|
|
| A |
acequia—acequias
were
important
forms
of
irrigation
in
the
development
of
agriculture
in
the
American
Southwest.
The
proliferation
of
cotton,
pecans
and
green
chile
as
major
agricultual
staples
owe
their
progress
to
the
acequia
system.
acid—a
substance
that
has
a
pH
of
less
than
7,
which
is
neutral.
Specifically,
an
acid
has
more
free
hydrogen
ions
(H+)
than
hydroxyl
ions
(OH-).
acre-foot
(acre-ft)—the
volume
of
water
required
to
cover
1
acre
of
land
(43,560
square
feet)
to
a
depth
of
1
foot.
Equal
to
325,851
gallons
or
1,233
cubic
meters.
agua—(AH-wah)
Spanish
for
water;
the
water
of
life
alkaline—sometimes
water
or
soils
contain
an
amount
of
alkali
(strongly
basic)
substances
sufficient
to
raise
the
pH
value
above
7.0
and
be
harmful
to
the
growth
of
crops.
alkalinity—the
capacity
of
water
for
neutralizing
an
acid
solution.
alluvium—deposits
of
clay,
silt,
sand,
gravel,
or
other
particulate
material
that
has
been
deposited
by
a
stream
or
other
body
of
running
water
in
a
streambed,
on
a
flood
plain,
on
a
delta,
or
at
the
base
of
a
mountain.
appropriation
doctrine—the
system
for
allocating
water
to
private
individuals
used
in
most
Western
states.
The
doctrine
of
Prior
Appropriation
was
in
common
use
throughout
the
arid
west
as
early
settlers
and
miners
began
to
develop
the
land.
The
prior
appropriation
doctrine
is
based
on
the
concept
of
"First
in
Time,
First
in
Right."
The
first
person
to
take
a
quantity
of
water
and
put
it
to
Beneficial
Use
has
a
higher
priority
of
right
than
a
subsequent
user.
Under
drought
conditions,
higher
priority
users
are
satisfied
before
junior
users
receive
water.
Appropriative
rights
can
be
lost
through
nonuse;
they
can
also
be
sold
or
transferred
apart
from
the
land.
Contrasts
with
Riparian
Water
Rights.
aquaculture—farming
of
plants
and
animals
that
live
in
water,
such
as
fish,
shellfish,
and
algae.
aqueduct—a
pipe,
conduit,
or
channel
designed
to
transport
water
from
a
remote
source,
usually
by
gravity.
aquifer—a
geologic
formation(s)
that
is
water
bearing.
A
geological
formation
or
structure
that
stores
and/or
transmits
water,
such
as
to
wells
and
springs.
Use
of
the
term
is
usually
restricted
to
those
water-bearing
formations
capable
of
yielding
water
in
sufficient
quantity
to
constitute
a
usable
supply
for
people's
uses.
aquifer
(confined)—soil
or
rock
below
the
land
surface
that
is
saturated
with
water.
There
are
layers
of
impermeable
material
both
above
and
below
it
and
it
is
under
pressure
so
that
when
the
aquifer
is
penetrated
by
a
well,
the
water
will
rise
above
the
top
of
the
aquifer.
aquifer
(unconfined)—an
aquifer
whose
upper
water
surface
(water
table)
is
at
atmospheric
pressure,
and
thus
is
able
to
rise
and
fall.
arroyo—a
deep
gully
cut
by
an
intermittent
stream
artesian
water—ground
water
that
is
under
pressure
when
tapped
by
a
well
and
is
able
to
rise
above
the
level
at
which
it
is
first
encountered.
It
may
or
may
not
flow
out
at
ground
level.
The
pressure
in
such
an
aquifer
commonly
is
called
artesian
pressure,
and
the
formation
containing
artesian
water
is
an
artesian
aquifer
or
confined
aquifer.
See
flowing
well
artificial
recharge—an
process
where
water
is
put
back
into
ground-water
storage
from
surface-water
supplies
such
as
irrigation,
or
induced
infiltration
from
streams
or
wells.
|
| B |
base
flow—streamflow
coming
from
ground-water
seepage
into
a
stream.
base—a
substance
that
has
a
pH
of
more
than
7,
which
is
neutral.
A
base
has
less
free
hydrogen
ions
(H+)
than
hydroxyl
ions
(OH-).
bedrock—the
solid
rock
beneath
the
soil
and
superficial
rock.
A
general
term
for
solid
rock
that
lies
beneath
soil,
loose
sediments,
or
other
unconsolidated
material.
bosque—(BOW-skeh)
Spanish
for
woods
or
forest;
in
the
Southwest
it
has
been
used
to
describe
the
cottonwood
area
adjacent
to
a
river.
|
| C |
capillary
action—the
means
by
which
liquid
moves
through
the
porous
spaces
in
a
solid,
such
as
soil,
plant
roots,
and
the
capillary
blood
vessels
in
our
bodies
due
to
the
forces
of
adhesion,
cohesion,
and
surface
tension.
Capillary
action
is
essential
in
carrying
substances
and
nutrients
from
one
place
to
another
in
plants
and
animals.
ciénega—(sea-EN-e-ga)
Spanish
for
marsh
or
wetland.
cistern—a
receptacle
for
holding
water,
especially
rainwater.
commercial
water
use—water
used
for
motels,
hotels,
restaurants,
office
buildings,
other
commercial
facilities,
and
institutions.
Water
for
commercial
uses
comes
both
from
public-supplied
sources,
such
as
a
county
water
department,
and
self-supplied
sources,
such
as
local
wells.
condensation—the
process
of
water
vapor
in
the
air
turning
into
liquid
water.
Water
drops
on
the
outside
of
a
cold
glass
of
water
are
condensed
water.
Condensation
is
the
opposite
process
of
evaporation.
conservation—a
careful
preservation
and
protection
of
something.
consumptive
use—that
part
of
water
withdrawn
that
is
evaporated,
transpired
by
plants,
incorporated
into
products
or
crops,
consumed
by
humans
or
livestock,
or
otherwise
removed
from
the
immediate
water
environment.
Also
referred
to
as
water
consumed.
conveyance
loss—water
that
is
lost
in
transit
from
a
pipe,
canal,
or
ditch
by
leakage
or
evaporation.
Generally,
the
water
is
not
available
for
further
use;
however,
leakage
from
an
irrigation
ditch,
for
example,
may
percolate
to
a
ground-water
source
and
be
available
for
further
use.
cubic
feet
per
second
(cfs)—a
rate
of
the
flow,
in
streams
and
rivers,
for
example.
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
flowing
each
second.
As
an
example,
if
your
car's
gas
tank
is
2
feet
by
1
foot
by
1
foot
(2
cubic
feet),
then
gas
flowing
at
a
rate
of
1
cubic
foot/second
would
fill
the
tank
in
two
seconds.
|
| D |
desalinization—the
removal
of
salts
from
saline
water
to
provide
freshwater.
This
method
is
becoming
a
more
popular
way
of
providing
freshwater
to
populations.
discharge—the
volume
of
water
that
passes
a
given
location
within
a
given
period
of
time.
Usually
expressed
in
cubic
feet
per
second.
domestic
water
use—water
used
for
household
purposes,
such
as
drinking,
food
preparation,
bathing,
washing
clothes,
dishes,
and
dogs,
flushing
toilets,
and
watering
lawns
and
gardens.
About
85%
of
domestic
water
is
delivered
to
homes
by
a
public-supply
facility,
such
as
a
county
water
department.
About
15%
of
the
Nation's
population
supply
their
own
water,
mainly
from
wells.
drainage
basin—land
area
where
precipitation
runs
off
into
streams,
rivers,
lakes,
and
reservoirs.
It
is
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,
like
the
area
that
drains
into
the
Mississippi
River
contain
thousands
of
smaller
drainage
basins.
Also
called
a
"watershed."
drip
irrigation—a
common
irrigation
method
where
pipes
or
tubes
filled
with
water
slowly
drip
onto
crops.
Drip
irrigation
is
a
low-pressure
method
of
irrigation
and
less
water
is
lost
to
evaporation
than
high-pressure
spray
irrigation.
drawdown—a
lowering
of
the
ground-water
surface
caused
by
pumping.
|
| E |
effluent—water
that
flows
from
a
sewage
treatment
plant
after
it
has
been
treated.
erosion—the
process
in
which
a
material
is
worn
away
by
a
stream
of
liquid
(water)
or
air,
often
due
to
the
presence
of
abrasive
particles
in
the
stream.
estuary—a
place
where
fresh
and
salt
water
mix,
such
as
a
bay,
salt
marsh,
or
where
a
river
enters
an
ocean.
evaporation—the
process
of
liquid
water
becoming
water
vapor,
including
vaporization
from
water
surfaces,
land
surfaces,
and
snow
fields,
but
not
from
leaf
surfaces.
See
transpiration
evapotranspiration—the
sum
of
evaporation
and
transpiration.
|
| F |
flood—An
overflow
of
water
onto
lands
that
are
used
or
usable
by
man
and
not
normally
covered
by
water.
Floods
have
two
essential
characteristics:
The
inundation
of
land
is
temporary;
and
the
land
is
adjacent
to
and
inundated
by
overflow
from
a
river,
stream,
lake,
or
ocean.
flood,
100-year—A
100-year
flood
does
not
refer
to
a
flood
that
occurs
once
every
100
years,
but
to
a
flood
level
with
a
1
percent
chance
of
being
equaled
or
exceeded
in
any
given
year.
flood
plain—a
strip
of
relatively
flat
and
normally
dry
land
alongside
a
stream,
river,
or
lake
that
is
covered
by
water
during
a
flood.
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.
flowing
well/spring—a
well
or
spring
that
taps
ground
water
under
pressure
so
that
water
rises
without
pumping.
If
the
water
rises
above
the
surface,
it
is
known
as
a
flowing
well.
freshwater,
freshwater—water
that
contains
less
than
1,000
milligrams
per
liter
(mg/L)
of
dissolved
solids;
generally,
more
than
500
mg/L
of
dissolved
solids
is
undesirable
for
drinking
and
many
industrial
uses.
|
| G |
gage
height—the
height
of
the
water
surface
above
the
gage
datum
(zero
point).
Gage
height
is
often
used
interchangeably
with
the
more
general
term,
stage,
although
gage
height
is
more
appropriate
when
used
with
a
gage
reading.
gaging
station—a
site
on
a
stream,
lake,
reservoir
or
other
body
of
water
where
observations
and
hydrologic
data
are
obtained.
The
U.S.
Geological
Survey
measures
stream
discharge
at
gaging
stations.
geyser—a
geothermal
feature
of
the
Earth
where
there
is
an
opening
in
the
surface
that
contains
superheated
water
that
periodically
erupts
in
a
shower
of
water
and
steam.
giardiasis—a
disease
that
results
from
an
infection
by
the
protozoan
parasite
Giardia
Intestinalis,
caused
by
drinking
water
that
is
either
not
filtered
or
not
chlorinated.
The
disorder
is
more
prevalent
in
children
than
in
adults
and
is
characterized
by
abdominal
discomfort,
nausea,
and
alternating
constipation
and
diarrhea.
glacier—a
huge
mass
of
ice,
formed
on
land
by
the
compaction
and
recrystallization
of
snow,
that
moves
very
slowly
downslope
or
outward
due
to
its
own
weight.
greywater—wastewater
from
clothes
washing
machines,
showers,
bathtubs,
hand
washing,
lavatories
and
sinks.
ground
water—(1)
water
that
flows
or
seeps
downward
and
saturates
soil
or
rock,
supplying
springs
and
wells.
The
upper
surface
of
the
saturate
zone
is
called
the
water
table.
(2)
Water
stored
underground
in
rock
crevices
and
in
the
pores
of
geologic
materials
that
make
up
the
Earth's
crust.
ground
water,
confined—ground
water
under
pressure
significantly
greater
than
atmospheric,
with
its
upper
limit
the
bottom
of
a
bed
with
hydraulic
conductivity
distinctly
lower
than
that
of
the
material
in
which
the
confined
water
occurs.
ground-water
recharge—inflow
of
water
to
a
ground-water
reservoir
from
the
surface.
Infiltration
of
precipitation
and
its
movement
to
the
water
table
is
one
form
of
natural
recharge.
Also,
the
volume
of
water
added
by
this
process.
ground
water,
unconfined—water
in
an
aquifer
that
has
a
water
table
that
is
exposed
to
the
atmosphere.
|
| H |
hardness—a
water-quality
indication
of
the
concentration
of
alkaline
salts
in
water,
mainly
calcium
and
magnesium.
If
the
water
you
use
is
"hard"
then
more
soap,
detergent
or
shampoo
is
necessary
to
raise
a
lather.
headwater(s)—(1)
the
source
and
upper
reaches
of
a
stream;
also
the
upper
reaches
of
a
reservoir.
(2)
the
water
upstream
from
a
structure
or
point
on
a
stream.
(3)
the
small
streams
that
come
together
to
form
a
river.
Also
may
be
thought
of
as
any
and
all
parts
of
a
river
basin
except
the
mainstream
river
and
main
tributaries.
hydroelectric
power
water
use—the
use
of
water
in
the
generation
of
electricity
at
plants
where
the
turbine
generators
are
driven
by
falling
water.
hydrologic
cycle—the
cyclic
transfer
of
water
vapor
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.
|
| I |
impermeable
layer—a
layer
of
solid
material,
such
as
rock
or
clay,
which
does
not
allow
water
to
pass
through.
industrial
water
use—water
used
for
industrial
purposes
in
such
industries
as
steel,
chemical,
paper,
and
petroleum
refining.
Nationally,
water
for
industrial
uses
comes
mainly
(80%)
from
self-supplied
sources,
such
as
a
local
wells
or
withdrawal
points
in
a
river,
but
some
water
comes
from
public-supplied
sources,
such
as
the
county/city
water
department.
infiltration—flow
of
water
from
the
land
surface
into
the
subsurface.
injection
well—refers
to
a
well
constructed
for
the
purpose
of
injecting
treated
wastewater
directly
into
the
ground.
Wastewater
is
generally
forced
(pumped)
into
the
well
for
dispersal
or
storage
into
a
designated
aquifer.
Injection
wells
are
generally
drilled
into
aquifers
that
don't
deliver
drinking
water,
unused
aquifers,
or
below
freshwater
levels.
irrigation—the
controlled
application
of
water
for
agricultural
purposes
through
manmade
systems
to
supply
water
requirements
not
satisfied
by
rainfall.
Here's
a
quick
look
at
some
types
of
irrigation
systems.
irrigation
water
use—water
application
on
lands
to
assist
in
the
growing
of
crops
and
pastures
or
to
maintain
vegetative
growth
in
recreational
lands,
such
as
parks
and
golf
courses.
|
| K |
kilogram—one
thousand
grams.
kilowatthour
(KWH)—a
power
demand
of
1,000
watts
for
one
hour.
Power
company
utility
rates
are
typically
expressed
in
cents
per
kilowatt-hour.
|
| L |
leaching—the
process
by
which
soluble
materials
in
the
soil,
such
as
salts,
nutrients,
pesticide
chemicals
or
contaminants,
are
washed
into
a
lower
layer
of
soil
or
are
dissolved
and
carried
away
by
water.
lentic
waters—ponds
or
lakes
(standing
water).
levee—a
natural
or
manmade
earthen
barrier
along
the
edge
of
a
stream,
lake,
or
river.
Land
alongside
rivers
can
be
protected
from
flooding
by
levees.
livestock
water
use—water
used
for
livestock
watering,
feed
lots,
dairy
operations,
fish
farming,
and
other
on-farm
needs.
lotic
waters—flowing
waters,
as
in
streams
and
rivers.
|
| M |
mayordomo/
ditch
master—a
Spanish
word
that
is
used
in
the
Southwest
to
identify
the
local
person
who
is
responsible
for
overseeing
water
allocation
and
maintenance
of
the
water
conveyance
systems.
maximum
contaminant
level
(MCL)—the
designation
given
by
the
U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(EPA)
to
water-quality
standards
promulgated
under
the
Safe
Drinking
Water
Act.
The
MCL
is
the
greatest
amount
of
a
contaminant
that
can
be
present
in
drinking
water
without
causing
a
risk
to
human
health.
milligram
(mg)—One-thousandth
of
a
gram.
milligrams
per
liter
(mg/l)—a
unit
of
the
concentration
of
a
constituent
in
water
or
wastewater.
It
represents
0.001
gram
of
a
constituent
in
1
liter
of
water.
It
is
approximately
equal
to
one
part
per
million
(PPM).
million
gallons
per
day
(Mgd)—a
rate
of
flow
of
water
equal
to
133,680.56
cubic
feet
per
day,
or
1.5472
cubic
feet
per
second,
or
3.0689
acre-feet
per
day.
A
flow
of
one
million
gallons
per
day
for
one
year
equals
1,120
acre-feet
(365
million
gallons).
mining
water
use—water
use
during
quarrying
rocks
and
extracting
minerals
from
the
land.
municipal
water
system—a
water
system
that
has
at
least
five
service
connections
or
which
regularly
serves
25
individuals
for
60
days;
also
called
a
public
water
system
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nephelometric
turbidity
unit
(NTU)—unit
of
measure
for
the
turbidity
of
water.
Essentially,
a
measure
of
the
cloudiness
of
water
as
measured
by
a
nephelometer.
Turbidity
is
based
on
the
amount
of
light
that
is
reflected
off
particles
in
the
water.
non-point
source
(NPS)
pollution—pollution
discharged
over
a
wide
land
area,
not
from
one
specific
location.
These
are
forms
of
diffuse
pollution
caused
by
sediment,
nutrients,
organic
and
toxic
substances
originating
from
land-use
activities,
which
are
carried
to
lakes
and
streams
by
surface
runoff.
Non-point
source
pollution
is
contamination
that
occurs
when
rainwater,
snowmelt,
or
irrigation
washes
off
plowed
fields,
city
streets,
or
suburban
backyards.
As
this
runoff
moves
across
the
land
surface,
it
picks
up
soil
particles
and
pollutants,
such
as
nutrients
and
pesticides.
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| N |
nephelometric
turbidity
unit
(NTU)—unit
of
measure
for
the
turbidity
of
water.
Essentially,
a
measure
of
the
cloudiness
of
water
as
measured
by
a
nephelometer.
Turbidity
is
based
on
the
amount
of
light
that
is
reflected
off
particles
in
the
water.
non-point
source
(NPS)
pollution—pollution
discharged
over
a
wide
land
area,
not
from
one
specific
location.
These
are
forms
of
diffuse
pollution
caused
by
sediment,
nutrients,
organic
and
toxic
substances
originating
from
land-use
activities,
which
are
carried
to
lakes
and
streams
by
surface
runoff.
Non-point
source
pollution
is
contamination
that
occurs
when
rainwater,
snowmelt,
or
irrigation
washes
off
plowed
fields,
city
streets,
or
suburban
backyards.
As
this
runoff
moves
across
the
land
surface,
it
picks
up
soil
particles
and
pollutants,
such
as
nutrients
and
pesticides.
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organic
matter—plant
and
animal
residues,
or
substances
made
by
living
organisms.
All
are
based
upon
carbon
compounds.
osmosis—the
movement
of
water
molecules
through
a
thin
membrane.
The
osmosis
process
occurs
in
our
bodies
and
is
also
one
method
of
desalinizing
saline
water.
outfall—the
place
where
a
sewer,
drain,
or
stream
discharges;
the
outlet
or
structure
through
which
reclaimed
water
or
treated
effluent
is
finally
discharged
to
a
receiving
water
body.
oxygen
demand—the
need
for
molecular
oxygen
to
meet
the
needs
of
biological
and
chemical
processes
in
water.
Even
though
very
little
oxygen
will
dissolve
in
water,
it
is
extremely
important
in
biological
and
chemical
processes.
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pH—a
measure
of
the
relative
acidity
or
alkalinity
of
water.
Water
with
a
pH
of
7
is
neutral;
lower
pH
levels
indicate
increasing
acidity,
while
pH
levels
higher
than
7
indicate
increasingly
basic
solutions.
View
a
diagram
about
pH.
particle
size—the
diameter,
in
millimeters,
of
suspended
sediment
or
bed
material.
Particle-size
classifications
are:
[1]
Clay—0.00024-0.004
millimeters
(mm);
[2]
Silt—0.004-0.062
mm;
[3]
Sand—0.062-2.0
mm;
and
[4]
Gravel—2.0-64.0
mm.
parts
per
billion—the
number
of
"parts"
by
weight
of
a
substance
per
billion
parts
of
water.
Used
to
measure
extremely
small
concentrations.
parts
per
million—the
number
of
"parts"
by
weight
of
a
substance
per
million
parts
of
water.
This
unit
is
commonly
used
to
represent
pollutant
concentrations.
pathogen—a
disease-producing
agent;
usually
applied
to
a
living
organism.
Generally,
any
viruses,
bacteria,
or
fungi
that
cause
disease.
peak
flow—the
maximum
instantaneous
discharge
of
a
stream
or
river
at
a
given
location.
It
usually
occurs
at
or
near
the
time
of
maximum
stage.
per
capita
use—the
average
amount
of
water
used
per
person
during
a
standard
time
period,
generally
per
day.
percolation—(1)
The
movement
of
water
through
the
openings
in
rock
or
soil.
(2)
the
entrance
of
a
portion
of
the
streamflow
into
the
channel
materials
to
contribute
to
ground
water
replenishment.
permeability—the
ability
of
a
material
to
allow
the
passage
of
a
liquid,
such
as
water
through
rocks.
Permeable
materials,
such
as
gravel
and
sand,
allow
water
to
move
quickly
through
them,
whereas
unpermeable
material,
such
as
clay,
don't
allow
water
to
flow
freely.
point-source
pollution—water
pollution
coming
from
a
single
point,
such
as
a
sewage-outflow
pipe.
polychlorinated
biphenyls
(PCBs)—a
group
of
synthetic,
toxic
industrial
chemical
compounds
once
used
in
making
paint
and
electrical
transformers,
which
are
chemically
inert
and
not
biodegradable.
PCBs
were
frequently
found
in
industrial
wastes,
and
subsequently
found
their
way
into
surface
and
ground
waters.
As
a
result
of
their
persistence,
they
tend
to
accumulate
in
the
environment.
In
terms
of
streams
and
rivers,
PCBs
are
drawn
to
sediment,
to
which
they
attach
and
can
remain
virtually
indefinitely.
Although
virtually
banned
in
1979
with
the
passage
of
the
Toxic
Substances
Control
Act,
they
continue
to
appear
in
the
flesh
of
fish
and
other
animals.
porosity—a
measure
of
the
water-bearing
capacity
of
subsurface
rock.
With
respect
to
water
movement,
it
is
not
just
the
total
magnitude
of
porosity
that
is
important,
but
the
size
of
the
voids
and
the
extent
to
which
they
are
interconnected,
as
the
pores
in
a
formation
may
be
open,
or
interconnected,
or
closed
and
isolated.
For
example,
clay
may
have
a
very
high
porosity
with
respect
to
potential
water
content,
but
it
constitutes
a
poor
medium
as
an
aquifer
because
the
pores
are
usually
so
small.
potable
water—water
of
a
quality
suitable
for
drinking.
precipitation—rain,
snow,
hail,
sleet,
dew,
and
frost.
presa—(PREH-sah)
Spanish
for
dam,
big
and
small.
primary
wastewater
treatment—the
first
stage
of
the
wastewater-treatment
process
where
mechanical
methods,
such
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