbanks from erosion or to create habitat features in a stream.
missed detection	(Water Quality) The situation that occurs when a test indicates that a tank is "tight" when in fact it is leaking.
suction lift	(Irrigation) The difference in elevation between the water source and the pump.
streambanks	The usual boundaries, not the flood boundaries, of a stream channel
flood prevention	Methods or structural measures used to prevent floods.
fixed carbon	The carbon that remains after heating in a prescribed manner to decompose thermally unstable components and distill volatiles
rain shadow	a dry region on the lee side of a topographic obstacle, usually a mountain range, where rainfall is noticeably less than on the windward side.
bell	A hollow, usually inverted vessel, such as one used for diving deep below the surface of a body of water.
stream bank erosion	The removal of soil from stream banks by flowing water.
spritz	To squirt or spray (something like water) quickly.
swamp	a type of wetland dominated by woody vegetation but without appreciable peat deposits
islet	A small or minor island.
intermittent stream	A stream that carries water only part of the time, generally in response to periods of heavy runoff either from snowmelt or storms
combustion	Refers to controlled burning of municipal solid waste, in which heat chemically alters organic compounds, converting into stable inorganics such as carbon dioxide and water.
methylene blue	A basic aniline dye, C16H18N3SCl Â· 3H2O, that forms a deep blue solution when dissolved in water
siltation	The deposition or accumulation of silt (or small-grained material) in a body of water.
combustible vapor mixture	The composition range over which air containing vapor of an organic compound will burn or even explode when set off by a flame or spark
nitrogen	A colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that is the most abundant constituent of dry air
idr	innovative design request
turbidity	reduced water clarity resulting from the presence of suspended material in the water.
ethylene dibromide	A chemical used as an agricultural fumigant and in certain industrial processes
deice	To make or keep free of ice; melt ice from.
leached layer	A soil layer or an entire soil profile from which the soluble materials (CaCO3 and MgCO3 and material more soluble) have been dissolved and washed away by percolating waters.
health risk/endangerment assessment	A study prepared to assess health and environmental risks due to potential exposure to hazardous substances.
halon	Bromine-containing compounds with long atmospheric lifetimes whose breakdown in the stratosphere causes depletion of ozone
national municipal plan	a U.S
cohesion	a molecular attraction by which the particles of a body are united throughout the mass whether like or unlike
consumptive waste	Water that returns to the atmosphere without providing benefit to humans.
waterless toilets	Toilets that use no water; includes dehydrating toilets, incineration toilets and composting toilets.
rare species	A species of plant or animal which, although not presently threatened with extinction, is in such small numbers throughout its range that it may be endangered if its environment worsens.
wildlife tree	A live tree retained to become future snag habitat.
plop	To fall with a sound like that of an object falling into water without splashing.
air gap	A clear vertical space through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening of any pipe or faucet conveying water or waste to a tank, plumbing fixture receptor, or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle
cattail	A tall, reedy marsh plant with brown furry fruiting spikes; an Emergent Plant.
heat wave	A period of abnormally and uncomfortably hot weather
joint-use storage	Reservoir storage space which is used for more than one purpose
micron	See micrometer.
operating criteria	Design and institutional criteria that determine the operating limits of a water system.
riverine wetlands	wetlands within river and stream channels; ocean-derived salinity is less than 0.5 part per thousand.
riparian land	Land situated along the bank of a stream or other, generally flowing bodies of water.
condensate return system	System that returns the heated water condensing within steam piping to the boiler and thus saves energy.
gross reservoir capacity	The total amount of storage capacity available in a reservoir for all purposes, from the streambed to the normal maximum operating level
woody debris	Coarse wood material such as twigs, branches, logs, trees, and roots that fall into streams.
light water reactor	A nuclear power plant which uses ordinary Water (H2O) as distinguished from one that uses Heavy Water (D2O) or Deuterium Oxide
land reconstruction	(Mining) (1) Restoring land and water areas adversely affected by past mining practices and increasing the productivity of the areas for a beneficial use
moisture equivalent	The ratio of: (1) the weight of water which the soil, after saturation, will retain against a centrifugal force 1,000 times the force of gravity, to (2) the weight of the soil when dry
habitat	The place where a population (e.g
aerodynamic	Refers to forces acting upon the soil or crop surface by moving air.
by-product	A material that is not one of the primary products of a production process
vegetated roof	a roof partially or fully covered by vegetation, used to manage water runoff and provide additional insulation in winter and cooling in summer.
hydrocarbons	Chemicals that consist entirely of hydrogen and carbon
porosity	the property of being porous, having pores; the ratio of minute channels or open spaces (pores) to the volume of solid matter.
blowing spray	Salt spray that is raised by the wind to heights of six feet or greater
precipitation	(1) Rain or snow
continental shelf	The submerged shelf of land that slopes gradually from the exposed edge of a continent for a variable distance to the point where the steeper descent (the Continental Slope) to the ocean bottom begins, commonly at a depth of about 600 feet (183 meters).
aquaculture	farming of plants and animals that live in water.
industrial wood	All commercial roundwood products, except fuelwood.
evapotranspiration	the sum of evaporation and transpiration.
capillary phenomena	A phenomenon of water movement caused by Capillarity.
contour	An imaginary line on the surface of the earth connecting points of the same elevation
lock	A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section.
irrigation	The controlled application of water to cropland, hayland, and/or pasture to supplement that supplied through nature.
regeneration level	The quantity of regenerant used in the regeneration of an ion exchange unit or system, usually expressed in pounds per regeneration and/or pounds per regeneration per cubic foot of ion exchanger.
ore	a mineral or solid material containing a precious or useful substance in a quantity and form that makes its extraction/mining profitable Overburden
wet	Consisting of, containing, covered with, or soaked with, water or other liquid; soaked with moisture; having water or other liquid upon the surface.
overbank flows	the component of an instream flow regime that represents infrequent, high flow events that exceed the normal channel
sv	sievert The SI (International System of Units) unit of dose equivalent; 1 Sv = 100 Rem.
dry wash	A stream bed that carries water only during and immediately following rainstorms.
microbiology	The study of organisms that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope
total solids	The amount of solids remaining after all volatile matter has been removed from a biomass sample by heating at 105ºC to constant weight
host	1
aerobic	Characterizing organisms able to live only in the presence of air or free oxygen and conditions that exist only in the presence of air or free oxygen
newhall winds	The local name for winds blowing downward from desert uplands through the Newhall Pass southward into the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles.
pumped hydroelectric storage	storing water for future use in generating electricity
cadmium	A heavy metal that accumulates in the environment.
environmentalism	Advocacy for or work toward protecting the natural environment from destruction or pollution.
estuary	area where the current of a stream meets the ocean and where tidal effects are evident; an arm of the ocean at the lower end of a river.
comment period	Time provided for the public to review and comment on a proposed EPA action or rulemaking after publication in the Federal Register.
mixed funding	Settlements in which potentially responsible parties and EPA share the cost of a response action.
earthquake	A sudden, transient motion or trembling of the earth's crust, resulting from the waves in the earth caused by faulting of the rocks or by volcanic activity.
pyrolox	A super oxidation media serving as a catalyst in the removal of iron, hydrogen sulfide and manganese
conservation education	A comprehensive concept that spans curricula from kindergarten through adult, post-graduate programs and links the subject to natural resource conservation, stressing the characteristics and interrelationships in management and use of our natural resources that will result in knowledgeable citizenry with attitudes of responsibility toward the conservation of those natural resources.
artesian aquifer	a geologic formation in which water is under sufficient hydrostatic pressure to rise above the top of the aquifer in the subsurface
irregularly flooded	A water regime in wetland classification in which tidal water alternately floods and exposes the land surface less often than daily.
earthworks	Engineering work associated with the movement of soils.
inverted siphon	A closed pipeline with its end sections above the middle section, used for crossing under drainage channels, roadways, depressions, or other structures
seawall	Massive structure built along the shore to prevent erosion and damage by wave action.
population	a collection of individuals of one species or mixed species making up the residents of a prescribed area.
benthos	All plants and animals living on or closely associated with the bottom of a body of water.
dominant	A gene that causes an animal to look different than the wild-type and where the homozygous form and the heterozygous form look the same as each other.
habitat fragmentation	The breaking up of habitat into discrete islands through modification or conversion of habitat by management activities.
spring runoff	Snow melting in the spring causes water bodies to rise
ozone	An unstable oxidizing agent, that consists of three oxygen atoms and can be found in the ozone layer in the atmosphere
catabolism	The biological breakdown of materials into their simpler components, i.e., decomposition
division box	(Irrigation) A structure used to divide and direct the flow of water between two or more irrigation ditches.
critical shear stress	The minimum amount of shear stress exerted by stream currents required to initiate soil particle motion
personal measurement	A measurement collected from an individual's immediate environment.
piezometers	Small-diameter wells used to measure groundwater levels.
advance time	The time it takes for water to travel the length of an irrigation furrow.
thermal	Having to do with heat, as a hot spring (Thermal Spring).
commercial frontage	Riparian lands zoned for commercial use.
kelp beds	significant aggregations of a large, fast growing marine algae throughout the water column.
hwm	High Water Mark
verglas	A thin coating of ice, as on rock.
free flow	(Hydraulics) Flow through or over a structure not affected by submergence or backwater.
hydrosphere	region that includes all the earth's liquid water, frozen water, floating ice, frozen upper layer of soil, and the small amounts of water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere.
liquid	a free flowing substance that borrows the shape of its container.
aquatic	term used to describe any organism growing in, living in, or frequenting water; some plants and animals that live in water are called aquatic species Aquifer
water surface elevation	the elevation of a water surface above or below an established reference level, such as sea level.
duff	A spongy layer of decaying leaves, branches, and other organic materials covering the forest floor.
nitrogen dioxide	A gas consisting of one nitrogen and two oxygen atoms
cold-water	Lacking modern plumbing or heating facilities, as a cold-water residence.
hydropneumatic	a water delivery system, usually small, that maintains water pressure in the distribution system by means of pressure in a compressed air tank.
vadose water	Water occurring in the Unsaturated Zone (Vadose Zone) between the land surface and the water table.
solder	Metallic compound used to seal joints between pipes
ash	The mineral content of a product remaining after complete combustion.
annulus pressure	The positive pressure maintained by a fluid introduced between the well piping and the outer wall (casing) of the borehole of an underground Injection Well providing an indication of the integrity of the well.
hydroelectric	Having to do with production of electricity by water power from falling water.
most probable number	The term used to indicate the number of organisms which, according to statistical theory, would be most likely to produce the results observed in certain bacteriological tests; usually expressed as a number in 100 ml of water.
natural experiment	mantle: A less-dense region that encloses Earth's core, and composed of minerals in a hot, plastic state known as magma.
bod	Indicator of waterbody contamination that analyses the rate at which oxygen is consumed
porosity	a measure of the ratio of open space within a rock or soil to its total volume POTWs (Public Owned Treatment Works) - sewage treatment plants precipitation - water falling toward the Earth's surface in the form of rain, drizzle, hail, sleet, or snow pumping lift - distance water must be lifted in a well from the pumping level to the ground surface pumping plant - facility that lifts water up and over hills
ffou	Federal Facilities Oversight Unit
criteria	Standards rules or tests on which a decision can be based.
combustion air	The air fed to a fire to provide oxygen for combustion of fuel.
siberian express	A fierce, cold flow of air that originates in Siberia, then moves into Alaska and northern Canada before moving southward into the United States.
calm	Atmospheric conditions devoid of wind or any other air motion
suspended solids	Solid particles in water which are not in solution.
siltation	Deposition of silt-sized particles.
carbon rationing	limiting the amount of carbon you use each year
glacier	a body of snow and ice that moves like a river
runoff	water that is not absorbed by soil, and drains off the land into bodies of water
ion	An atom or group of atoms which function as a unit, and have a positive (cation) or negative (anion) electrical charge, due to the gain or loss of one or more electrons
seal	A tight and perfect closure as against the passage of water.
evapotranspiration	combination of evaporation and transpiration of water into the atmosphere from living plants and soil
run	The straight fast-moving section of a stream between riffles.
hyperhaline	Term used to characterize waters with salinity greater than 40 0/00 (parts per thousand), due to ocean-derived salts.
best management practice	Conservation measures intended to minimize or mitigate impacts from a variety of land-use activities.
confluence	A rate at which wind flow comes together along an axis oriented normal to the flow in question
day tank	Another name for deaerating tank
biosphere	The transition zone between the earth and the atmosphere within which most terrestrial life forms are found
noncontact recreation	recreational pursuits not involving a significant risk of water ingestion, including fishing, commercial and recreational boating, and limited body contact incidental to shoreline activity
dws	Drinking Water Standards Federal primary drinking water standards, both proposed and final, as set forth by the EPA in 40 CFR § 141 and 40 CFR § 143.
hydro static pressure	A measurement of structural strength and ability to hold water pressure
colvin algorithm	A canal flow control structure technique that operates the gates based on the rate of deviation of the water surface level from the setpoint.
disinfection by-products	Chemicals which are formed when a disinfectant such as Chlorine is added to water that contains organic matter, usually from decaying plant or animal material
bedrock	solid rock underlying soil, gravel or loose boulders; the Canadian Shield is composed of bedrock Best Management Practices
lifetime average daily dose	Figure for estimating excess lifetime cancer risk.
effluent	(1) Something that flows out or forth, especially a stream flowing out of a body of water
water column	an imaginary column extending through a water body from its floor to its surface
red tide	A visible red-to-orange coloration of the sea caused by the presence of a bloom or excessive growth of dinoflagellates in marine waters, resulting in a red, brown, green or yellow tint in the water
loading capacity	The greatest amount of chemical materials or thermal energy that can be added to a stream without exceeding water quality standards established for that stream.
millrace	(1) The fast-moving stream of water that drives a mill wheel
deep-well injection	Deposition of raw or treated, filtered hazardous waste by pumping it into deep wells, where it is contained in the pores of permeable subsurface rock.
absolute humidity	The actual weight of water vapor contained in a unit volume of the atmosphere, usually expressed in grams of water per kilogram of air
mitigation bank	Habitat protection or improvement actions taken expressly for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable, necessary losses from specific future development actions.
"worst drought of record"	The series of (water) years when water supply and hydrologic conditions represented the least ever recorded.
feature	Something tangible that provides a service to society in one form or another or, more simply, benefits certain aspects of society by its very existence
heavy metals	A group of elements (such as chromium, lead, copper and zinc) that can be toxic at relatively low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain.
contiguous habitat	Habitat suitable to support the life needs of a species that is distributed continuously or nearly continuously across the landscape.
pore pressure	Pressure exerted by fluid in the void space of soil or rock; the interstitial (pore) movement of water that may take place through a dam, its foundation, or its abutments.
direct current	a non-oscillating current that flows continually in one direction through a circuit
arhizous	Plant without roots.
soil bioengineering	An applied science that combines structural, biological, and ecological concepts to construct living structures for erosion, sediment, and flood control
breathing zone	Area of air in which an organism inhales.
consolidated aquifer	An aquifer made up of consolidated rock that has undergone solidification or lithification.
water act	a provincial government Act regulating water resources in British Columbia.
strata	Beds, layers, or zones of rocks.
sedimentation	Settling of solid particles in a liquid system due to gravity.
free available chlorine	The concentration of residual chlorine present as dissolved gas, hypochlorous avid or hypochlorite, not combined with ammonia or in other less readily available forms.
stable channel	A stream channel with the right balance of slope, planform, and cross section to transport both the water and sediment load without net long-term bed or bank sediment deposition or erosion throughout the stream segment.
watershed	an area of land that contributes runoff to a specific delivery point such as the mouth of a river
hydrokinetics	The branch of physics having to do with fluids in motion.
ground water prime supply	The long-term average annual percolation to the major ground water basins from precipitation falling on the land and from flows in rivers and streams
oligohaline	Term to characterize water with salinity of 0.5 to 5.0 0/00 (parts per thousand), due to ocean-derived salts.
zero soft	Water with a total hardness less than 1.0 grain per US Gallon (17.1 ppm), as calcium carbonate.
skid	Short-distance moving of logs or felled trees along the surface of the ground from the stump to the point of loading.
aqueous	Containing water; watery.
gallon	A common unit of liquid volume; the U.S
waste collected	The quantity of MSW in a given time period which is collected from municipal and domestic properties and other collection points.
latitude	The measurement of distance north or south of the equator.
landscape	The traits, patterns, and structure of a specific geographic area, including its biological composition, its physical environment, and its anthropogenic or social patterns
emission standard	The maximum amount of air polluting discharge legally allowed from a single source, mobile or stationary.
catalyses	Chemical that increases the rate of a reaction but does not take a direct part in the reaction, so that it is still intact after the reaction has taken place.
channel	A channel is a body of water that connects two larger bodies of water (like the English Channel)
riparian zone	See Riparian Areas.
contributing area	That portion of a watershed which contributes to measured runoff under normal conditions.
distilled water	water that has been purified by distillation (boiling the water off as steam and condensing it back to a liquid, leaving the impurities behind)
silt	the fine-particulate fraction of sediment with particle size between 0.05 and 0.002 mm.
erosion	The wearing away and removal of weathered land surfaces by natural agents such as rain, running water, wind, temperature changes and bacteria.
acceptable daily intake	An estimate of the daily
leaching field	The area used for disposal of liquid through a non-water-tight artificial structure, conduit, or porous material by downward or lateral drainage, or both, into the surrounding permeable soil.
levee	A natural or man-made earthen obstruction along the edge of a stream, lake, or river
littoral zone	(1) The shallow area near the shore of a non-flowing body of water; that portion of a body of fresh water extending from the shoreline lakeward to the limit of occupancy of rooted plants
cofferdam	a watertight enclosure built in a shallow river or creek, which is pumped dry to allow construction activities in isolation of flowing water.
plumbing	The pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus of a water, gas, or sewage system in a building.
carrier	1.The inert liquid or solid material in a pesticide product that serves as a delivery vehicle for the active ingredient
cfu	Colony Forming Units
mole	an amount of a substance weighing the number of grams equal to the total atomic weight in one molecule (or atom)
cut bank	The outside bank of a bend, often eroding opposite a point bar.
strata	(Geology) Distinct horizontal layers in geological deposits
coagulant aid	A material which is not a coagulant, but which improves the effectiveness of a coagulant, often by forming larger or heavier particles, speeding the reactions, or permitting reduced coagulant dosage.
white goods	Large household appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and/or washing machines (see bulk waste).
galvanic cell	A cell which generates an electrical current, consisting of dissimilar metals in contact with each other and with an electrolyte.
carbon footprint	A measure of the your impact on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide
cliff	Often used interchangeably with bank and bluff, in technical descriptions cliff is preferred for the wave-cut nearly vertical acclivity or abrupt slope which borders the waterline, or marks the position of the present or former shore lines of lakes.
mechanical flotation	A term used in the mineral industry to describe the use of dispersed air to produce bubbles that measure 0.2 to 2 mm in diameter.
nucleation	Any process by which the phase change of a substance to a more condensed state (condensation, sublimation, freezing) is initiated at certain loci, nuclei, within the less condensed state.
spring	Ground water seeping out of the earth where the water table exceeds the ground surface.
storm tracks	The path or tracks generally followed by a cyclonic disturbance.
alternative solution	see Option.
boundary water	A river or lake that is part of the boundary between two or more countries or provinces that have rights to the water.
fumarole	A hole or orifice in a volcanic region, and usually in lava, from which issue gases and vapors at high temperature.
groundwater recharge	The inflow to an aquifer.
code	Those regulations which the department having jurisdiction may lawfully adopt.
revetment	Shore protection structure made with stones/ rock laid on a sloping face.
compliance	meeting all applicable drinking water regulations.
hogback ridge	Any ridge with a sharp summit and steep slopes of nearly equal inclination on both flanks, and resembling in outline the back of a hog.
drawdown	the distance between the static water level and the pumping water level in a well or an aquifer.
xylan	A polymer of xylose with a repeating unit of CHO, found in the hemicellulose fraction of biomass
log deck	Also called log landing, log yard, brow or bunching area
gas	a fluid having neither independent shape nor volume, but tending to expand indefinitely
formation	(Geology) A body of rock or soil of considerable thickness that has characteristics making it distinguishable from adjacent geologic structures.
hazardous substance	1
uniformity coefficient	A measure of the variation in particle sizes of ion exchange resins and filter media
frost heave	Ruptured soil, rock, or pavement caused by the expansion of freezing water immediately beneath the surface.
fema designated flood zone	FEMA designates Flood Zones, which are zones where water overflows from a river or stream during extreme storm events
delta	an alluvial deposit made of rock particles (sediment, and debris) dropped by a stream as it enters a body of water.
certified water right	A state-issued document that serves as legal evidence that an approved application has been physically developed and the water put to beneficial use
color	(1) Measured in units that relate to a standard
british thermal unit	A unit of heat energy equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit
current	the portion of a stream or body of water which is moving with a velocity much greater than the average of the rest of the water
agroecosystem	Land used for crops, pasture, and livestock; the adjacent uncultivated land that supports other vegetation and wildlife; and the associated atmosphere, the underlying soils, groundwater, and drainage networks.
tributary	(1) A stream which joins another stream or body of water
habitat	the place or type of site where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows
algae	simple rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters in proportion to the amount of available nutrients
landslide	A mass of material that has slipped downhill under the influence of gravity, frequently occurring when the material is saturated with water.
cropland	Total cropland includes five components; cropland harvested, crop failure, cultivated summer fallow, cropland used only for pasture, and idle cropland.
community composting	System at a community level within a defined area with purpose of composting the putrescible fraction of MSW.
ex-situ	Outside the original location
freezing fog	Used to describe the phenomena when fog is present and the air temperature is below 0°C
bacteria	Unicellular microorganisms which typically reproduce by cell division
infiltration	The movement of water through the soil surface into the soil.
supercool	To cool a liquid below a transition temperature without the transition occurring, especially to cool below the freezing point of water without solidification into ice.
siltation	The deposition or accumulation of fine soil particles.
waste streams	Unused solid or liquid by-products of a process.
extraction well	A discharge well used to remove groundwater or air.
sympatric	Describing different species or populations that live in the same geographical area.
federal disaster area	Before a community is eligible for disaster assistance from the federal government, it must be declared a Federal Disaster Area
sink	(1) Generally, a dry or intermittently dry lakebed in the lowest spot of a closed valley; a depression in the land surface, especially one having a central playa or saline lake with no outlet
roughness coefficient	(Hydraulics) A factor in velocity and discharge formulas representing the effect of channel roughness on energy losses in flowing water.
plastic soil	A soil capable of being molded or deformed continuously and permanently, by relatively moderate pressure into various shapes.
demand-side waste management	Prices whereby consumers use purchasing decisions to communicate to product manufacturers that they prefer environmentally sound products packaged with the least amount of waste, made from recycled or recyclable materials, and containing no hazardous substances.
dosimeter	An instrument to measure dosage; many so-called dosimeters actually measure exposure rather than dosage
ethanol	An alternative automotive fuel derived from grain and corn; usually blended with gasoline to form gasohol.
petroleum derivatives	chemicals formed when gasoline breaks down in contact with water.
well injection	the subsurface placement of fluids into a well.
embankment	An artificial deposit of material that is raised above the natural surface of the land and used to contain, divert, or store water, support roads and railways, or for other similar purposes.
land reclamation	Making land capable of more intensive use by changing its general character, as by drainage of excessively wet land, irrigation of arid or semiarid land, or recovery of submerged land from seas, lakes, and rivers.
oil and gas waste	Gas and oil drilling muds, oil production brines, and other waste associated with exploration for, development and production of crude oil or natural gas.
skew t-log p diagram	A thermodynamic diagram, using the temperature and the logarithm of pressure as coordinates
phytoplankton	free-floating, mostly microscopic aquatic plants.
small moorings	an anchorage typically comprised of concrete anchor blocks, chains, rope and floats, anchored to the bottom of a water body in open water and away from the shoreline and used to secure a boat or to hold a channel marker in place as a navigational aid
pumping-generating plant	A plant at which the turbine-driven generators can also be used as motor-driven pumps.
nautical mile	A unit of length used in sea and air navigation, based on the length of one minute of arc of a great circle, especially an international and U.S
limicolous	Living in mud.
acute toxicity	Toxic effects which can cause rapid (acute) deleterious effects on biological (human, animal, plant) systems.
euphotic	Of, relating to, or being the uppermost layer of a body of water that receives sufficient light for Photosynthesis and the growth of green plants
hydrographic study area	An area of hydrological and climatological similarity so subdivided for study purposes.
development	economic growth: A term that refers to an economy that is increasing in size over time, usually due to increases in both population and per capita resource use
contamination	The presence of foreign matter in a substance which reduces the value of the substance, or interferes with its intended use.
passive solar water heater	A water heating system that does not require mechanical pumps or controls to create hot water for domestic use.
hydraulic jump	The rapid change in the depth of flow from a low stage to a high stage, resulting in an abrupt rise of water surface.
semivolatile organic compounds	Compounds that evaporate slowly at normal temperatures.
gram-milliequivalent	The equivalent weight of a substance in grams, divided by one thousand.
connate water	Water that was trapped in the interstices of a sedimentary or extrusive igneous rock at the time of its deposition
saline sodic land	Soil that contains soluble salts in amounts that impair plant growth but not an excess of exchangeable sodium.
dominant plant	the plant species controlling the environment.
anode	A site in electrolysis where metal goes into solution as a cation leaving behind an equivalent of electrons to be transferred to an opposite electrode, called a cathode.
reuse	The additional use of previously used water.
work plan	The site work plan describes the technical activities to be conducted during the various phases of a remediation project.
sinkhole	A depression in the earth's surface caused by dissolving of underlying limestone, salt, or gypsum
still water	A flat or level section of a stream where no flow or motion of the current is discernible and the water is still.
shear stress	the frictional force per unit area exerted on a streambed by flowing water
benthic zone	The lower region of a body of water including the bottom.
backwater curve	The longitudinal profile of the water surface in an open channel where the water surface is raised above its normal level by a natural or artificial obstruction
minimum tillage farming	A farming technique that reduces the degree of soil disruption
claypan	(1) A dense, compact layer in the subsoil having a much higher clay content than the overlying material from which it is separated by a sharply defined boundary
oxidation-reduction potential	The electric potential required to transfer electrons from the oxidant to the reductant, used as a qualitative measure of the state of oxidation in water treatment systems.
water requirement	The total quantity of water, regardless of its source, required for production of crops at their normal growth under field conditions
alveoli	small air "sacks" deep in the lungs where exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen occurs.
sediment	Particles of rock covering a size range from clay to boulders.
acidity	The quantitative capacity of water to neutralize a base, expressed in ppm or mg/L calcium carbonate equivalent
catalyst	a substance that alters the velocity of a chemical reaction and may be recovered essentially unaltered in form and amount at the end of the reaction.
interbasin transfer	The diversion of water from one drainage basin to one or more other drainage basins.
armoring	the formation of an erosion-resistant layer of relatively large particles on a streambed or bank resulting from removal of finer particles by erosion.
negative declaration	A California Environmental Quality Act document issued by the lead regulatory agency when the initial environmental study reveals no substantial evidence that the proposed project will have a significant adverse effect on the environment, or when any significant effects would be avoided or mitigated by revisions agreed to by the applicant.
absolute	The micron rating of a filter
erosion control	The application of necessary measures including artificial structures, vegetative manipulation, water control, or physical soil changes to minimize soil erosion.
design flood	The flood magnitude selected for use as a criterion in designing flood control works
athalassohaline lake	A term used to describe a saline lake which is not of marine origin
braided stream	a stream having multiple sub-channels that meander away from each other, separated by branch islands or channel bars, and then reunite at intervals.
oxidant	a chemical agent that oxidizes.
flush tank	A tank or chamber in which water is stored for rapid release to flush a toilet or water closet.
emergency episode	(See: air pollution episode.)
circulatory system	Bodily system responsible for blood transport.
spume	(1) Foam or froth on a liquid, as on the sea
creationists	scientific method: This begins with the identification of a question involving the structure or function of the natural world, usually using inductive logic
pyrogens	Substances which produce fever when introduced into humans
flood duration curve	A cumulative frequency curve that shows the percentage of time that specified discharges are equaled or exceeded.
eukaryotic organelles	they may have photosynthetic pigments but lack chloroplasts, the specialized photosynthetic organelles in higher plants, and mitochondria.
solute	The substance which is dissolved in a solvent
infiltration	paving, roofs, roadways or other human structures, impervious cover increases runoff and affects the quantity and composition of non-point source pollution, the quality or state of being impermeable, resisting penetration by water or plant roots.
vegetative controls	Non-Point Source (NPS) Pollution control practices that involve vegetative cover to reduce erosion and minimize loss of pollutants.
adhesion	Molecular attraction that holds the surfaces of two substances in contact, such as water and rock particles
watershed	the geographic area that drains into a particular river.
conductance	A rapid method of estimating the dissolved solids content of a water supply by determining the capacity of a water sample to carry an electrical current.
mass spectrum	Characteristic fingerprint of a substance, which makes its identification possible.
pre-chlorination	The application of chlorine to a water prior to other water treatment processes.
stream reach	An individual first order stream or a segment of another stream that has beginning and ending points at a stream confluence
dissolved air flotation	A procedure of induced flotation with very fine air bubbles or 'micro bubbles',
administrative order	a legal document signed by U.S
annular space	The space between two cylindrical objects, one of which surrounds the other, such as the space between the wall of the drilled hole and the casing, or between a permanent casing and the borehole.
alkali	Various soluble salts, principally of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, that have the property of combining with acids to form neutral salts and may be used in chemical water treatment processes.
scour	the erosive action of flowing water in streams that removes and carries away material from the bed and banks.
commercial species	Tree species suitable for industrial wood products.
landraising	Also called area method of landfilling
bathing water	Water in swimming pools or natural fresh or marine waters used for swimming.
gallon	A unit that is now almost entirely out of date
seacock	(Nautical) A valve in the hull of a boat or ship that may be opened to let in water so as to flood a ballast tank, for example.
hyetography	The branch of meteorology having to do with the geographical distribution and annual variation of rainfall
radical	an atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electrons.
natural radiation	Radiation from cosmic and other naturally occurring radionuclide (such as radon) sources in the environment.
restoration	Measures taken to return a site to pre-violation conditions.
saturated zone	The zone in the earth's crust, extending from the water table downward, in which all open pore spaces in the soil or rock are filled with water at greater than atmospheric pressure
ignitable	Capable of burning or causing a fire.
hazardous waste site	A place where hazardous wastes have been dumped, buried or improperly stored
cavern	a large underground opening in rock (usually limestone) which occurred when some of the rock was dissolved by water
channel	An area that contains continuously or periodically flowing water that is confined by banks and a streambed.
conductivity	ability of a material to carry current or heat.
freezing	the change of a liquid into a solid as temperature decreases
animal studies	Investigations using animals as surrogates for humans with the expectation that the results are pertinent to humans.
autonomy	An organisation has autonomy if it has the authority and responsibility for all six organisational functions required to function effectively
spoil	Soil or rock material excavated from a canal, ditch, basin, or similar construction.
habitat	The native environment or specific surroundings where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives
primacy	Having the primary responsibility for administering and enforcing regulations.
inch	A fall, as of rain or snow, sufficient to cover the surface to the depth of one inch (2.54 centimeters).
salt sink	A body of water too salty for most freshwater uses.
thermal bridge	a part of a building envelope that has high thermal conductivity, lowering the average R-value of the assembly
natural state	as close as possible to the state that existed before anthropogenic alteration.
open system	system in which energy and matter are exchanged between the system and its environment, for example, a living organism.
washout	(1) Erosion of a relatively soft surface, such as a roadbed, by a sudden gush of water, as from a downpour or floods
reef	A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to, or near the surface of a body of water.
in-situ	Refers to remediation work carried out without moving soil or displacing existing structures or buildings
pyrolysis	The breaking apart of complex molecules by heating in the absence of oxygen, producing solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels.
jet	A forceful stream of fluid (as water or gas) discharged from a narrow opening or a nozzle.
boiler scale	mineral deposits from water, such as those found inside pipes or teakettles bond - a promise to repay money borrowed, plus interest, over a specified period of time bond issue - a means of raising large amounts of money for major projects by selling bonds brackish - water containing too much salt to be useful to people but less salt than ocean water by-products - something produced in addition to the principal product
settling basin	a pond created to retain runoff long enough to allow suspended sediment to settle out
diatomaceous	consisting of or abounding in diatoms, a class of unicellular or colonial algae having a silicified cell wall that persists as a skeleton after death.
cape verde islands	A group of volcanic islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa
headgate	the gate that controls water flow into irrigation canals and ditches
public notice	1
cumuliform	Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit vertical development
border irrigation	A surface method of irrigation by flooding between two confining border levees or dikes
silviculture	Management of forest land for timber.
hardness	A property of water which causes an increase in the amount of soap that is needed to produce foam or lather and that also produces scale in hot water pipes, heaters, boilers and other units in which the temperature of water is increased materially
soil thin-layer chromatography	A method used to estimate the potential for leaching a chemical from soil by measuring the mobility of the chemical in soil under controlled conditions.
finished water	(Water Quality) Water that has completed a purification or treatment process; water that has passed through all the processes in a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers
comprehensive plan	(Natural Resource) A plan for water and related land resources development, that does consider all economic and social factors and provides the greatest overall benefits to the region as a whole.
geomorphology	The geologic study of the characteristics, origin, and development of landforms.
dissolved oxygen	The amount of oxygen freely available in water and necessary for aquatic life and the oxidation of organic materials.
water resources sub-area	An approximation of a Water Resources Sub-Region using county boundaries
absolute filter rating	Filter rating meaning that 99.9 % (or essentially all) of the particles larger than a specified micron rating will be trapped on or within the filter.
field-moisture deficiency	The quantity of water which would be required to restore the soil moisture to Field-Moisture Capacity.
water balance	(1) A measure of the amount of water entering and the amount of water leaving a system
scavenger	A polymer matrix or ion exchanger used to remove organics from feedwater prior to a deionization process.
moderate flood hazard areas	Areas between the 100-year and the 500-year flood boundaries are termed Moderate Flood Hazard Areas
low-lying	Lying close to water or ground level as low-lying coastal areas.
surface tension	the property, due to molecular forces in the surface film, that tends to contract the liquid into a form having the least surface/volume ratio.
air plenum	Any space used to convey air in a building, furnace, or structure
delineation	The process of deciding where something, for example, the boundaries of a Wetland, begins and ends.
moa	Memorandum of Agreement
acre-foot	A quantity or volume of water covering 1 acre to a depth of 1 ft; equal to 43,560 ft3, or 325,851 gal.
group	a family of elements with similar chemical properties, represented by a vertical column in the periodic table.
cone penterometer testing	A direct push system used to measure lithology based on soil penetration resistance
nrepc	Natural Resources & Environmental Protection Cabinet
dredging	removal of mud from the bottom of water bodies
sediment	the solid material that settles from a liquid; for example mud will sink and settle at the bottom of a river or stream because it is heavier than water Settling Pond
diversion dam	a barrier built within the active channel of a watercourse in order to divert water along a different flow path.
pore	An opening in a membrane or medium that allows water to pass through.
capillary action	Movement of water through very small spaces due to molecular forces called capillary forces.
isohyet	The line drawn through geographic points recording equal amounts of rainfall during a given time or for a given of storm.
hydrophyte	any plant growing in water or on a substrate that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive water content.
monitoring	Repeated observation, measurement, or sampling at a site, on a scheduled or event basis, for a particular purpose.
equilibrium constant	A value which describes the relationship between chemical species in a system at equilibrium
gully reclamation	use of small dams of manure and straw; earth, stone,or concrete to collect silt and gradually fill in channels of eroded soil.
biological measurement	A measurement taken in a biological medium
contour flooding	Irrigation method resulting in flooding fields from Contour Ditches.
hyporheic zone	The area under the stream channel and floodplain where groundwater and the surface waters of a stream are exchanged freely.
aliquot	A measured portion of a sample taken for analysis
area of shallow flooding	Designated Flood Zones AO and AH on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a one percent or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident
wettability	The relative degree to which a fluid will spread into solid surface in the presence of other immiscible fluids.
malnutrition	A condition caused by an imbalance between what an individual eats and what is required to maintain health
pesticide tolerance	The amount of pesticide residue allowed by law to remain in or on a harvested crop
body water content	That portion of the human body composed of water; expressed as a percentage of total body volume
flowing artesian well	a special case of an artesian well where a water well drilled into a confined aquifer has enough hydraulic pressure for the water to rise to a height above ground surface and to flow at the surface without pumping.
light-emitting diode	A long-lasting illumination technology used for exit signs which requires very little power
inorganic matter	Matter which is not derived from living organisms and contains no organically produced carbon; includes rocks, minerals and metals.
brush mattress	A combination of live stakes, fascines, and live branch cuttings installed to cover and protect stream banks and shorelines.
conservative substances	Non- interacting substances, undergoing no kinetic reactions; chloride and sodium are approximate examples.
dendritic	A drainage pattern in which tributaries branch irregularly in all directions from and at almost any angle to a larger stream
finite volume	a method of solving the governing equations of a numerical model by dividing the spatial domain into a mesh of nodes and corresponding volumes around each node
benthos	All the plant and animals living on or closely associated with the bottom of a body of water.
hydrolysis	A chemical reaction that releases sugars that are normally linked together in complex chains
flood insurance	A means of spreading the cost of flood losses
large woody debris	Pieces of naturally occurring wood larger than 10 ft long and 6 in
cooling electricity use	Amount of electricity used to meet the building cooling load
bioengineering	See Soil Bioengineering.
calcite	Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
service connector	The pipe that carries tap water from a public water main to a building.
hydrous	Containing water, especially water of crystallization or hydration.
cash flow	Net income before non-cash charges, amortization and depreciation
ionization	The process in which atoms gain or lose electrons and thus become ions with positive or negative charges; sometimes used synonymously with dissociation; and separation of molecules into charged ions in solution.
impermeable	Not easily penetrated by water.
affluent	A stream or river that flows into a larger one; a Tributary.
flora	plant population of a region.
cloudburst	a torrential downpour of rain, which by it spottiness and relatively high intensity suggests the bursting and discharge of water from a cloud all at once.
pioneer plants	Herbaceous annual and seedling perennial plants that colonize bare areas as a first stage in secondary succession.
contact time	The actual time which water remains in contact with an oxidizer, regenerant, or water conditioning media within a water treatment system
heath	a vegetation dominated by small shrubs with small hard leaves
travertine	A form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), such as aragonite or calcite, that is precipitated out of hot mineral springs as it cools upon reaching the ground surface
physical stability	The quality which an ion exchange resin must possess to resist changes that might be caused by attrition, high temperatures, and other physical conditions.
backwater pool	A pool that formed from an eddy along a channel margin as a result of an upstream obstruction like a large tree, rootwad, or boulder.
heavy metals	Metals with high atomic weights, such as mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and lead
flue gas	The air coming out of a chimney after combustion in the burner it is venting
friable asbestos	Any material containing more than one-percent asbestos, and that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure
groundwater hydrology	the branch of hydrology that deals with groundwater; its occurrence and movements, its replenishment and depletion, the properties of rocks that control groundwater movement and storage, and the methods of investigation and utilization of ground water.
organic compounds	Chemical compounds based on carbon chains or rings and also containing hydrogen, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements.
return flow	The portion of withdrawn water not consumed by evapotranspiration or system losses that returns to its source or to another body of water.
mud slide	Fast moving soil, rocks and water that flow down mountain slopes and canyons during a heavy a downpour of rain.
surge wave	A Translatory Wave in an open channel resulting from a sudden change in flow of water, such as that caused by opening or closing a gate.
soil management	The basis of all scientific agriculture, which involves six essential practices: (1) proper tillage; (2) maintenance of a proper supply of organic matter in the soil; (3) maintenance of a proper nutrient supply, including water; (4) control of soil pollution; (5) maintenance of the correct soil acidity; and (6) control of erosion.
rainfall component	That part of the flow of a channel attributed to rain falling directly on the surface of the channel.
restoration	Completion of a landfill site to allow planned after-use.
headwaters	the beginning of a river
kame terrace	a terrace of stratified sand and and gravel deposited by streams between a glacier and an adjacent valley wall.
water pollution	Generally, the presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water quality.
reach	in general, a length of stream with relatively homogenous characteristics.
water mass	(Oceanography) An oceanographic term that refers to a large body of water whose density characteristics are distinct from the surrounding aquatic environment because of inherent temperature or salinity differences
water equivalent	The depth or amount of water that would result from the complete melting of a sample of deposited snow, measured in inches of water.
furfural	An aldehyde derivative of certain biomass conversion processes; used as a solvent.
horizontal wells	Extraction and monitoring wells are typically drilled vertically
public hearing	A formal meeting wherein EPA officials hear the public's views and concerns about an EPA action or proposal
emulsifiers	Substances that help in mixing liquids that don't normally mix; e.g., oil and water.
formation	A mappable unit of consolidated or unconsolidated geologic material of a characteristic lithology or assemblage of lithologies
disposal facilities	Repositories for solid waste, including landfills and combustors intended for permanent containment or destruction of waste materials
flood plain	Level land that may be submerged by flood waters.
screen analysis	Method for measuring a proportion of variously sized particles in solid fuels
cypress swamp	A wetland environment common throughout the southeastern United States in which cypress trees are a dominant species.
hybrid	The offspring of genetically different parents; combines the characteristics of the parents or exhibits completely new traits
population density	(1) The number per unit area of individuals of any given species at a given time
artesian	Water held under pressure in porous rock or soil confined by impermeable geological formations.
irrigation canal	A permanent irrigation conduit constructed to convey water from the source of supply to one or more farms.
incidental waste water reclamation	Treated waste water returned to fresh-water streams or other water bodies
flat-water	Of or on a level or slow-moving watercourse.
deposition	The accumulation of material dropped because of a slackening movement of the transporting medium, e.g., water or wind
native species	species that are native to (i.e
waterpower	(1a) The energy produced by running or falling water that is used for driving machinery, especially for generating electricity; (1b) A source of such energy, as a waterfall
water availability model	a numerical surface water flow model used to determine the availability of surface water for water right permitting.
coliform bacteria	non-pathogenic microorganisms used in testing water to indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria.
in vitro	Testing or action outside an organism (e.g
supercritical water	a type of thermal treatment using moderate temperatures and high pressures to enhance the ability of water to break down large organic molecules into smaller, less toxic ones
habitat indicator	a physical attribute of the environment measured to characterize conditions necessary to support an organism, population, or community in the absence of pollutants
bubble policy	Burning
surplus electricity	Energy produced by cogeneration equipment in excess of the needs of an associated factory or business.
asbestos	Any material containing asbestos, that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure
revetment	A facing of stone, bags, blocks, pavement, etc., used to protect a bank against erosion.
crepuscular	Animals that become active or primarily active at dusk, dawn or twilight.
residual detention storage	Detention storage existing at the end of a period of excess rain.
bioassay	a test to determine the relative strength of a substance by comparing its effect on a test organism with that of a standard preparation.
spring melt/thaw	The process whereby warm temperatures melt winter snow and ice
venturi flume	A calibrated measuring flume having a contracted throat section which produces a differential head that can be related to discharge.
mash	A mixture of grain and other ingredients with water to prepare wort for brewing operations.
hydrocarbons	chemical compounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen; also referred to as volatile organic compound.
hydric soil	soil that is wet long enough to periodically produce anaerobic conditions, thereby influencing the growth of plants.
human ecology	(1) A branch of sociology dealing particularly with the spatial and temporal interrelationships between humans and their economic, social, and political organization; (2) The ecology of human communities and populations, especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices.
invertebrate	An animal having no backbone or spinal column
laboratory water	Purified water used in the laboratory as a basis to create solutions or making dilutions
growing stock	A classification of timber inventory that includes live trees of commercial species meeting specified standards of quality or vigor
volume	the space occupied in three dimensions.
water analysis	The determination of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water
biome	Entire community of living organisms in a single major ecological area
planning framework	Refers to the general framework within which strategic planning is conducted
debris dam	A barrier built across a stream channel to retain rock, sand, gravel, silt, or other material.
acl	Alternate Concentration Limits Default concentration levels are established through conservative scientific assumptions but Facility owners/operators may apply for ACLs if they can prove that the ACLs will not pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment
ravine	(1) A deep, narrow valley or gorge in the earth's surface worn by running water
point pollution source	See Point Source (PS).
floodplain	land next to a river that becomes covered by water when the river overflows its banks .
standard project flood	The flood that may be expected from the most severe combination of meteorological and hydrological conditions considered reasonably characteristic of the geographical area in which the drainage basin is located, excluding extremely rare combinations.
pediment	(Geology) A broad, gently sloping rock surface at the base of a steeper slope, often covered with alluvium, formed primarily by erosion.
snow ablation	The removal of snow by the force of the wind.
filter cake	A mixture of sediments that results from filtering and dewatering of treated wastewater.
water-cooled reactor	A nuclear reactor that employs water to cool the reactor core
pics	POCs
irritant	A chemical that can cause temporary irritation at the site of contact.
zinc	The MCL is 5 mg/L, because of problems with the aesthetic quality due to the taste of zinc.
pressure relief pipes	Pipes used to relieve uplift or Pore Pressure in a dam foundation or in the dam structure.
limiting factor	A condition whose absence or excessive concentration, is incompatible with the needs or tolerance of a species or population and which may have a negative influence on their ability to thrive.
supernatant	(1) Floating on the surface
riprap	A layer, facing, or protective mound of rubble or stones randomly placed to prevent erosion, scour, or sloughing of a structure or embankment; also, the stone used for this purpose.
angstrom unit	A unit of wavelength of light equal to .00001 millimeter or .0001 microns.
braided stream	A complex tangle of converging and diverging stream channels (Anabranches) separated by sand bars or islands
designer bugs	Popular term for microbes developed through biotechnology that can degrade specific toxic chemicals at their source in toxic waste dumps or in ground water.
coal gasification	Conversion of coal to a gaseous product by one of several available technologies.
wastewater	water that has been used for domestic or industrial purposes.
anhydrous	Without water, especially water of crystallization; not hydrated (Dehydrated).
trihalomethanes	Toxic chemical substances that consist of a methane molecule and one of the halogen elements fluorine, bromine, chlorine and iodine attached to three positions of the molecule
industrial process waste	Residues produced during manufacturing operations.
plutonium	A radioactive metallic element chemically similar to uranium.
site series	sites capable of producing the same late seral or climax plant communities within a biogeoclimatic subzone or variant.
relative risk assessment	Estimating the risks associated with different stressors or management actions.
back swamp	Marshy area of a flood plain at some distance from and lower than the banks of a river confined by natural levees.
pluvial	pertaining to precipitation.
trihalomethanes	chemical compounds in which three of the four hydrogen atoms of methane (CH4) are replaced by halogen atoms
grain	(gr) A unit of weight equal to 1/7000th of a pound or 0.0648 gram.
cloud chamber	A vessel containing air saturated with water vapor whose sudden expansion reveals the passage of an ionizing particle by a trail of visible droplets.
venturi	A tube with a tapered throat which causes an increase in velocity thus a decrease in pressure of the fluid passing through it
pigment	A substance, such as chlorophyll or melanin, that produces a characteristic color in plant or animal tissue.
critical effect	The first adverse effect, or its known precursor, that occurs as a dose rate increases
chlorobenzene	A volatile organic compound that is often used as a solvent and in the production of other chemicals. It is a colorless liquid with an almond-like odor
short wave	A progressive wave of smaller amplitude, wave length, and duration than a long wave
net present value	The sum of the costs and benefits of a project or activity
drilling fluid	Fluid used to lubricate the bit and convey drill cuttings to the surface with rotary drilling equipment
acute exposure	A single exposure to a toxic substance that may result in severe biological harm or death
wire-to-water efficiency	The efficiency of a pump and motor together
limestone	A sedimentary rock, largely calcium carbonate, usually also containing significant amounts of magnesium carbonate.
evaporation opportunity	The ratio of the rate of evaporation from a land or water surface in contact with the atmosphere, to the Evaporativity under existing atmospheric conditions
flow rate	The volume of solution which passes through a given quantity of resin within a given time
cycle	a process that repeats itself.
immersible	Capable of being completely immersed in water without suffering damage.
hydroxyl radical	an oxygen and hydrogen atom occurring as a group (OH-).
inorganic	Containing no carbon; matter other than plant or animal.
uv	Ultra Violet
osmosis	Water molecules passing through membranes naturally, to the side with the highest concentration of dissolved impurities.
rainfall intensity-duration curve	A curve showing the relationship between average rainfall or precipitation depth (or the rate) and storm duration in a given area.
intermittent stream	Any nonpermanent flowing drainage feature having a definable channel and evidence of scour or deposition
triglyceride	A combination of glycerol and three fatty acids
building envelope	The exterior surface of a building's construction - the walls, windows, roof and floor
reuse	Water that is discharged by one user and is used by other users
resource recovery	The process of obtaining matter or energy from materials formerly discarded.
drainage area	The total surface area upstream of a point on a stream that drains toward that point
stream channel	A long, narrow depression shaped by the concentrated flow of a stream and covered continuously or periodically by water.
water quality standards	(1) A plan for water quality management containing four major elements: water use; criteria to protect uses; implementation plans, and enforcement plans
ion	an isolated electron or positron; an atom or molecule which by loss or gain of one or more electrons has acquired a net electric charge.
energy from waste	EP Tox Test
air photo	A photograph of the earth's surface taken from the air
outer shell	Outer covering of an element usually perforated or screen.
aqueduct	a pipe, conduit, channel or canal used to transport water, generally by gravity.
multiple manual handling	Inefficient handling of MSW whereby the same load of waste has to be manually handled several times
inspection and maintenance	1
eagre	A high, often dangerous wave caused by the surge of a flood tide upstream in a narrowing Estuary or by colliding tidal currents
supply augmentation alternatives	Water management programs that increase supply, for example, Conjunctive Use, Water Banking, or water project facility expansion.
subwatershed	Drainage area composed of two or more Subbasins.
recycling economic development advocates	Individuals hired by state or tribal economic development offices to focus financial, marketing, and permitting resources on creating recycling businesses.
culvert	one or more pipes, pipe arches, or structures covered with soil and lying below the road surface, used to carry water, but does not include log structures.
adit	a horizontal entrance, or passage, in a mine
critical habitat	Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat is defined as (1) the specific areas within the geographic area occupied by a federally listed species on which are found physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species and that may require special management considerations or protections; (2) specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by a listed species, when it is determined that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.
rapids	A reach of stream that is characterized by small falls and turbulent high velocity water.
turbid	thick or opaque with matter in suspension
algicide	substance or chemical used specifically to kill or control algae.
flowline	(1) The general path that a particle of water follows under laminar flow conditions
mismatch	A condition in which water supplied to a given point in a conveyance or distribution system does not equal the demand for water at that point.
dehydrate	(1) To remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water
eductor	A device utilizing a nozzle and throat and installed in a stream of water to create a partial vacuum to draw air or liquid into the stream
detergent	synthetic washing agent that helps remove dirt and oil
outdoor air supply	Air brought into a building from outside.
flare	A control device that burns hazardous materials to prevent their release into the environment; may operate continuously or intermittently, usually on top of a stack.
connate water	water trapped in the pore spaces of a sedimentary rock at the time it was deposited
drift organisms	Benthic organisms temporarily suspended in the water and carried downstream by the current.
thermal gradient	A temperature difference between two areas.
retainer	Any device which holds a component in place.
right of capture	the idea that the water under a person's land belongs to that person and they are free to capture and use as much as they want
carbonate hardness	Water hardness caused by the presence of Carbonate and Bicarbonate of calcium and magnesium
dry hydrants	A siphon buried beneath the water line that enables fire crews to draw, or "draft" water from ponds or other bodies of water located nearby
distributor	A device or system designed to produce even flow through all sections of an ion exchanger or filter bed, and to retain the media in the tank or vessel; usually installed at the top and bottom of loose media systems
molecule	the smallest particle of a compound that can exist in the free state and still retain the characteristics of the compound.
irrigation	The supply of water to farmland so that crops can grow in areas wherewater supplies are scarce or unreliable
backwater	(1) A small, generally shallow body of water attached to the main channel, with little or no current of its own, or (2) A condition in subcritical flow where the water surface elevation is raised by downstream flow impediments.
natural flow	the rate of water movement past a specified point on a natural stream
bay	A bay is a body of water that is partly enclosed by land (and is usually smaller than a gulf).
agglomeration	(Water Quality) The grouping of small suspended particles into larger particles that are more easily removed through filtration, skimming, or settling
redox	A shortened term for oxidation-reduction
volumetric water content	That portion of the volume of a soil sample that is occupied by water, expressed as percent by volume.
zone of saturation	The layer beneath the surface of the land in which all openings are filled with water.
odor threshold	The minimum odor of a water sample that can just be detected after successive dilutions with odorless water
resource	something valuable that can be used to support life or make it easier
great divide	The watershed of North America comprising the line of highest points of land separating the waters flowing west from those flowing north or east, coinciding with various ranges of the Rocky Mountains, and extending south-southeast from Northwestern Canada to Northwestern South America
urban agglomeration	Total contiguous heavily populated area around a city, which may spill over defined political boundaries.
water privilege	The right to use water especially as a source of mechanical power.
biomass	All of the living material in a given area; often refers to vegetation.
scrap	Materials discarded from manufacturing operations that may be suitable for reprocessing.
gravimetric	Measurement of matter on the basis of weight.
chlorophyll a	A green pigment, found in all plants that undergo photosynthesis, that is used as an indicator of algal growth in a water body.
activation	treatment of a substance by heat, radiation, or activating reagent to produce a more complete or rapid chemical or physical change.
satellite images	Images taken by a weather satellite that reveal information, such as the flow of water vapor, the movement of frontal system, and the development of a tropical system
resin	Synthetic organic ion exchange material, such as the high capacity cation exchange resin widely used in water softeners
diffusion	The movement of gas molecules or aerosols into liquids, caused by a concentration gradient.
r&d	Research & Development
clam-flat	(New England) A level stretch of soft tidal mud where clams burrow.
canoe	A light narrow boat made of bark, aluminum, or fiberglass
slow pyrolysis	Thermal conversion of biomass to fuel by slow heating to less than 842°F (450°C), in the absence of oxygen.
litter	Mass Burn
triazine herbicide	A class of herbicides containing a symmetrical triazine ring (a nitrogen-heterocyclic ring composed of three nitrogens and three carbons in an alternating sequence)
pressure differential	The difference in pressure between two points.
percolation	The downward movement of water through the soil or alluvium to a groundwater table.
amd	Acid Mine Drainage
demand-sdte waste management	System whereby consumers use purchasing decisions to communicate to product manufacturers that they prefer environmentally sound products packaged with the least amount of waste, made from recycled or recyclable materials, and containing no hazardous substances.
alfalfa valve	A screw-type valve placed on the end of a pipe to regulate the flow of water.
water losses	Water which is unavailable or lost from a particular containment system.
halcyon days	With respect to water, generally refers to idyllic by-gone days when supplies of an area's fresh water were relatively abundant with respect to the demands of man.
wood	A solid lignocellulosic material naturally produced in trees and some shrubs, made of up to 40%–50% cellulose, 20%–30% hemicellulose, and 20%–30% lignin.
literacy rate	The percentage of people who can read and white
fluidised bed incinerator	An incinerator that uses a bed of hot sand or other granular material to transfer heat directly to waste
radioactive substances	Substances that emit ionizing radiation.
vertical-velocity curve	A curve showing how the down-gradient velocity varies with depth along a vertical depth-observation line in a surface stream.
canopy	A layer of foliage in a forest stand
bridge	a structure forming or carrying a road over a river or affording passage between two points of land.
pathological waste	Pathological waste means human tissues, organs and body parts and the carcasses and body parts of all animals that were known to have been exposed to pathogens that are potentially dangerous to humans during research, were used in the production of biological or in vivo testing of pharmaceuticals, or that died of a known or suspected disease transmissible to humans.
pre-consumer materials/waste	Materials generated in manufacturing and converting processes such as manufacturing scrap and trimmings and cuttings
in situ	In place
hummocky	Hilly, uneven landscape resulting from deep-seated soil movement, usually of a rotational nature.
cercla-reportable release	A release to the environment that exceeds reportable quantities as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
high-to-low-dose extrapolation	The process of prediction of low exposure risk to humans and animals from the measured high-exposure-high-risk data involving laboratory animals.
air binding	A situation where air enters the filter media and harms both the filtration and backwash processes.
stream piracy	The process whereby a stream rapidly eroding headward cuts into the divide separating it from another drainage basin, and provides an outlet for a section of a stream in the adjoining valley
haline	Term used to indicate dominance of ocean salt.
sublimate	to change from a solid to a vapor.
crocodilians	A category of reptiles that includes alligators, crocodiles, gavials and caiman.
cathodic protection	A technique to prevent corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell.
oxidizing agent	A chemical substance that brings about the oxidation of other substances in chemical oxidation and reduction reactions
check gate	A gate located at a check structure used to control flow.
e. coli	A bacterial species which inhabits the intestinal tract of man and other warm-blooded animals
filtration	the process of passing a liquid or gas through a porous article or mass.
voc	Volatile organic compound Any organic compound that has a low boiling point and readily volatilizes into air (e.g., trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, and trichloroethene)
kdf	A water treatment media employing copper and zinc alloy particulates which have a redox potential
sponson	A light air-filled structure or a winglike part protruding from the hull of a seaplane to steady it on water.
discharge permit	a permit issued by a state or the federal government to discharge effluent into waters of the state or the United States
hydrograph	Graph showing variation of water elevation, velocity, streamflow, or other property of water with respect to time.
bypassing	movement of sand from the accreting updrift side of a structure, inlet or harbour entrance to the eroding downdrift side.
drive casing	Heavy duty steel casing driven along with the sampling tool in cased DP systems
carbonaceous	Materials of or derived from organic substances such as coal, lignite, peat, etc.
sump pump	A pump designed and so placed in a Sump to remove the water or other liquids collected there.
pervious	Allowing passage through, as a material to water.
quality factor	The factor by which the absorbed dose (Rad) is multiplied to obtain a quantity that expresses, on a common scale for all ionizing radiation, the biological damage to exposed persons
condensation	the process of water vapor in the air turning into liquid water, the opposite of evaporation; the water that is condensed.
check dam	a small dam constructed in a ditch or similar place to decrease water velocity and promote the deposition of sediment.
subbasins	One of several basins that form a watershed.
gulf	a large area of sea or ocean partially enclosed by land.
aeration	Any active or passive process by which intimate contact between air and liquid is assured, generally by spraying liquid in the air, bubbling air through water, or mechanical agitation of the liquid to promote surface absorption of air.
mr	milliroentgen A measure of X-ray or gamma radiation
community	Any assemblage of populations of plants and/or animals in a common special arrangement.
subaqueous	Existing, formed, or taking place in or under water.
ethylene glycol	Used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial compounds and in certain cosmetics
sediment dam	A structure used specifically to trap sediment in water and prevent its transport further downstream.
hazard evaluation	A component of risk evaluation that involves gathering and evaluating data on the types of health injuries or diseases that may be produced by a chemical and on the conditions of exposure under which such health effects are produced.
fossil fuel	A fuel, such as coal, crude oil and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals; compare to "Alternative Energy."
conservation tillage	A level of reduced tillage combined with one or more soil and water conservation practices designed to reduce loss of soil or water relative to conventional tillage
ice water	Chilled or iced water, especially served as a beverage.
sunbow	A rainbow-like display of colors resulting from refraction of sunlight through a spray of water
stack	Vertical tube used to raise gases to some height where they can disperse freely.
thermal envelope	the border on a building where conditioned air meets unconditioned space
spray tower scrubber	A device that sprays alkaline water into a chamber where acid gases are present to aid in neutralizing the gas.
bridge abutment	that part of a bridge structure which supports the bridge span at the ends.
green gasoline	A liquid identical to petroleum-based gasoline, but is produced from biomass such as switchgrass and poplar trees
targeting	The process of prioritizing pollutant sources for treatment with BMPs or a specific BMP to maximize the water quality benefits of the implemented BMPs.
conditional license	a license that authorizes the construction of works or the diversion and use of water before the issue of a final license.
preservative	a chemical added to a water sample to keep it stable and prevent compounds in it from changing to other forms or to prevent microorganism densities from changing prior to analysis.
illiteracy	A person who is illiterate is not able to, with understanding, read or write a simple statement about their everyday life nor do simple mathematical calculations
groundwater	Water found beneath the earth's surface that fills pores between soil particles such as sand, clay, and gravel or that fills cracks in bedrock
office paper	High grade papers such as copier paper, computer printout, and stationary almost entirely made of uncoated chemical pulp, although some ground wood is used
air pollution	pollution of the atmosphere
water meter	An instrument for recording the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet.
aggressive water	A term usually applied to waters containing acid or oxygen which hasten corrosion (rusting).
semipermeable membrane	A barrier, usually thin, that permits passage of particles up to a certain size or of a special nature
alternative fuels	similar to above
subsidence	the gradual downward settling or sinking of the Earth's surface with little or no horizontal motion.
media	Specific environments-air, water, soil-which are the subject of regulatory concern and activities.
bios model	BIOSequil, a steady state biosphere model developed by CSIRO Land and Water for quantifying the coupled balances (stores and fluxes) of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and water in Australian landscapes
ferrous metals	Magnetic metals derived from iron or steel; products made from ferrous metals include appliances, furniture, containers, and packaging like steel drums and barrels
holding time	The maximum amount of time a sample may be stored before analysis.
foreshore	Zone between the high water and low water marks.
river	A river is a large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean.
trophic composition	that portion of an Index of Biotic Integrity that is a metric measuring the proportion of species and proportions of omnivores, insectivores, and omnivores.
runoff	Water that is not absorbed by soil and drains off the land into bodies of water, either in surface or subsurface flows.
protozoa	Small, one-celled animals, including amoebae, ciliates and flagellants.
tributary	a stream that contributes its water to another stream or body of water.
macrophyte	macroscopic plants in the aquatic environment
alluvial	relating to, composed of, or found in alluvium.
fly ash	Solid particles that literally fly out of the combustion process
drizzle	Slowly falling precipitation in the form of tiny water droplets with diameters less than 0.02 inches or 0.5 millimeters
bottom land hardwoods	Forested freshwater Wetlands adjacent to rivers in the southeastern United States, especially valuable for wildlife breeding, nesting, and habitat.
scour	(1) To clear, dig, or remove by or as if by a powerful current of water
gallon	A unit of liquid volume; the U.S
chemical element	A fundamental substance comprising one kind of atom; the simplest form of matter.
psig	Pounds per square inch gauge.
method detection limit	See limit of detection.
cogeneration	Co-production of electrical and thermal energy, also called combined heat and power (CHP).
blood products	Any product derived from human blood, including but not limited to blood plasma, platelets, red or white corpuscles, and derived licensed products such as interferon.
delta	A delta is a low, watery land formed at the mouth of a river
stream load	All the material transported by a stream or river either as visible sediment (Bed Load and Suspended Load) or in solution (Dissolved Load).
waterside	(1) Land bordering a body of water; a bank or shore
field-moisture capacity	The quantity of water which can be permanently retained in the soil in opposition to the downward pull of gravity.
precipitate	the discrete particles of material separate from the liquid solution.
contact time	The length of time a substance is in contact with a liquid, before it is removed by filtration or the occurrence of a chemical change.
sustainable development	ecologically sustainable economic system: An economic system that operates without a net consumption of natural resources, and without endangering biodiversity or other ecological values
modified bin method	Way of calculating the required heating or cooling for a building based on determining how much energy the system would use if outdoor temperatures were within a certain temperature interval and then multiplying the energy use by the time the temperature interval typically occurs.
water	clear, colorless, odorless, tasteless liquid comprised of atoms of hydrogen (one atom) and oxygen (two atoms) = H20; essential for plant and animal life on Earth. The "universal solvent".
afloat	Floating on water.
nucleus	The center of an atom, that contains protons and neutrons and carries a positive charge.
tar	A liquid product of thermal processing of carbonaceous materials.
consequent island	An original island
extended family	A large family grouping comprising grandparents, their children and grandchildren, usually living in the one house or grouped set of houses
transmissivity	refers to the rate at which limestone allows the transmission of water
organelles	these species manufacture photosynthetic pigments but lack chloroplasts, the specialized photosynthetic organelles in higher plants, in some situations an increase in blue-green algae can indicate an environmental stress such as pollution.
water wave	Water waves provide one of the most important mechanisms for transporting energy from one point to another on the sea surface
mg/l	The abbreviation for milligrams per liter.
hydrogeomorphic unit	A land form characterized by a specific origin, geomorphic setting, water source, and hydrodynamic.
quantitative analysis	chemical determination of the amounts or proportions of constituents in a substance.
flashiness	a measure of a river or stream's tendency to carry a high percentage of its flow volume in large, infrequent events rather than more moderate flows that occur frequently.
riparian rights	Entitlement of a land owner to certain uses of water on or bordering the property, including the right to prevent diversion or misuse of upstream waters
index of biotic integrity	a multi-metric measure of biological condition developed from collection of data for fish or other organisms
flares	Open flames used to burn off and destroy combustible gases
greenhouse gases	Gases in Earth’s lower atmosphere (troposphere) that cause the greenhouse effect
oil slick	A layer of oil floating on the surface of water.
sediment	material carried in suspension by a flowing body of water and which will ultimately settle to the bottom as water velocity decreases
silt	Slightly cohesive to noncohesive soil composed of particles that are finer than sand but coarser than clay; commonly in the range of 0.004 to 0.0625 mm, silt will crumble when rolled into a ball.
water supplier	one who owns or operates a public water system.
bank stability	The properties of a stream bank that counteract erosion, for example, soil type, and vegetation cover.
depth finder	An instrument used to measure the depth of water, especially by radar or ultrasound.
filter fabric	A polypropylene textile used to keep soil separate from water
eco-design	Eco-design consists of building environmental protection into the design of assets and services
wetland creation	The bringing into existence of a wetland, whether by accident or intentionally, where none existed previously, for purposes including mitigation, habitat provision, and water quality improvement.
swell	Waves that have travelled out of the area in which they were generated.
osmotic pressure	The pressure and potential energy difference that exists between solutions on either side of a semi-permeable membrane
moisture	The amount of water and other components present in the biomass sample that are volatilized at 105ºC.
domestic waste	See Household Waste.
radium	Naturally occurring radioactive elements such as radium 226 and radium 228 created in the decay of the uranium and thorium series
vapor trail	A cloudlike streamer or trail often seen behind aircraft flying in clear, cold, humid air
administrative order	A legal document signed by
tropical wave	Another name for an easterly wave, it is an area of relatively low pressure moving westward through the trade wind easterlies
piezometer	A well structure or tube which allows the level of saturation within a dam to be measured.
leucistic	A pure white animal with dark eyes.
playa lake	a shallow, temporary lake in an arid or semiarid region, covering or occupying a playa in the wet season but drying up in summer; temporary lake that upon evaporation leaves or forms a playa.
snowflakes	An ice crystal or an aggregate of ice crystals which fall from clouds.
bob	To move up and down briefly or repeatedly, as in water.
subsurface irrigation system	Irrigation by means of underground porous tile or its equivalent.
plant community	(Biology) An assemblage of plants characterized or dominated by certain species.
stratopause	The boundary zone or transition layer between the stratosphere and the mesosphere
gallons per minute	A unit expressing rate of discharge, used in measuring well capacity
eutrophic conditions	When water becomes very nutrient-rich (through sewage release etc), there is a sudden increase in the growth of micro organisms (e.g
wf	water factor
magnetometer/magnetometer survey	A magnetometer is an instrument that can detect metal objects buried underground
kwrri	Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute
accuracy	The degree of agreement between a measured value and the true value; usually expressed as +/- percent of full scale.
running water	Water distributed through pipes and fixtures as a house with hot and cold running water.
piezometers	An instrument used to measure the elevation of the water table, i.e
bathyal zone	The ocean stratum beneath the Euphotic Zone and above the Abyssal Zone, or to the bottom of the Continental Shelf
coastal zone	Lands and waters adjacent to the coast that exert an influence on the uses of the sea and its ecology, or whose uses and ecology are affected by the sea.
dehydratase	(Biochemistry) An Enzyme that catalyzes the removal of oxygen and hydrogen from organic compounds in the form of water.
occupational exposure limits	Maximum allowable concentrations of toxic substances in workroom air for workers.
herbivore	an animal that consumes plants
giardia lamblia	a protozoa found in the feces of infected humans and animals that can cause severe gastrointestinal ailments
terminus	Refers to the location of water's final destination, as in the terminus of a river system being a Terminal Lake.
landtype	A land system with a designated soil, vegetation, geology, topography, climate, and drainage situation.
dewlap	A fold of skin hanging from the neck of some bovines, reptiles, and birds.
dual media filtration	A system using two layers of dissimilar media, such as anthracite and sand.
riparian habitat	The aquatic and terrestrial habitat adjacent to streams, lakes, estuaries, or other waterways.
license	see Permit.
capillary zone	The soil area above the water table where water can rise up slightly through the cohesive force of Capillary Action.
channelization	altering the alignment, width, depth, sinuosity, conveyance, or bed or bank material of a river or stream channel.
discharge point	A location at which effluent is released into a receiving stream or body of water.
underground storage tank	A tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has 10% or more of its volume (including pipe volume) beneath the surface of the ground
inline reservoir	A reservoir constructed in line with the canal used to regulate flow for a balanced operation.
drainage basin	land area where precipitation from surrounding high points runs off into streams, rivers, lakes. Also known as a "watershed".
flatboat	A boat with a flat bottom and square ends used for transportation of bulky freight, especially used in shallow waters.
laser land leveling	The use of instruments featuring laser beams to guide earth-moving equipment for leveling land for surface-type irrigation.
sand	Loose particles of hard, broken rock or minerals
aquamarsh	A water body in which the original open water is nearly or completely obscured by emergent, and floating aquatic vegetation
pathogen	An organism that causes disease in another organism
acclimatization	The physiological and behavioral adjustments of an organism to changes in its environment.
dew point	the temperature at which the condensation of a vapor begins; the term is usually applied to condensation of moisture from the water vapor in the atmosphere.
community-based organisation	Community based interest groups formed by the members of a local community to take charge of their interests or to influence events.
grab sample	A sample collected instantaneously with a glass or plastic bottle placed below the water surface to collect surface-water samples (also called dip samples).
internal drainage	(1) Movement of water down through soil to porous aquifers or to surface outlets at lower elevations
heating value	See higher heating value and lower heating value.
daily flood peak	The maximum mean daily discharge occurring in a stream during a given flood event.
cation	a positively charged atom or group of atoms, or a radical which moves to the negative pole (cathode) during electrolysis.
orogeny	period of mountain-building.
source reduction	Reducing the amount of waste entering the MSW stream by redesigning products or patterns of production or consumption (eg using returnable beverage containers)
standing	Water that is not flowing, as stagnant.
debouchure	An opening or mouth, as of a river or stream.
bimetal	Beverage containers with steel bodies and aluminum tops; handled differently from pure aluminum in recycling.
plate and frame filter	Type of pressure filter which consists of a series of plates matched with frames to sandwich media for flow in one side, through the media and out the other side.
live branch cuttings	Living, freshly cut branches from woody shrub and tree species that readily propagate when embedded in soil.
chemical weathering	attack and dissolving of parent rock by exposure to rainwater, surface water, oxygen, and other gases in the atmosphere, and compounds secreted by organisms
dams	human-made or animal-made barrier across a stream or river that holds and regulates flow of water.
catchment	the area determined by topographic features within which rainfall will contribute to runoff at a particular point under consideration
channel scour	Erosion by flowing water and sediment on a stream channel; results in removal of mud, silt, and sand on the outside curve of a stream bend and the bed material of a stream channel.
greenhouse effect	The heat effect due to the trapping of the sun's radiant energy, so that it cannot be reradiated
nervous system	Bodily system that is responsible for muscle movement and cognition.
corrasion	The wearing away of earth materials through the cutting, scraping, scratching, and scouring effects of solid material carried by water or air.
tributary	A stream that contributes its water to another stream or body of water.
postconsumer recycled content	material used and then recycled by consumers, as distinguished from the recycled by-products of manufacturing, called preconsumer (postindustrial) recycled content.
canal pool	Canal section between check structures
cross connection	A physical connection through which a supply of potable water could become contaminated
monoculture	The cultivation of a single species crop.
sea mile	A unit of length used in sea and air navigation, based on the length of one minute of arc of a great circle, especially an international and U.S
salinity	The concentration of mineral salts dissolved in water
mitigation	Actions taken to improve site conditions by limiting, reducing or controlling hazards and contamination sources.
cooling pond	a pond where hot water from factories and power plants is stored until it is the same temperature as nearby bodies of water.
cwa	Clean Water Act (EPA).
katafront	A front where the warm air descends the frontal surface, except in the low layers of the atmosphere.
turbellarian	The tiny eddies created in water by the cilia any of a class (Turbellaria) of mostly aquatic and free-living flatworms (as a planarian).
steam turbine	A device for converting energy of high-pressure steam produced in a boiler into mechanical power
ultra violet	Radiation that has a wavelength shorter than visible light
cumulative impact	The term cumulative impact is used in several ways:
porosity	Degree to which soil, gravel, sediment, or rock is permeated with pores or cavities through which water or air can move.
methyl orange alkalinity	A measure of the total alkalinity in a water sample in which the color of methyl orange reflects the change in level.
water application efficiency	The ratio of the volume of water stored in the root zone of a soil during irrigation to the volume of water applied.
pool	A reach of stream that is characterized by deep low velocity water and a smooth surface.
eluviation	(1) The removal of soil material in suspension (or in solution) from a layer or layers of a soil
permeability	A measure of how well a liquid moves through the pores of a solid
global warming potential	The ratio of the warming caused by a substance to the warming caused by a similar mass of carbon dioxide
lowland flooding	Inundation of the very lowest portions of floodplain areas near a river, stream or lake, which are normally subject to frequent flooding; usually considered nuisance flooding.
hydrodynamic loads	Forces imposed on structures by floodwaters due other impacts of moving water on the upstream side of the structure, drag along its sides, and eddies or negative pressures on its downstream side.
subclimax	(Ecology) A stage in the ecological succession of a plant or animal community immediately preceding a Climax, and often persisting because of the effects of fire, flood, or other conditions.
vortex	Any circular or rotary flow in the atmosphere that possesses vorticity.
air quality control region	An interstate or intrastate area designated by the U.S
irradiation	Exposure to radiation
substrate size	The diameter of streambed particles such as clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobble and boulders.
oligotrophic	having a low supply of plant nutrients
field sprinkler system	A system of closed conduits carrying irrigation water under pressure to orifices designed to distribute the water over a given area.
aquifer	A layer or zone below the surface of the earth which is capable of yielding a significant volume of water.
czma	Coastal Zone Management Act (EPA).
biocide	Product typically used to kill microorganisms.
critical area	An area that has certain ground water problems, such as declining water levels due, for example, to the use of underground water that approaches or exceeds the current recharge rate
hammer-mill	A high-speed machine that uses hammers and cutters to crush, grind, chip, or shred MSW.
nominal rating	A rating used by some filter manufacturers to describe the
sound	A narrow body of water separating an island from the mainland.
erosion	the wearing away of the land surface by wind, water, ice or other geologic agents
watershed	An area of land surface defined by a topographic divide that collects precipitation into a stream
fuse	a protective device containing a short piece of wire that melts and breaks when current through it exceeds a rated value, thus de-energizing the circuit.
natural flow	The rate of water movement past a specified point on a natural stream from a drainage area for which there have been no effects caused by stream diversion, storage, import, export, return flow, or change in Consumptive Use caused by man-controlled modification to land use
liter	The basic metric unit of volume; 3.785 liters equals one U.S
tailrace	The channel that is downstream of the draft tube that carries the water discharged from a turbine
benthic organism	A form of aquatic life that lives on or near the bottom of streams, lakes, or oceans.
downdrift	Direction of alongshore movement of beach materials.
volatile matter	Those products, exclusive of moisture, given off by a material as a gas or vapor, determined by definite prescribed methods that may vary according to the nature of the material.
positive charge	The electrical charge on an electrode or ion in solution due to the removal of electrons.
fan	Fabric Filters
flood	(Biblical) The universal deluge recorded in the Old Testament as having occurred during the life of Noah.
smelter	A facility that melts or fuses ore, often with an accompanying chemical change, to separate its metal content
sulfonic acid	A specific acidic group (SO3H) which gives certain cation exchange resins their ion exchange capability.
doe	U.S
metropolitan area	A politically defined urban area set up for planning or administrative purposes which may combine several jurisdictions (municipalities or cities).
navigational water use	Water utilized as a means of commercial (and sometimes recreational) transportation
earthlight	The faint illumination of the dark part of the moon's disk produced by sunlight reflected onto the moon from the earth's surface and atmosphere.
element	The disposable filtering cartridge itself in a replaceable cartridge-type filter.
altocumulus cloud	A fleecy cloud, usually a rounded mass, but which can change radically and unexpectedly, producing intermediate forms, at an average height of 2.5 miles (4 kilometers)
water quality indicators	Constituents or characteristics of water that can be measured to determine its suitability for use.
direct runoff	The runoff entering stream channels most immediately after rainfall or snowmelt
total toxicity	Toxicity as determined by exposing aquatic organisms to samples or dilutions of instream water or treated effluent.
hydronic	A ventilation system using heated or cooled water pumped through a building.
chloramines	Chemical complexes formed from the reaction between ammonia and chlorine being used to disinfect many municipal water supplies
clean development mechanism	(CDM)The Clean Development Mechanism encourages the realization of environmental projects in developing countries
wind speed	The rate of the motion of the air on a unit of time
cold	A condition marked by low or decidedly subnormal temperature
discontinuity	Comparatively large contrast in meteorological elements over a relatively small distance or period of time
bond	Attractive force that holds atoms together in a molecule.
boom	1
operating pressure	The normal ones sure at which a system operates.
seasonal or intermittent streams	Streams which flow only at certain times of the year when it receives water from springs, rainfall, or from surface sources such as melting snow
aeration	the mixing or turbulent exposure of water to air and oxygen to dissipate volatile contaminants and other pollutants into the air.
circulation cells	Large areas of air movement created by the rotation of the earth and the transfer of heat from the equator toward the poles
beta particles	Very high-energy particle identical to an electron, emitted by some radioactive elements. Depending on their energy, they penetrate a few centimeters of tissue.
caisson	(1) A watertight structure within which construction work is carried on under water
site	(Environmental) An area or place within the jurisdiction of the U.S
service area	The geographical land area served by a distribution system of a water agency.
quartzite	(Geology) A hard Metamorphic Rock made up of interlocking quartz grains that have been cemented by silica.
geophysical log	A record of the structure and composition of the earth encountered when drilling a well or similar type of test or boring hole.
finite difference	a method of solving the governing equations of a numerical model by dividing the spatial domain into a mesh of nodes
water cycle	continuous movement of water from the oceans and fresh water sources to the air and land and then back to the oceans.
opacity	The amount of light obscured by particulate pollution in the air; clear window glass has zero opacity, a brick wall is 100 percent opaque
packed tower	A pollution control device that forces dirty air through a tower packed with crushed rock or wood chips while liquid is sprayed over the packing material
curl	A hollow arch of water formed when the crest of a breaking wave spills forward.
recycling	Refractory
sea breeze	The sea-to-land surface wind that typically occurs in coastal areas during the day
average year water demand	Demand for water under average hydrologic conditions for a defined level of development.
nomadic	A way of life in which there is no permanent residence site and the group moves from place to place according to the season, the available of food supply and other such factors; the route of travel often follows a traditional pattern.
rugosity	A term used to indicate the degree of roughness of a test-well caused by drilling and subsequent wash-outs
quality of life	The standard of life that an individual enjoys
total phosphate	Phosphorus present in natural waters is usually found in the form of phosphates (PO
asbestos	A general name given a family of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. Asbestos fibers were used mainly for insulation and as a fire retardant material in ship and building construction and other industries, and in brake shoes and pads for automobiles. Inhaling asbestos fibers has been shown to result in lung disease (asbestosis) and in lung cancer (mesothelioma). The risk of developing mesothelioma is significantly enhanced in smokers.
bedrock	(Geology) The solid rock beneath the soil (Zone of Aeration or Zone of Saturation) and superficial rock
siltation	deposition of sediments from water in channels, harbours, etc
micron	A linear measure equal to one millionth of a meter, or .00003937 inch
glacial drift	a general term for rock material transported by glaciers or icebergs and deposited directly on land or in the sea.
diurnal	Pertaining to actions or events that occur during a twenty-four hour cycle or recurs every twenty-four hours
photosynthesis	The manufacture by plants of carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide mediated by chlorophyll in the presence of sunlight.
hydraulic	Operated, moved or effected by means of water.
pm10	Particles in the atmosphere with a diameter of less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers
drip irrigation	A planned irrigation system in which water is applied directly to the Root Zone of plants by means of applicators (orifices, emitters, porous tubing, perforated pipe, etc.) operated under low pressure
canal	A constructed open channel for transporting water.
riffle	A shallow part of the stream where water flows swiftly over completely or partially submerged obstructions to produce surface agitation.
water-related land	Land on which projected use and/or management practices may significantly affect the runoff pattern or quality of the water resources to which it relates and land that is significantly affected by existing or proposed measures for management or use of the water resources to which it relates.
base flow	The sustained portion of stream discharge that is drawn from natural storage sources, and not effected by human activity or regulation.
dabble	To bob forward and under in shallow water so as to feed off the bottom.
sara	Federal Species At Risk Act
bod5	The oxygen demand associated with biochemical oxidation of carbonaceous, as distinct from nitrogenous, material
total activity	The total quantity of radioactive decay particles that are emitted from a sample.
stage ii controls	Systems placed on service station gasoline pumps to control and capture gasoline vapors during refuelling.
retrofit	Addition of a pollution control device on an existing facility without making major changes to the generating plant
petrochemicals	Chemical substances produced from petroleum in refinery operations. Many are hazardous.
land cover	the physical state of the land surface, including vegetation, soil, rock and human made structures, but specifically used in relation to vegetational changes, to describe the proportion of land covered by vegetation
weather	climate change: Long-term changes in air, soil, or water temperature; precipitation regimes; wind speed; or other climate-related factors.
cryptodepression	Lake basin whose deep parts are below sea level.
soft detergents	Cleaning agents that break down in nature.
bioindicators	Organisms that are used to detect changes in environmental pollutant levels.
shaft horsepower	A measure of the actual mechanical energy per unit time delivered to a turning shaft
dense fog advisory	Advisory issued when fog reduces visibility to 1/8 mile or less, creating possible hazardous conditions.
anion	A negatively charged ion that results from the dissociation of salts, acids or alkalis in solution.
operable unit	a term used by the Superfund program to describe a discrete action that comprises an incremental step toward comprehensively addressing site problems
cover crop	A crop that provides temporary protection for delicate seedlings and/or provides a cover canopy for seasonal soil protection and improvement between normal crop production periods.
soil horizon	a layer of soil that is distinguishable from adjacent layers by characteristic physical and chemical properties.
cone of depression	A depression in the water table that develops around a pumped well.
valley	Low land between hills and mountains.
cumulative effects	the combined environmental impacts that accumulate over time and space as a result of a series of similar or related individual actions, contaminants, or projects
residual chlorine	The amount of chlorine found in the water after treatment.
mouth	the point at which a river empties into another body of water
instream flow needs	Those habitat requirements within the running water Ecosystem related to current velocity and depth which present the optimum conditions of density (or diversity) or physiological stability to the aquatic organisms being examined at various life cycle stages.
poikilothermal	Term used for variable temperature cold-blooded animals.
indoor air	The breathable air inside a habitable structure or conveyance.
dry sclerophyll	a type of eucalypt forest found in moderate rainfall (less than 1000 mm per year) areas sometimes called 'open forests' (see wet sclerophyll)
tonnage	The number of tons of water that a ship displaces when afloat.
prognostic chart	A chart of forecast predictions that may include pressure, fronts
arsenic	A gray, brittle and highly poisonous metal
buffer	A substance that reacts with hydrogen or hydroxyl ions in a solution, in order to prevent a change in pH.
bentonite	A colloidal clay, expansible when moist, commonly used to provide a tight seal around a well casing.
drought	Term applied to periods of less than average precipitation over a certain period of time.
bed	A mass of ion exchange resin particles or filter media contained in a column.
embeddedness	a measure of the degree that gravel and larger substrates are surrounded by fine particles (silt and sand).
siltation	the deposition, in a water body, of sediments (e.g
desalination	the process of salt removal from sea or brackish water.
pool	A deep reach of a stream
species	One or more animals which closely resemble one another
saturated flow	Underground water flow where void spaces in the soil or rock are filled completely with water.
emission factor	1
irrigation frequency	Time interval between irrigations.
ion	An atom or group of atoms which functions as a unit, and has a positive or negative electrical charge, due to the gain or loss of one or more electrons
ddt	The first chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide chemical name: Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane
volatile organic compound	Any organic compound which evaporates readily to the atmosphere
composite sample	A series of water samples taken over a given period of time and weighted by flow rate.
irrigation period	The number of hours or days that it takes to apply one irrigation to a given design area during the peak consumptive-use period of the crop being irrigated.
local flooding	Flood conditions which occur over a relatively limited area.
benthic organism	a form of aquatic life that lives on the bottom or near the bottom of streams, lakes, or oceans.
dose rate	In exposure assessment, dose per time unit (e.g
sheet piling	Material, typically concrete or steel, placed vertically in the ground to contain erosion or the lateral movement of groundwater.
perforation of wells	Holes in the casing of wells which allow water to flow into the well.
bubble policy	(See: emissions trading.)
severe weather	Generally, any destructive weather event, but usually applies to localized storms, such as blizzards, intense thunderstorms, or tornadoes.
carbon dioxide	A colorless, odorless gas produced by the respiration and combustion of carbon-containing fuels, used by plants as food in the photosynthesis process
tide pool	Habitat in the rocky intertidal zone that retains some water at low tide.
water hammer	The shock wave produced by the abrupt change of water flow through a piping system
potential evapotranspiration	(1) The maximum quantity of water capable of being evaporated from the soil and transpired from the vegetation of a specified region in a given time interval under existing climatic conditions, expressed as depth of water
sterilization	A process in which all living organisms are destroyed
nonwithdrawal use	Use which does not require diversion
sea level	The level of the surface of the sea, especially measured at its mean position midway between mean high and low water
instream flow	Nonconsumptive water requirements which do not reduce the water supply; water flows for uses within a defined stream channel
oecd guidelines	Testing guidelines prepared by the Organization of Economic and Cooperative Development of the United Nations
bank	the sloping land bordering a stream channel that forms the usual boundaries of a channel
contamination	Degradation of water quality compared to original or natural conditions due to human activity.
iron bacteria	Organisms which are capable of utilizing ferrous iron (either from the water or from steel pipe) in their metabolism and precipitating both ferric hydroxide in their sheaths and gelatinous deposits
wetland mitigation bank	An arrangement whereby private developers buy credits of an acre or so each for the right to drain and build on Wetlands on their own property
pool/riffle ratio	The ratio of surface area or length of pools to the surface area or length of riffles in a given stream reach; frequently expressed as a relative percentage of each category
response	The action that follows when a molecule binds to a receptor.
crepuscular rays	Contrasting, alternating bright and dark rays in the sky
public hearing	A formal meeting called by a regulatory agency (such as EPA or EPD) to hear the public's views and concerns about a regulatory action or proposal
aerobic	life or processes that require, or are not destroyed by, the presence of oxygen.
high clouds	A term used to signify cirriform clouds that are composed of ice crystals and generally have bases above 20,000 feet
impoundment	a man-made reservoir built from what was once part of a free-flowing river
endosulfan	An insecticide used on vegetable crops, fruits and nuts.
bedrock	The continuous solid rock of the continental crust
submersed plant	a plant which lies entirely beneath the water surface, except for flowering parts in some species.
rotation	(Irrigation) Water delivery where a relatively constant supply flow is rotated to different users at varying times.
sloping gage	A staff gage used to register the elevation of the water surface in a stream channel, conduit, reservoir or tank, with a scale graduated to represent vertical elevation
antagonist	A molecule that binds to a receptor and does not activate it.
rain	Water falling to earth in drops that have been condensed from moisture in the atmosphere.
well injection	The subsurface emplacement of fluids into a well.
gasahol	Mixture of gasoline and ethanol derived from fermented agricultural products containing at least nine percent ethanol
designer bugs	A popular term for Microbes developed through Biotechnology that can degrade specific toxic chemicals at their source in toxic waste dumps, in ground water, or on the land surface
receiving waters	a river, ocean, stream, or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged.
trickle	To flow or fall in drops or in a thin stream.
secondary raw materials	1
return flow	surface water that returns to the natural environment after diversion for beneficial uses, such as for irrigation.
evaporation	the process by which water is changed to gas or vapor; occurs directly from water surfaces and from the soil.
artesian pressure	The pressure under which Artesian Water in an Artesian Aquifer is subjected, generally significantly greater than atmospheric.
wave machine	A device used for converting the energy of ocean waves into electrical energy
method blank	laboratory grade water taken through the entire analytical procedure to determine if samples are being accidentally contaminated by chemicals in the lab
pipeline	A conduit of pipe, especially one used for the conveyance of water, gas, or petroleum products.
petroleum derivatives	Chemicals formed when gasoline breaks down in contact with ground water.
d.i. or di	Abbreviation for "deionization".
long range transfer	Transport of municipal solid waste from the collection round to transfer station using conventional, powered refuse collection vehicles with high capacities, usually over distances of 20 km or more.
drought	A continuous and lengthy period during which no significant precipitation is recorded.
hydrochloric acid	Clear, colorless and acidic solution of hydrogen chloride in water often used in metal cleaning and electroplating
psia	Pounds per square inch absolute.
kinetic energy	Energy possessed by a moving object or water body.
percolation pond	Refers to a pond (usually man-made) designed to allow treated wastewater effluent to percolate slowly into the ground
haline marshes	A saturated, poorly drained area, intermittently or permanently water covered, having aquatic and grasslike vegetation, influenced predominately by ocean salts.
isotope	A variation of an element that has the same atomic number of protons but a different weight because of the number of neutrons
cambium	The layer of reproducing cells between the inner bark (phloem) and the wood (xylem) of a tree that repeatedly subdivides to form new wood and bark cells.
exposure	The amount of pollution present in a given environment that represents a potential health threat to living organisms.
cogeneration	The consecutive generation of useful thermal and electric energy from the same fuel source.
carcinogen	Any substance capable of causing cancer.
potential vegetation	considered to exist if there is a reasonable ability for regeneration either with assistance through enhancement or naturally, and is considered to not exist on that part of an area covered by a permanent structure.
non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation	1
permanent monument	Fixed monuments or reference markers placed away from the dam which allow movements in the horizontal and vertical Control Points on the dam to be observed by using accurate survey procedures.
lime	The common name for calcium oxide (CaO); hydrated lime is calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2..
kieselguhr	A fine, powdered diatomaceous earth used in industry as a filler, a filtering agent, and absorbent, a clarifier, and an insulator
methylene chloride	A colorless nonflammable liquid, with a pleasant aromatic odor, used as a solvent, paint remover, and degreaser.
sustainability	Practices that would ensure the continued viability of a product or practice well into the future.
heat transfer efficiency	Useful heat output released / actual heat produced in the firebox.
vehicle maintenance	Maintenance of vehicles and equipment are actions needed to ensure that usually problematic (partly as a result of procurement) or overly sophisticated vehicles (which cannot be serviced locally and whose spare parts are expensive and difficult to obtain) are kept operational.
non-compliance coal	Any coal that emits greater than 3.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million BTU when burned
acre	A measure of area equal to 43,560 ft2 (4,046.87 m2); one square mile equals 640 acres.
facultative	having the power to live under different conditions either with or without oxygen.
hyporheic zone	the zone under a river or stream comprising substrate whose interstices are filled with water.
acid fog	Airborne water droplets containing sulfuric acid and/or nitric acid
indoor air pollution	Chemical, physical, or biological contaminants in indoor air.
parshall flume	Device used to measure the flow of water in an open channel.
cz	climate zone
probability of detection	The likelihood, expressed as a percentage, that a test method will correctly identify a leaking tank.
thunderhead	A round mass of Cumulus Clouds appearing before a Thunderstorm.
calcium hydroxide	A white crystalline strong alkali Ca(OH)2 that is used especially to make mortar and plaster and to soften water.
flood plain	the area often affected by a flood
beak sculpture	the raised loops, ridges, or bumps on the umbo
hydrocracking	A process in which hydrogen is added to organic molecules at high pressures and moderate temperatures; usually used as an adjunct to catalytic cracking.
yield	the quantity of water expressed either as a continuous rate of flow (cubic feet per second, etc.) or as a volume per unit of time
normal year	A year during which the precipitation or streamflow approximates the average for a long period of record.
tmdl	Total Maximum Daily Load
drainage coefficient	Design rate at which water is to be removed from a drainage area.
chlorosis:	Discoloration of normally green plant parts caused by disease, lack of nutrients, or various air pollutants.
dynamometer	A device used to place a load on an engine and measure its performance.
brackish	mixed fresh and salt water.
well development	The application of a surging or brushing process to a well in order to draw fine material from the aquifer next to the well and increase its discharge capacity.
burble	(1) A gurgling or bubbling sound, as of running water
exposure indicator	A characteristic of the environment measured to provide evidence of the occurrence or magnitude of a response indicator's exposure to a chemical or biological stress.
peis	Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement A document that describes the impacts on the environment as a result of a proposed action
halogen	A type of incandescent lamp with higher energy-efficiency that standard ones.
bed depth	The height of the ion exchanger or filter media in the vessel after preparation for service.
alluvium	sediments deposited by erosional processes, usually by streams.
geological log	A detailed description of all underground features (depth, thickness, type of formation) discovered during the drilling of a well.
cost-benefit analysis	Analysis technique which compares the cost of a project with the benefits derived from it
assessment	a written decision about the importance, size or value of something; for example, an environmental assessment may describe the value of arctic char after a study of the char, the fishermen, the method of fishing and the effect on the environment Assimilative Capacity
specific conductance	A measure of the ability of a liquid to conduct an electrical current.
discharge	The volume of water passing through a section of channel during a specified period of time, which is usually measured in cubic feet per second (cfs) or cubic meters per second (m3/sec).
ts	Total Solids
generator	A machine that changes water power, steam power, or other kinds of mechanical energy into electricity.
neutralizer	A common designation for alkaline materials such as calcite (calcium carbonate) or magnesia (magnesium oxide) used in the neutralization of acid waters.
micron	A unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter; the unit of measure for wavelength.
anode	The positive pole of an electrolytic system
oasis	A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the presence of water.
salt-water marsh	Low, flat marshlands subject to inundation by salt waters; may be tidal or non-tidal; normally the only vegetation present is salt-tolerant bushes and grasses
residual chlorine	Chlorine remaining in a treated water after a specified period of contact time to provide continuing protection throughout a distribution system; the difference between the total chlorine added, and that consumed by oxidizable matter
plate tectonics	refers to the folding and faulting of rock and flow of molten lava involving lithospheric plates in the earth's crust and upper mantle.
weep-holes	(Engineering) Openings left in retaining walls, aprons, linings, or foundations to permit drainage and reduce pressure
aquifer	A layer or zone below the surface of the earth which is capable of yielding a significant volume of water.
hydrophobia	(1) An abnormal fear of water
cryptosporidium	A single-celled parasite that lives in the intestines of animals and people
puddle	a small pool of water, usually a few inches in depth and from several inches to several feet in its greatest dimension.
mechanized sorting center	Veolia Environmental Services is increasing the number of mechanized sorting centers to make selective sorting more efficient and improve working conditions
bedload	the part of channel sediment transport that is not in suspension; coarse material (e.g., gravels, cobbles and boulders) that is transported by rolling and bouncing along the channel bottom in the lower layers of stream flow.
acre-foot	The volume of water that will cover one acre to a depth of 1 foot.
organic matter	Substances of or derived from plant or animal matter, as opposed to inorganic matter derived from rocks and minerals
hydrophyte	(1) A perennial vascular aquatic plant having its overwintering buds under water
hydraulic model	a computer model of a segment of river used to evaluate hydraulic conditions
riparian vegetation	Vegetation growing along banks of streams, rivers, and other water bodies tolerant to or more dependent on water than plants further upslope.
upstream	Toward the source or upper part of a stream; against the current
postocular	In scaled reptiles, the ocular scales are those forming the margin of the eye
nimbostratus clouds	Rain clouds in layers that are generally spread across the sky; a low, gray, often dark cloud that precipitates rain, snow, or sleet
volumetric tank test	One of several tests to determine the physical integrity of a storage tank; the volume of fluid in the tank is measured directly or calculated from product-level changes
water pollution	The presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage water quality.
thermistor	a semiconductor whose resistance will vary with temperature.
fabric filter	A cloth device that catches dust particles from industrial emissions.
gage rod	A measuring device that shows the water level in the reservoir.
settling basin	An enlargement in the channel of a stream to permit the settling of materials carried in suspension.
horn	A body of land or water shaped like a horn.
container	Any portable device, in which a material is stored, transported, treated, disposed of or otherwise handled.
polychlorinated biphenyls	A group of toxic chemicals used for a variety of purposes including electrical applications, carbonless copy paper, adhesives, hydraulic fluids, and caulking compounds
phytotoxicity	The ability of chemicals to damage or kill plants in aquatic environments.
sediment-delivery ratio	The ratio of sediment yield to gross erosion, expressed in percent.
slaked lime	Calcium hydroxide which is formed by the addition of water to quicklime; a process termed Slaking.
undercurrent	A current, as of air or water, below another current or beneath the surface.
completion	sealing off access of undesireable water to the well bore by proper casing and/or cementing procedures.
significant violations	Violations by point source dischargers of sufficient magnitude or duration to be a regulatory priority.
depreciation	Depreciation provisions are 'costs' and not 'expenditures' of an investment
understory	a foliage layer lying beneath and shaded by the main canopy of a forest.
dowser	(1) A person who uses a Divining Rod to search for underground water or minerals
end-use product	A pesticide formulation for field or other end use
concentration time	The period of time required for storm runoff to flow from the most remote point of a catchment or drainage area to the outlet or point under consideration
vapor plumes	flue gases that are visible because they contain water droplets.
static head	The difference in elevation in feet between the water surface of the body of water being pumped and the centerline of the discharge pipe at the point of release
communal collection	A system of collection in which individuals bring their MSW directly to a central point, from which it is collected.
irrigated land	Land receiving water by controlled artificial means for agricultural purposes from surface or subsurface sources.
cooling water required	The amount of water needed to pass through the condensing unit in order to condense the steam to water.
claybanks	Term applied to lake bluffs, or cliffs, composed almost entirely of till clay or glacial lacustrine clay.
multistage remote sensing	A strategy for landscape characterization that involves gathering and analyzing information at several geographic scales, ranging from generalized levels of detail at the national level through high levels of detail at the local scale.
water gap	A traverse cleft in a mountain ridge through which a stream flows; the gap cut through a resistant ridge by a superimposed or Antecedent Stream.
effluent	any substance, particularly a liquid, that enters the environment from a point source
nutrients	primarily nitrate and phosphate, content of natural waters, usually resulting in an increase in biomass and productivity of algae which may result in the depletion of the oxygen concentration in the water leading to a fish kill, from natural erosion and runoff from the land or from anthropogenic sources.
bicarbonate alkalinity	The presence in a solution of hydroxyl (OH-) ions resulting from the hydrolysis of carbonates or bicarbonates
rill erosion	a form of erosion involving formation of shallow gutters which may be removed by cultivation (see gully erosion, sheet erosion)
solute	any substance derived from the atmosphere, vegetation, soil, or rock that is dissolved in water.
petrochemicals	Chemical substances produced from petroleum in refinery operations and as fuel oil residues
strip-cropping	Growing crops in a systematic arrangement of strips or bands that serve as barriers to wind and water erosion.
gully erosion	a form of erosion involving the formation of deep, steep-sided channels or gullies which cannot be removed by cultivation (see rill erosion, sheet erosion)
multiple use	Use of bodies of water for more than one purpose, such as recreational purposes, fishing, and water supply.
secondary succession	The orderly and predictable changes that occur over time in the plant and animal communities of an area that has been subjected to the removal of naturally occurring plant cover
crop coefficient	The ratio of evapotranspiration occurring with a specific crop at a specific stage of growth to potential evapotranspiration at that time.
u-factor	a measure of thermal conductivity that is the inverse of R-value, often used to measure the performance of windows
detritus	Fresh to partly decomposed organic matter.
rip current	A strong, narrow surface current that flows rapidly away from the shore, returning the water carried landward by waves
siltation	the deposition or accumulation of silt (or small-grained material) in a body of water.
ademe	The French Environment and Energy Management Agency
photometer	Any of a number of atmospheric phenomena which appear as luminous patterns in the sky
crest gage	An instrument used to obtain a record of flood crests at sites where recording gages are not installed.
water quality-based toxics control	an integrated strategy used in NPDES permitting to assess and control the discharge of toxic pollutants to surface waters
sulfur	A yellowish solid element
dissolution	the process of dissolving a solid in a liquid Ecosystem
co-products	The resulting substances and materials that accompany the production of a fuel product.
contaminant	anything present in the environment that could be harmful to human health (including microorganisms, minerals, chemicals).
saturation	The condition of a liquid when it has taken into solution the maximum possible quantity of a given substance.
subsurface seepage	Subsurface seepage is movement of water through soils from above-lying bodies of water.
swell	Ocean waves that have traveled out of their generating area
calcareous	Formed of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate by biological deposition or inorganic precipitation in sufficient quantities to effervesce carbon dioxide visibly when treated with cold 0.1 normal hydrochloric acid
coordinated resource plan	A conservation plan including privately-owned land and public land.
maximum water surface	The maximum water-surface elevation is the highest water surface elevation for which the dam is designed
mountain	A mountain is a very tall high, natural place on Earth - higher than a hill
permafrost	The part of the earth's surface that is permanently frozen
divide	An imaginary line indicating the limits of a subbasin, subwatershed, or watershed; the boundary line along a topographic ridge or high point which separates two adjacent drainage basins
confluence	The point at which two or more streams meet; the point where a tributary joins the main stream
metabolism	The sum of the physical and chemical processes involved in the maintenance of life and by which energy is made available to the organism.
nitrification	the conversion of nitrogenous matter or free nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia by bacteria.
purge	To force a gas through a water sample to liberate volatile chemicals or other gases from the water so their level can be measured.
national response center	The federal operations center that receives notifications of all releases of oil and hazardous substances into the environment; open 24 hours a day, is operated by the U.S
virgin materials	Resources extracted from nature in their raw form, such as timber or metal ore.
large woody debris	Pieces of wood larger than 10 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, in a stream channel.
green technology initiative	a consortium of companies pioneering green computing with the aim of helping to educate and inspire British businesses to become more energy efficient and environmentally responsible with their IT infrastructure
ecological impact	The effect that a man-made or natural activity has on living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment.
pesticide	Any substance that is intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any pest.
sediment	particles derived from rocks or biological materials that have been transported by, suspended in, or deposited by air, water, or ice or that are accumulated by other natural agents, such as chemical precipitation from solution or secretion by organisms.
swelling	The expansion of an ion exchange bed which occurs when the reactive groups on the resin are converted from one form to another
hydropower	electrical energy produced by falling water.
effluent	The outflow of a water treatment device
concrete	A mixture of water, cement, sand, and pebbles
sheetflow area	Designated Flood Zones AO and AH on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a one percent or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident
bean sheet	Common term for a pesticide data package record.
sinuosity	The amount of bending, winding and curving in a stream or river.
contiguous habitat	Habitat suitable to support the life needs of a species that is distributed continuously across the landscape.
blowdown	removal of liquids and/or solids from a process vessel or storage vessel or line by the use of pressure; often used to remove materials which, in high concentrations, could cause damage to the vessel or line, or exceed limits established by best engineering practices.
tclp	Tipping Fee
wetlands	An area that is regularly wet or flooded and has a water table that stands at or above the land surface for at least part of the year
stack gas	(See: flue gas.)
kinetic energy	energy possessed by a moving object or water body.
hydrostatic pressure	the pressure exerted by the water at any given point in a body of water at rest
tropic of capricorn	The most southern point on the earth where the sun is directly overhead, located at approximately 23.5 degrees South latitude.
impervious	Describes a material that does not allow another substance to penetrate or pass through.
biofilm	Population of various microrganisms, trapped in a layer of slime and excretion products, attached to a surface.
subsidence	A sinking of a large area of the earth's crust
impaired waters	Waterbodies which do not meet one or more water quality standards. Impaired waters are identified through assessment and monitoring programs conducted by Kentucky Division of Water personnel, volunteer networks and other local, state and federal agencies.
peak flow	in a wastewater treatment plant, the highest flow expected to be encoutered under any operational conditions, including periods of high rainfall and prolonged periods of wet weather.
hydrofluorocarbons	used as solvents and cleaners in the semiconductor industry, among others; experts say that they possess global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater than CO2
alkalinity	The capacity of water for neutralizing an acid solution
emulsion	A colloid mixture of two or more immersible (not readily mixed) liquids; a mixture in which one or more liquids is suspended in another liquid without dissolving
phalanges	The bones of the fingers or toes.
acidity	A measure of how acid a solution may be
continuous delivery	A method of delivering water to the farm headgate from an irrigation conveyance system on a continuous basis, as opposed to a demand delivery where flows are delivered on a rotational time schedule and/or upon demand.
jetty	A structure extending into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide, in order to protect harbors, shores, and banks.
calcium chloride	A white deliquescent compound, CaCl2, used chiefly as a drying agent, refrigerant, and preservative and for controlling dust and ice on roads.
oxide	Combination of oxygen with another element.
reforestation	The natural or artificial restocking of an area with forest trees.
sea breeze	A diurnal coastal breeze that blows onshore, from the sea to the land
absorber	A material capable of taking in a substance, such as oil, as a sponge takes up water.
phytoplankton	Free-floating microscopic aquatic organisms capable of photosynthesis.
stream	A general term for a body of water flowing by gravity; natural watercourse containing water at least part of the year
undercut bank/cut bank	The steep or overhanging slope on the outside of a meander curve, typically produced by lateral erosion of the stream
carbohydrate	A class of organic compounds including sugars and starches
roundwood products	Logs and other round timber generated from harvesting trees for industrial or consumer use.
dot reportable quantity	The quantity of a substance specified in a U.S
bactericide	A pesticide used to control or destroy bacteria, typically in the home, schools, or hospitals.
buffer strips	Strips of grass or other erosion-resisting vegetation between or below cultivated strips or fields.
water purveyor	a public utility, mutual water company, county water district, or municipality that delivers drinking water to customers.
sinkhole	a hole caused by collapse of the land surface, commonly because underlying limestone rock has dissolved away.
municipal waste	Household and other waste collected by municipalities
sheet erosion	the removal of a fairly uniform layer of soil from the land surface by raindrop splash and/or runoff (see rill erosion, gully erosion)
project	the design and construction of a LEED home
stakeholders	Persons, groups or institutions with interests (often financial) in a project or programme (see Primary Stakeholders; Secondary Stakeholders).
riprap	rock or stone placed on earth surfaces for protection of the soil against the erosive action of flowing water or precipitation.
contour strip farming	A kind of contour farming in which row crops are planted in strips, between alternating strips of close-growing, erosion-resistant forage crops.
dune	A mound or ridge of sand piled up by wind.
calcium	No specific recommendation, but high calcium is associated with hardness, total dissolved solids problems and can cause aesthetic problems.
flood zone	The land bordering a stream which is subject to floods of about equal frequency; for example, a strip of the floodplain subject to flooding more often than once, but not as frequently as twice in a century (100-Year Flood).
duplicate	A second aliquot or sample that is treated the same as the original sample in order to determine the precision of the analytical method
clean fuels	Blends or substitutes for gasoline fuels, including compressed natural gas, methanol, ethanol, and liquified petroleum gas.
open-cycle cooling	The practice of withdrawing surface or well water to cool the condensers of an electric power plant or other industrial equipment, followed by release of the heated water to the ocean, a river, or a lake.
pcbs	A group of toxic, persistent chemicals used in transformers for insulating purposes, in gas pipeline systems as a lubricant, and in some florescent light ballasts
lined waterway or outlet	A waterway or outlet with an erosion-resistant lining of concrete, stone, or other permanent material
conduit	A natural or artificial channel through which fluids may be transported.
stratum	A horizontal layer or section.
franchise	In the MSWM terms, it refers to the action by Municipality in which it awards, via competitive tendering, a limited monopoly to a private company to deliver a particular MSWM service, in a defined area for a fixed period
member agency	one of 27 member public water providers associated with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, from which it purchases water and on whose board it is represented microorganism - an organism of microscopic size, such as bacterium migratory - moving from one area to another on a seasonal basis mitigation - a way in which an agency may offset negative environmental impacts of a project or make the impacts less serious mulch - material spread on the ground to reduce soil erosion and evaporation of water; include hay, plastic sheeting and wood chips municipal water district - a public water provider, owned and operated by more than one city government, which supplies water to its member cities
banking	See Water Banking.
cloud bank	A well-defined cloud mass that can be observed at a distance
oil desulfurization	Widely used precombustion method for reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from oil-burning power plants
ridge lines	Points of higher ground that separate two adjacent streams or Watersheds
swamp	an area intermittently or permanently covered with water, and having trees and shrubs.
everglade	A tract of marshland, usually under water and covered in places with tall grass
humboldt current	Also known as the Peru Current, this ocean current flows northward along the western side of South America, offshore Chile and Peru
fluvial geomorphology	the study of rivers and streams and the processes that form them.
epilimnion	The warm upper layer of a body of water with thermal stratification, which extends down from the surface to the Thermocline, which forms the boundary between the warmer upper layers of the epilimnion and the colder waters of the lower depths, or Hypolimnion
dissolved organic compounds	Carbon substances dissolved in water.
hadd	harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat
calorific value	The quantity of heat generated when unit mass of a material undergoes complete combustion under certain specified conditions
deposition	the laying down of material by erosion or transport by water or air.
overburden	material covering a mineral seam or bed that must be removed before the mineral can be removed.
catalina eddy	A weak low pressure circulation that may form off the Southern California coast.
dissolved solids	minerals and organic matter dissolved in water.
deed restriction	A legal restriction placed on a property deed to restrict future uses of a contaminated property
kame	a short ridge, hill, or mound of stratified drift deposited by glacial meltwater.
pocs	Primary Organic Constituent
leachate/leaching	A substance that has percolated or seeped through the soil
cavern	A large underground opening in rock (usually limestone) which occurred when some of the rock was dissolved by water
assimilative capacity	the capacity of a natural body of water to receive and dilute wastewaters or toxic materials without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water.
forest land	Land at least 10% stocked by forest trees of any size, including land that formerly had such tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially regenerated
mean sea level	The level of the surface of the sea between mean high and mean low tide; used as a reference point for measuring elevations.
coastal woodland	area of coastal trees and large shrubs located behind the beach, also referred to as coastal forest zone.
detergent	A water-soluble cleansing agent, other than soap.
river	A river is a naturally winding watercourse that drains surplus water from a drainage basin.
rain gage	any instrument used for recording and measuring time, distribution, and the amount of rainfall.
neutron	A subatomic particle with no charge that is found in an atom's nucleus.
aquatic life	All forms of living things found in water, ranging from bacteria to fish and rooted plants
ph	numeric value that describes the intensity of the acid or basic (alkaline) conditions of a solution
cunette	A longitudinal channel constructed along the center and lowest part of a channel or through a detention or retention facility and intended to carry low flows
microbial insecticide	a biological pesticide that contains microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses or fungi, that attack insects.
erosion	a process by which surface soil and rock is loosened, dissolved or worn away and moved from one place to another, usually by wind or water.
overfire air	Air forced into the top of an incinerator or boiler to fan the flames.
dna hybridization	Use of a segment of DNA, called a DNA probe, to identify its complementary DNA; used to detect specific genes.
coagulant	A material, such as alum, which will cause the agglomeration of finely divided particles into larger particles which can then be removed by settling and/or filtration.
pores	The complex network of channels in the interior of a particle of a sorbent.
high tide	(1) The tide at its fullest extent, when the water reaches its highest level
aquaduct	A pipe or conduit made for bringing water from a source.
tributary	small, permanent stream emptying into the main stem of the river.
phenology	the relationship between the climate and biological events, such as flowering or leafing out in plants.
flood plain	A natural area adjacent to a stream or river where water overflows during extreme storm events
equilibrium	The state in which the action of multiple forces produces a steady balance or seeming lack of change; may be due to a true stop in action or due to continuing actions which neutralize each other resulting in no net change.
bankfull channel depth	The maximum depth of a channel within a riffle segment when flowing at a bank full discharge.
chain of lakes	A number of lakes tied together by live connecting streams or natural channels.
logging residues	The unused portions of growing-stock and non-growing-stock trees cut or killed by logging and left in the woods.
spoil	overburden or other waste material removed in mining, quarrying, dredging, or excavating.
infiltration capacity	The maximum rate at which the soil, when in a given condition, can absorb falling rain or melting snow.
basalt	Consistent year-round energy use of a facility; also refers to the minimum amount of electricity supplied continually to a facility.
leeward	the lee side.
spring melt/thaw	the process whereby warm temperatures melt winter snow and ice
flotation	A solids-liquid or liquid-liquid separation procedure, which is applied to particles of which the density is lower than that of the liquid they are in
area of origins protection	State and federal laws, dating back to 1931, enacted to guarantee that the counties that contribute water to state and federal water projects will get priority for water when it is needed to match future growth
gallon	A unit of volume
certificate of water right	An official document which serves as evidence of a Perfected Water Right
phenolphthalein	alkalinity A measure of the bicarbonate content.
pan	(1) A basin or depression in the earth, often containing mud or water
microirrigation	a watering system with small sprinklers and microjets or drippers designed to apply small volumes of water
site safety plan	A crucial element in all removal actions, it includes information on equipment being used, precautions to be taken, and steps to take in the event of an on-site emergency.
srf	Solid Recovered Fuels
contour furrows	Furrows plowed approximately on the contour on pasture and rangeland to prevent runoff and increase infiltration; also, furrows laid out approximately on the contour for irrigation purposes.
nuclear winter	Prediction by some scientists that smoke and debris rising from massive fires of a nuclear war could block sunlight for weeks or months, cooling the earth's surface and producing climate changes that could, for example, negatively affect world agricultural and weather patterns.
soil borings	Soil samples taken by drilling a hole in the ground.
inclined staff gage	A gage which is placed on the slope of a stream bank and graduated so that the scale reads directly in a vertical depth.
thermocline	A vertical negative temperature gradient in some layer of a body of water which is appreciably greater than the gradients above and below it
conventional tilling	Tillage operations considered standard for a specific location and crop and that tend to bury the crop residues; usually considered as a base for determining the cost effectiveness of control practices.
sacrificial anode	An easily corroded material deliberately installed in a pipe or intake to give it up to corrosion while the ret of the water supply facility remains relatively corrosion-free.
recs	Renewable Energy Certificate System
river stage	The elevation of the water surface at a specified station above some arbitrary zero datum (level).
aquatic ecosystem	The basic unit of aquatic organisms and nonliving environment they live in.
therm	A unit of energy equal to 100,000 Btus (= 105.5 MJ); used primarily for natural gas.
attrition	The process in which solids are worn down or ground down by friction often between particles of the same material
aquatic habitats	areas associated with water that provide food and cover and other elements critical to an organism's life cycle (e.g., wetlands, rivers, riparian areas and streams).
vegetative controls	non-point source pollution control practices that utilize vegetative cover to reduce erosion and minimize loss of pollutants.
deep well	A well whose pumping head is too great to permit use of a suction pump.
law	Generally used for primary national legislation, often at generic or 'enabling' level, requiring detailed regulations for its implementations.
chresard	Water present in the soil and available for plant absorption.
sediment trap	a device installed in a stream to collect potentially deleterious sediment in flowing water.
public good	Refers to commodities or services whose benefits are not depleted by additional users and for which it is generally difficult, if not impossible, to exclude people from its benefits even if they are unwilling to pay for it
peak gust	The highest instantaneous wind speed observed or recorded.
first draw	The water that comes out when the tap is first opened, likely to contain the highest level of lead contamination from plumbing fixtures and materials.
sounding	A plot of the atmosphere, using data rom upper air or radiosonde observations
conservation	The process or means of achieving recovery of variable populations.
gaging station	A particular site on a stream, canal, lake, or reservoir where systematic observations of hydrologic data are obtained.
clod	A compact, coherent mass of soil ranging in size from 5 to 10 millimeters (0.20 to 0.39 inch) to as much as 200 to 250 millimeters (7.87 to 9.84 inches) produced artificially, usually by the activity of man by plowing, digging, etc., especially when these operations are performed on soils that are either too wet or too dry for normal tillage operations.
coastal zone	Lands and waters near the coast, whose uses and ecology are affected by the sea.
amoeba	A single celled protozoan that is widely found in fresh and salt water
littoral	The region along the shore of a non-flowing body of water; corresponds to Riparian for a flowing body of water
flue gas desulfurization	A technology that employs a sorbent, usually lime or limestone, to remove sulfur dioxide from the gases produced by burning fossil fuels
protozoa	Small, one-celled animals including amoebae, ciliates, and flagellants.
twister	A slang term used in the United States for a tornado.
geotextiles	synthetic fabric for use in landscapes as a soil covering to smother weeds or prevent them from germinating.
astm	American Society for Testing and Materials
poletimber trees	Live trees at least 5.0 inches in dbh, but smaller than sawtimber trees.
boiling point	the temperature at which a liquid boils
avoided cost	The cost a utility would incur to generate the next increment of electric capacity using its own resources; many landfill gas projects' buy back rates are based on avoided costs.
fracture	Wall of sewer visibly separated along the length and/or circumference of the sewer with the pieces of the sewer wall in place
zinc	A metal used for auto parts, for galvanizing, and in production of brasses and dry cell batteries
storm sewer outfall	the final point of discharge of a system of pipes (separate from sanitary sewers) that carry only water runoff from building and land surfaces.
environmental indicator	a measurement, statistic or value that provides evidence of the effects of environmental management programs or of the state or condition of the environment.
krcee	Kentucky Research Consortium for Energy & the Environment
siltation	the deposition or accumulation of fine soil particles.
anthropogenic sites	Sites modified by human activities to the extent that their initial physical properties (e.g
long wave trough	A wave in the prevailing westerly flow aloft which is characterized by a large length and amplitude
endangered species	Animals, birds, fish, plants, or other living organisms threatened with extinction by anthropogenic (man-caused) or other natural changes in their environment
site specification	A reference list relating to a landfill site, prepared during the project planning stage, containing information on site details, method of working, equipment required, types of MSW and other relevant items.
water quality	the chemical, physical, biological, radiological, and thermal condition of water.
conservation plan	A collection of material containing land user information requested for making decisions regarding the conservation of soil, water, and related plant and animal resources, along with necessary habitat, for all or part of an operating unit.
dissolved oxygen	oxygen dissolved in water; one of the most important indicators of the condition of a water body
maximum exposure range	Estimate of exposure or dose level received by an individual in a defined population that is greater than the 98th percentile dose for all individuals in that population, but less than the exposure level received by the person receiving the highest exposure level.
floodplain management	Comprehensive flood damage prevention programs which require the integration of all alternative measures (structural and nonstructural) in investigation of flood problems and planning for wise use of the floodplain
cut-off high	A warm high which has become displaced and is on the polarward side of the jet stream
model plant	A hypothetical plant design used for developing economic, environmental, and energy impact analyses as support for regulations or regulatory guidelines; first step in exploring the economic impact of a potential NSPS.
phosphorus	A nutrient essential for growth that can play a key role in stimulating aquatic growth in lakes and streams.
hail	a form of precipitation which forms into balls or lumps of ice over 0.2 inch in diameter
limited degradation	An environmental policy permitting some degradation of natural systems but terminating at a level well beneath an established health standard.
tannin	A naturally occurring substance in wood, grapeskins, seeds and stems
conservation district	A public organization crated under state-enabling law as a special purpose district to develop and carry out a program of soil, water, and related resource conservation, use, and development within its boundaries
boundary layer	The layer of reduced velocity in fluids, such as air and water, that is immediately adjacent to the surface of a solid past which the fluid is flowing.
water flow	The rate of flow of water measured in volume and time (e.g., cubic feet per second, or cfs).
marsh	A type of wetland that does not accumulate appreciable peat deposits and is dominated by herbaceous vegetation
fluvial	Pertaining to a river or stream.
microhm	One millionth of an ohm
waterfall	A sudden, nearly vertical drop in a stream, as it flows over rock.
check irrigation	A method of irrigation in which an area is practically or entirely surrounded by earth ridges.
reserve supply	Developed but presently unused surface water supply available to certain portions of a hydrologic study or planning area (as defined) to meet planned future water needs; the supply is not usually available to other areas needing additional water because of a lack of physical facilities and/or institutional arrangements.
veering	A clockwise shift in the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere at a certain location
snow pellets	Frozen precipitation in the form of white, round or conical opaque grains of ice
deionization	The removal of all ionized minerals and salts (both organic and inorganic) from a solution by a two-phase ion exchange procedure
drought	although there is no universally accepted definition of drought, it is generally the term applied to periods of less than average precipitation over a certain period of time
sill	(1) A submerged ridge at relatively shallow depth separating the basins of two bodies of water
life zone	major area of plant and animal life; region characterized by particular plants and animals and distinguished by temperature differences.
turn down ratio	The lowest load at which a boiler will operate efficiently as compared to the boiler's maximum design load.
ngo	Non-governmental organization
bases	A class of compounds that are "opposite" to acids, in that they neutralize acids
cyanophyte	Blue green algae, algae of the division Cyanophyta actually a set of pigmented bacteria.
damages prevented	The difference between the amount of damages without a particular water project and the damages with the project in place.
organic	Describes the vast number of chemical substances containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
high-density polyethylene	A material used to make plastic bottles and other products that produces toxic fumes when burned.
ice	The solid form of water.
product level	The level of a product in a storage tank.
electrostatic precipitator	A device that removes particles from a gas stream (smoke) after combustion occurs
soil water tension	The work that must be done per unit quantity of pure water to transport it from free water at the same elevation to soil water
riparian zone	a stream and all the vegetation on its banks.
biosphere	In its broadest sense, the entire planetary ecosystem including all living organisms and those parts of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that are capable of supporting life, to include, in addition to the plant and animal species:[1] Atmosphereâthe gaseous layer covering the earth;[2] Lithosphereâthe solid portion of the earth's crust and mantle;[3] Hydrosphereâthat portion of the earth composed of liquid water; andAlso referred to as the Ecosphere
aquifer	porous, water-bearing layer of sand, grave), and rock below the Earth’s surface; reservoir for groundwater.
evaporation	the changing of water to water vapor
hazardous materials	Anything that poses a substantive present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
degrease	To remove grease from machinery, tools, etc., usually using solvents
shgc	solar heat gain coefficient
gage height	The height of the water surface above the gage datum (reference level)
sedimentation	Deposition of sediment.
prehistoric	before people were around to keep records of history
fauna	The population of animals in a given area, environment, formation, or time span
organotins	chemical compounds used in antifoulant paints to protect the hulls of boats and ships, buoys, and pilings from marine organisms such as barnacles.
diversity	An assortment of species and or objects contained within a discussed environment.
channelization	The straightening and deepening of a stream channel to permit the water to move faster or to drain a wet area for farming.
biodegradable	Capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds.
volcano	A volcano is a mountainous vent in the Earth's crust
neotony	Retention of larval or embryonic characteristics past the time of reproductive maturity.
senescence	The aging process
promontory	A high ridge of land or rock jutting out into a body of water; a headland.
timberland	Forest land that is producing, or is capable of producing, crops of industrial wood and that is not withdrawn from timber utilization by statute or administrative regulation
appurtenant	(1) (Legal) A right, privilege, or property that is considered incident to the principal property for purposes such as passage of title, conveyance, or passage of title
sodium	An ion found in natural water supplies, and introduced to water in the ion exchange water softening process
strand	The land bordering a body of water; a Beach.
irrigation water management	The use and management of irrigation water where the quantity of water used for each irrigation is determined by the water-holding capacity of the soil and the need for the crop, and where the water is applied at a rate and in such a manner that the crop can use it efficiently and significant erosion does not occur.
drainage field ditch	A shallow graded ditch for collecting excess water within a field, usually constructed with flat side slopes for ease of crossing.
theoretical oxygen demand	The amount of oxygen that theoretically is required to totally oxidize a substance.
field capacity	the amount of water held in soil against the pull of gravity.
risk-based targeting	The direction of resources to those areas that have been identified as having the highest potential or actual adverse effect on human health and/or the environment.
biogeochemical cycling	the flow of chemical substances to and from the major environmental reservoirs (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere).
maturity	a stage in the evolutionary erosion of land areas where the flat uplands have been widely dissected by deep river valleys.
set-back	Setting a thermometer to a lower temperature when the building is unoccupied to reduce consumption of heating energy
bed load	the particles in a stream channel that mainly move by bouncing, sliding, or rolling on or near the bottom of the stream.
transpiration	the process by which water passes through living organisms, primarily plants, into the atmosphere.
endangered	An endangered species is a population of animals which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters.
refractory	Rotary Kiln
backfilling	the return of wastes or other material underground for disposal Bedrock
scientific certification systems	An independent testing and certification organization who evaluates a wide variety of food safety and environmental claims
convergence	Wind movement that results in a horizontal net inflow of air into a particular region
specific gravity	The ratio of the weight of a specific volume of a substance compared to the weight of the same volume of pure water at 4o C.
irrigation water	Water diverted or pumped for irrigation of crops or pasture
homogeneity	Characteristic of a medium in which material properties are identical throughout
filter	Specifically, a device or system for the removal of solid particles (suspended solids); in general, includes mechanical, adsorptive, oxidizing and neutralizing filters.
conductivity	The amount of electricity the water can conduct
capture zone	The zone around a well contributing water to the well; the area on the ground surface from which a well captures water.
grass/forb	Herbaceous vegetation.
gradient wind	A steady horizontal air motion along curved parallel isobars or contours in an unchanging pressure or contour field, assuming there is no friction and no divergence or convergence.
biocides	chemical agents with the capacity to kill biological life forms
herbaceous energy crops	Perennial non-woody crops that are harvested annually, though they may take two to three years to reach full productivity
recycling	Direct reintroduction of a waste material into the production cycle by which it was generated, to replace new raw materials in whole or in part
aquifer	a geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to springs and wells.
acid neutralizing capacity	Measure of ability of a base (e.g
landfills	1
conservation storage	The portion of water stored in a reservoir that can be later released for useful purposes such as municipal water supply, power, or irrigation
bank	The sloping ground that borders a stream and confines the water in the natural channel when the water level, or flow, is normal.
gulf	A gulf is a part of the ocean (or sea) that is partly surrounded by land (it is usually larger than a bay).
hydraulic transient	(1) Interim stage when a flow changes from one steady-state condition to another steady-state condition because of a sudden acceleration or deceleration of flow
pesticide	Substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest
needle-leaved evergreen	Woody Gymnosperms with green, needle-shaped, or scale-like leaves that are retained by plants throughout the year; e.g., black spruce (Picea mariana).
biota	the plant (flora) and animal life (fauna) of a region or ecosystem.
acrs	Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
iodine number	A measure of the ability of activated carbon to adsorb substances with low molecular weights
totalizing meters	A water measuring (headgate or surface tailwater runoff point) device which registers or accumulates total flow (for example, in acre-feet).
wicket	A sluice gate for regulating the amount of water in a millrace or a canal or for emptying a lock.
sweet	Water that is pleasing to the senses; agreeable and not saline or polluted; drinkable; Potable.
trash	Material considered worthless, unnecessary or offensive that is thrown away
contour trenching	Development of water storage Detention or Retention Facilities along the contour by excavation and placement of soils as an embankment along the downstream side
capacity	An expression of the quantity of an undesirable material which can be removed by a water conditioner between servicing of the media (i.e., cleaning, regeneration or replacement), as determined under standard test conditions
polymer	A chemical formed by the union of many monomers (a molecule of low molecular weight)
critical habitat	habitat used by species at risk or habitat critical to sustaining local populations of a species, because of its rareness, productivity, and sensitivity
watershed	land area from which water drains to a particular surface water body.
decentralised wastewater systems	A group of on-site and/or cluster systems where wastewater is treated and returned to the ecosystem, either on the property or on local land areas
ice-free	(1) Free of ice and open to travel or navigation, as an ice-free channel in a river
adit	A tunnel driven into a hillside to facilitate access, drainage and haulage of ore to the surface from a mine.
oligotrophic	Usually refers to a nutrient-poor body of water with low productivity.
derelict	(Legal) Land left dry by a permanent recession of the water line.
gpd	Gallons per day, a measure of the rate of flow or the rate of water withdrawal from a well
reach	A section of stream between two defined points.
pentachorophenol	toxic substance usually used as a wood preservative.
floc	a very fine, fluffy mass formed by the aggregation of fine suspended particles.
millimicron	A unit of length equal to one thousandth of a micron often used to express the wavelength of colors of visible light in colorimetric analytical procedures
backfill material	earth or other material used to replace material removed during construction.
air monitoring	(See: monitoring.)
calcareous	formed of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate by biological deposition or inorganic precipitation in sufficient quantities to effervesce when treated with cold hydrochloric acid.
public hearing	A formal meeting wherein governmental environmental officials hear the public's views and concerns about an action or proposal.
old field	Cropland that is no longer used to produce an agricultural crop and that has been allowed to revert to natural plant cover.
bankfull stage	The stage at which a stream first begins overflows its natural banks
backset	An eddy or countercurrent in water.
bottled water [general]	Water sold commercially generally for its health, therapeutic, or purity values
ion	An atom, or group of atoms in a solution which function as a unit, and has a positive or negative electrical charge, due to the gain or loss of one or more electrons
cold temperature co	A standard for automobile emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions to be met at a low temperature (i.e
ripple	(1) A specific undulated bed form found in sand bed streams
most probable number	that number of organisms per unit volume that, in accordance with statistical theory, would be more likely than any other number to be yielded with the greatest frequency in a specific test
rotation delivery	A method of delivering water to the headgate from the project conveyance system on a rotational time basis
cord	A stack of wood consisting of 128 cubic feet (3.62 cubic meters)
water imports	The artificial transfer (pipes, canals, aqueducts, etc.) of water into one region or subregion from another region
radioactive decay	Spontaneous change in an atom by emission of of charged particles and/or gamma rays; also known as radioactive disintegration and radioactivity.
environment	The sum of all external influences and conditions affecting the life and development of an organism or ecological community; the total social and cultural conditions.
ecology	The study of the interrelationships of living organisms to one another and to their surroundings.
roche moutonnàe	An elongated mound of bedrock worn smooth and rounded by glacial abrasion.
intrastate product	Pesticide products once registered by states for sale and use only in the state
keyway	The notch excavated into the side of a gully or stream to anchor a check dam or other structure.
suspended solids	Mixture of fine, non-settling particles of any solid within a liquid or gas.
supply	a schedule that shows the various quantities of things offered for sale at various prices at a point in time
waste management hierarchy	The waste management hierarchy is a symbol for the strategic options available for dealing with MSW and their desirability
domestic application	Pesticide application in and around houses, office buildings, motels, and other living or working areas.(See: residential use.)
duplicate sample	A sample taken at the same location as another sample
lacustrine	pertaining to, produced by, or formed in a lake.
sediment	Soil or mineral material transported by water or wind and deposited in streams or other bodies of water.
administrative record	All documents which
last updated 09/13/10	This glossary contains terms and definitions extracted from fact sheets and other DTSC publications, most of which were developed to support public participation activities
dissolved organic carbon	A measure of the organic compounds that are dissolved in water
co-disposal	The disposal of different types wastes in one area of a landfill
city proper	The principal political jurisdiction containing the historical city centre.
semivolatile organic compounds	Organic compounds that volatilize slowly at standard temperature (20 degrees C and 1 atm pressure).
hhwm	High high water mark
percent saturation	The amount of a substance that is dissolved in a solution compared to the amount that could be dissolved in it.
nanoplankton	Very minute plankton not readily retained in ordinary plankton nets.
taiga	A subarctic, evergreen coniferous forest of northern Eurasia located just south of the Tundra and dominated by firs and spruces
main channel pool [california]	A pool formed by mid-channel scour that encompasses greater than sixty percent of the wetted channel.
macrophyte	A member of the macroscopic plant life, especially of a body of water.
epidemiology	an investigative approach to disease that looks for the factors that account for the frequency and patterns of disease within defined populations.
monitoring well	1
rayon	A generic term for filaments made from various solutions of modified cellulose by forcing or drawing the solution through an orifice and solidifying it in the form of a filament or filaments by means of some coagulating or precipitating medium. See acetate rayon.
compact fluorescent lamp	Small fluorescent lamps used as more efficient alternatives to incandescent lighting
water exports	The artificial transfer (pipes, canals, aqueducts, etc.) of water to one region or subregion from another region
dioxins	Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), a class of several chlorinated organic compounds, some of which are quite toxic to laboratory mice and rats, though not necessarily to humans.
mineral water	Contains large amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron
mcl	Maximum Contaminant Level
oxidation	in a broad sense oxidation is the increase in positive valence of any element in a substance
dissolve	The process during which solid particles mix molecule by molecule with a liquid and appear to become part of the liquid.
topography	Configuration of a surface including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features.
neutron	an uncharged sub-atomic particle, with a mass nearly equal to that of a proton
sea	A sea is a large body of salty water that is often connected to an ocean
creams	Chemicals, Runoff and Erosion from Agricultural Management Systems.
stopcock	A valve that regulates the flow of fluid through a pipe; a faucet.
cab	Paducah Citizens Advisory Board
water hammer	A shock wave or series of waves produced by the abrupt acceleration or deceleration of water flow due to inertia
fact	I
intermittently flooded	A water regime in wetland classification in which the substrate is usually exposed, but surface water is present for variable periods without detectable seasonal periodicity.
snowhedge	A planting of shrubs or other plants to intercept drifting snow
skin sample	Sampled water that is not representative of the cross-sectional flow in a pipe or conduit
biochemical-oxygen demand	the amount of oxygen, in milligrams per liter, that is removed from aquatic environments by the life processes of micro-organisms.
caudal	Referring to the tail.
hydromechanics	The branch of physics having to do with the laws governing the motion and equilibrium of fluids.
canopy angle	Generally, a measure of the openness of a stream to sunlight
cut off	A channel cut across the neck of a bend, eliminating the bend.
stage	height of the water surface above an established datum plane, such as in a river above a predetermined point that may (or may not) be near the channel floor.
watershed	The area of land from which rainfall (and/or snow melt) drains into a single point
erosive	The action of wind or water having sufficient velocity to cause Erosion
waterway	(Nautical) A navigable body of water, such as a river, channel, or canal.
effluent seepage	Diffuse discharge of ground water to the ground surface.
leu	Low Enriched Uranium The proportion of U-235 in reactor fuel is 3 to 5 percent; used as reactor fuel.
transitional storage reserve	The quantity of water in storage in a particular groundwater aquifer that is extracted during the transition period between natural equilibrium conditions and new equilibrium conditions with groundwater pumped at perennial yield levels.
iso 14001	Environmental management systems The ISO 14001 standard evaluates the ability of an organization to control the impact on the environment of its activities and to comply with regulations.
colloid	Very finely divided solid particles larger than molecules but small enough that they will not settle out of a solution; intermediate between a dissolved particle and a suspended solid which will settle out of solution
seasonality	(Statistics) Periodic, repetitive, and generally predictable patterns in time series data
impermeable	Unable to be penetrated, as by liquids
rar	Riparian Areas Regulation
drizzle	Rather uniform precipitation consisting exclusively of minute and very numerous drops of water less than 0.02 inches (0.51 mm) in diameter, which seem to float in and follow even the slightest motion of the air
algicide	A substance that is toxic to algae, such as chlorine bleach.
drainage divide	The line of highest elevations which separates adjoining drainage basins.
pcb	Polychlorinated biphenyl Any chemical substance that is limited to the biphenyl molecule and that has been chlorinated to varying degrees.
monitoring wells	Specially-constructed wells used exclusively for testing water quality.
microgram per gram	A measurable unit of concentration for a solid
energy management system	A control system capable of monitoring environmental and system loads and adjusting HVAC operations accordingly in order to conserve energy while maintaining comfort.
canal	A waterway dug across land through which ships can pass.
slurry	a watery mixture or suspension of solids.
backwash	A backward flow or water, also referred to as Backrush
hydraulic roughness	an estimate of the resistance to flow due to energy loss caused by friction between the channel and the water
exposure pathway	The path from sources of pollutants via, soil, water, or food to man and other species or settings.
discharge curve	A curve that expresses the relation between the discharge of a stream or open conduit at a given location and the stage or elevation of the liquid surface at or near that location
impermeable	Not easily penetrated
major stationary sources	Term used to determine the applicability of Prevention of Significant Deterioration and new source regulations
available water	The portion of water in a soil that can be absorbed by plant roots, usually considered to be that water held in the soil against a tension of up to approximately 15 atmospheres.
critical habitat	Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat is defined as(1) the specific areas within a geographic area occupied by a federally listed species on which are found physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species, and that may require special management considerations or protections; and (2) specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by a listed species, when it is determined that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.
chalybeate	Tasting like iron, as water from a mineral spring.
role play	A learning exercise where students take part in a small drama of a hypothetical situation (e.g
ephemeral stream	a stream or part of a stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation; it receives little or no water from springs, melting snow, or other sources; its channel is at all times above the water table.
cooling tower	a device for cooling water through a combination of sensing and evaporative heat transfer
concentration	the measure is useful because it corrects for temperature, salinity, and atmospheric pressure which influence the saturation level, a high deficit can be an indicator of a water quality problem.
diluent	the thinning agent used to dilute a fluid, usually water.
biota	Collectively, the plants, microorganisms, and animals of a certain area or region.
water quality	term used to describe the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose. Drinking water must meet the highest water quality standards.
biomass	plant material, such as trees, grasses and crops, that can be converted to heat energy to produce electricity.
softening	The removal of calcium and magnesium from water to reduce hardness.
dinocap	A fungicide used primarily by apple growers to control summer diseases
alluvium	Sediment or loose material such as clay, silt, sand, gravel, and larger rocks deposited by moving water.
combined sewer overflow	Combined storm and sanitary drainage that exceeds capacity of a waste water treatment plant
chocolatta north	A West Indian gale that blows from the northwest.
ecosystem	An interconnected and symbiotic grouping of animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms that sustains life through biological, geological and chemical activity.
mil	One thousandth of an inch.
tremie	A device used to place concrete or grout under water.
results-based performance standards	typically define a maximum permissible disposal or impact threshold
institutional waste	Waste originating in schools, hospitals, prisons, research organisations and other public buildings
wade	To walk in or through water or something else that similarly impedes normal movement.
model plant	A hypothetical plant design used for developing economic, environmental, and energy impact analyses as support for regulations or regulatory guidelines; the first step in exploring the economic impact of potential New Source Performance Standards (NSPS).
drop spillway	An overfall structure in which water drops over a vertical wall onto a protected apron at a lower elevation.
stream bank failure	Collapse or slippage of a large mass of bank material into the channel caused by hydraulic or geotechnical modes or a combination of both.
hardpan	a shallow layer of earth material which has become relatively hard and impermeable, usually through the deposition of minerals
treatment residue	Waste resulting from the treatment of another waste.
non-methane hydrocarbon	The sum of all hydrocarbon air pollutants except methane; significant precursors to ozone formation.
bedrock	a general term used for solid rock that underlies soils or other unconsolidated material.
cercla	See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.
backflow preventor	A device or system installed in a water line to stop backflow from a non-potable source.
publicly-owned treatment works	Facilities for the treatment of domestic sewage that are owned and operated by a public body, usually a municipal government, a state, or Indian tribe.
tahoe-prosser exchange agreement	Also referred to as the "Agreement for Water Exchange Operations of Lake Tahoe and Prosser Creek Reservoir," this agreement was finalized in June 1959 and designated certain waters in Prosser Reservoir in the Truckee River Basin as "Tahoe Exchange Water." By this agreement, when waters were to be released from Lake Tahoe for a minimum instream flow (50 cfs winter; 70 cfs summer) and when such releases from Lake Tahoe were not necessary for Floriston Rates due to normal flows elsewhere in the river, then an equal amount of water (exchange water) could be stored in Prosser Reservoir and used for releases at other times
mist	Liquid particles measuring 40 to 500 micrometers, are formed by condensation of vapour
denaturant	A substance that makes ethanol unfit for consumption.
sanitation	Control of physical factors in the human environment that could harm development, health, or survival.
ultraviolet treatment	Disinfection using light waves having wavelengths of 200–300 nm.
elv	End-of-Life Vehicles
lignocellulose	Refers to plant materials made up primarily of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose.
polymer	A natural or synthetic chemical structure where two or more like molecules are joined to form a more complex molecular structure (e.g
silvics	(1) The science treating of the life of trees in the forest
xenobiota	Biota displaced from its normal habitat; a chemical foreign to a biological system.
vested water right	the right granted by a state water agency to use either surface or ground water.
nursery habitat	habitat where juvenile fish feed or take refuge (e.g., backwater areas, shallow creek margins).
fish and wildlife habitat	areas in and about a stream including air, soil, water, food and cover components of the environment on which wildlife depend directly or indirectly in order to live.
post-closure	The time period following the shutdown of a MSWM or manufacturing facility; for monitoring purposes, often considered to be 30 years (also used terms are after care and/or restoration).
trace	The amount of rainfall or other form of precipitation which occurs when the quantity is so small that it cannot be measured in the rain gage.
trickle tube	A small diameter pipe to take water by gravity from a farm pond to a drinking receptacle without allowing livestock access to the pond.
flood wave	A distinct rise in stage, culminating in a crest and followed by recession to lower stages.
organic solvents	Substances in which an organic material will dissolve.
equilibrium	In relation to radiation, the state at which the radioactivity of consecutive elements within a radioactive series is neither increasing nor decreasing.
exhaust trail	A condensation trail that is visible when water vapor in aircraft exhaust mixes with the air in the vehicle's wake and saturates it
degradable	that which can be reduced, broken down or chemically separated.
cullet	Clean, generally colour-sorted, crushed glass used to make new glass products
megawatt	A unit of electricity equivalent to 1000 kilowatts.
bioaccumulation	A term used to describe a process that occurs when levels of toxic substances increase in an organism over time, due to continued exposure.
process variable	A physical or chemical quantity which is usually measured and controlled in the operation of a water treatment plant or industrial plant.
iron bacteria	Organisms which are capable of utilizing ferrous iron, either from the water or from steel pipe, in their metabolism and precipitating ferric hydroxide in their sheaths and gelatinous deposits