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Abiotic-
part of the environment that includes all the things that are not living
such as the soil, climate, and noise.
Absorption - process in which one substance absorbs (takes in) another.
Acid Precipitation -any precipitation having a pH value less than that of normal rainwater, which generally ranges from 5.0 to 5.6.
Adsorption -accumulation of liquids, gases, or solutes on the surface of a solid or liquid.
Aeration -mixing or agitation of wastewater, which mixes oxygen or air with microbial solids and wastewater.
Aerobic Decomposition - breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and other microorganisms in the presence of oxygen.
Air Emissions -substance discharged into the air, especially by automobile engines and factories.
Algae -simple protists that form the base of the aquatic food chain. Many kinds of algae are microscopic, but some are as large as Giant Kelp. When environmental conditions are suitable for their prolific growth, algae can create water quality problems.
Algae Bloom - sudden explosion of algae growth in an area. This can cause extensive damage to water ecosystems if not controlled.
Ammonia Nitrogen - gas (NH3) released by the microbiological decay of plant and animal proteins.
Anaerobic Decomposition -breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and other microbes that do not need oxygen.
Aquifer -soil or rock formation which contains water and is a source that can be pumped for surface uses.
Assimilative
Capacity -ability of surface or ground water to purify itself
of organic pollution without harmful effects.
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Bacteria - microscopic organisms that live in soil, water, and organic matter that perform a variety of biological decomposition processes by oxidation, sludge digestion, nitrification, and denitrification.
Best Management Practices (BMP) - conservation practice or the combination of methods or activities determined to be the most effective means of controlling point and non-point pollutants. They can be structural, vegetative, or management measures.
Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD) - when
organic (living) matter decomposes, micro-organisms
(such as bacteria and fungi) feed upon it and eventually it becomes oxidized
(combined with oxygen). Biochemical oxygen demand is a measure of the
quantity of oxygen used by these micro-organisms in the aerobic oxidation
of organic matter.
Biome- entire community of living organisms in a single major ecological area.
Biosphere- the portion of Earth and its atmosphere that can support life.
Biotic
-part of the environment that includes all the living
things such as the fish, plants, and people.
Bulkhead- retaining wall lining
waterways often used to maintain shore banks in navigational channels.
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Carnivores-
animals that eat other animals.
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) - outlets that dump excess
water from the sewers into streams and rivers, keeping the sewers from
backing up into homes, business and streets when it rains.
Composting: the process of producing compost through aerobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter. The decomposition is performed primarily by aerobes, although larger creatures such as ants, nematodes, and oligochaete worms also contribute.
Confluence- where two or more tributaries or rivers flow
together.
Conservation-
to protect from waste, loss, and diminished quality
Conservation Practice - soil and water conservation technique
or measure for which standards and specifications have been developed.
Coliform
Bacteria (Fecal Coliform Bacteria) –
this bacterium is naturally present in the human digestive tract. It is
also found in the feces of warm-blooded mammal and birds. Coliform bacteria
should not be found in well water or other sources of drinking water.
The presence of coliform bacteria in water is an indication of sewage
or fecal contamination. Although coliform bacteria occur within the human
body, their presence may indicate contamination of other pathogens that
can be dangerous to your health.
Community Action Plan-
a plan that is established
based upon an apparent need within your environment (community).
Contaminant
-potential pollutants such as chemicals, sediments, or bacteria that can
make surface waters and aquifers unfit for use. They may be naturally
occurring or human made.
Culvert- a covered channel that
carries water underground.
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Dam- structure built across a river to control
the flow of water and sometimes generate power.
Data-
information that you collect.
Decomposer- an organism, often a bacterium or fungus, that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter, thus making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem.
Decomposition- breakdown or decay of organic (living) materials.
Discharge
-flow of ground or surface water from sources such as pipes,
springs, or channels.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
- amount of oxygen found in water is called the dissolved
oxygen concentration (DO) and is measured in milligrams per liter of water
(mg/l) or an equivalent unit, parts per million of oxygen to water (ppm).
Dredging- removal of material
from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors and other water bodies to maintain
or deepen navigation channels, anchorages or berthing areas for the safe
passage of boats and ships. Dredging may also be done to remove contaminated
sediments accumulate at the bottom of water bodies.
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Ecology
- relationship of living things to one another and their
environment, or the study of such relationships.
Ecological - relating to the interrelationships of organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem
- biological community together with its environment,
functioning as a unit.
Effluent - wastewater--treated or untreated--that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters.
Endangered Species - animals, birds, fish, plants, or other living organisms threatened with extinction by anthropogenic (human-caused) or other natural changes in their environment. Requirements for declaring a species endangered are contained in the Endangered Species Act.
Environment-
all of the physical,
chemical and biological conditions that act together on an organism or
an ecological community and influence its growth and development.
Environmental Issues- issues that pertain to the anthropogenic (human-caused) effects on the natural environment. Some current issues include loss of biodiversity, climate change and global warming, genetically engineered food, human population, natural disasters and nature and animal conservation.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- federal government agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. Since 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency or USEPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. Each state has its own department of environmental protection. In Ohio, it is called the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency or OEPA.
Erosion
-wearing away of the land surface by water, wind, ice, or other geologic
processes.
Escarpments -steep slope
or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and separates into relatively
level areas of different elevations.
Eutrophication -artificial or natural enrichment of a body of water by the influx of nutrients; these nutrients promote plant growth over that of fish and animal life.
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Fertilizers - compounds given to plants to promote growth.
Floatable -any object or device that floats in waterways; includes various types
of debris/garbage, as well as waste material from animals &/or humans.
Floodplain-
an area of low-lying land across which a river flows that is covered with
sediment as a result of frequent flooding.
Floodplain Forest -a flat forest bordering a river that is subject
to flooding.
Food Chain
–succession of organisms in an ecological community
that constitutes a continuation of food energy from one organism to another
as each consumes a lower member and in turn is preyed upon by a higher
member.
Food Web - a complex of interrelated food chains in an ecological community. Also called a food cycle.
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Glaciers - mass of ice that originates on land, usually having an area larger than one tenth of a square kilometer.
Ground Water -all water below the surface
of the land.
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Habitat- place where a population (e.g. human, animal, plant, micro-organism) lives and its surroundings, both living and non-living.
Habitat Loss- an ecological
problem caused when changes in the environment occur, rendering an area
uninhabitable by a given species. That species suffers a "habitat
loss".
Hardness -measure of the amount of dissolved minerals,
such as calcium and magnesium, in water. The presence of these substances
interferes with the lathering and cleansing properties of soap and causes
scaling in pipes and water heaters.
Hazardous Waste -waste materials that are poisonous to
animals, humans, or plants.
Headwater streams - beginnings
of watersheds where rivers are born.
Herbivores- animals that eat plants.
Hydrology – periodic or continuous
presence of water from precipitation, runoff, stream flow, flooding and/or
ground water.
Hydrologic
Cycle- the natural process of recycling water
from the atmosphere down to (and through) the earth and back to the atmosphere
again.
Hydrologic Unit -land area from which water drains
to a given point.
Hydrology - science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water.
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Impervious
Surface- mainly man-made surfaces - rooftops, sidewalks, roads,
and parking lots - covered by tightly packed materials such as asphalt,
concrete, brick, and stone. These materials seal surfaces, repel water
and prevent precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc.) and meltwater from
getting absorbed into the soil.
Industrial Area -developed area containing factories,
distribution centers, large buildings, and few natural areas such as parks
or forests.
Invasive Species – plants and animals
that do not normally live in a particular environment.
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Land Cover- surface cover on the ground (vegetation, buildings,
water, soil, etc.)
Landfill -disposal site in the land for waste material.
Leachate -liquid containing decomposed wastes, bacteria,
and other substances that can seep from waste storage areas.
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Macro-organism-
organism
which, unlike a micro-organism, can be seen by the naked eye.
Maximum Contaminant Level -an enforceable, regulatory
standard for maximum concentrations of contaminants permitted in water.
These levels were established by the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Micro-organism-
organism
that needs to be magnified in order to be seen by the human eye.
Mouth- place where a river or stream enters a larger
body of water.
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Nitrogen- one of the most abundant elements. About 80 percent of the air we breathe is nitrogen. It is found in the cells of all living things and is a major component of proteins. Inorganic nitrogen may exist in the free state as a gas N2, or as nitrate NO3-, nitrite NO2-, or ammonia NH3+. Organic nitrogen is found in proteins and is continually recycled by plants and animals.
Nitrogen-containing compounds- act as nutrients in streams and rivers. Nitrate reactions [NO3-] in fresh water can cause oxygen depletion. Thus, aquatic organisms depending on the supply of oxygen in the stream will die. The major routes of entry of nitrogen into bodies of water are municipal and industrial wastewater, septic tanks, feed lot discharges, animal wastes (including birds and fish) and discharges from car exhausts. Bacteria in water quickly convert nitrites [NO2-] to nitrates [NO3-].
Nitrates – Nitrogen is an element
needed by all living plants and animals to build proteins. The decomposition
of dead plants and animals and the waste from living animals release nitrate
into the water systems.
Nitrites- a form of nitrogen found in fresh water like streams and rivers. When bacteria are present, they will quickly convert harmful nitrites into nitrates – but severely polluted water may not have any “good” bacteria left to do this! Nitrites can be very harmful to fish and humans (especially babies under three months of age), because it reacts with our red blood cells and inhibits their ability to transport oxygen to the rest of the body. Water with nitrite levels exceeding 1.0 mg/L should not be used for feeding babies.
Non-point
source pollution - discharges of contaminants that do not come
from a single place such as a factory. Non-Point Source pollution is caused
by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff
moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants,
finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters,
and even our underground sources of drinking water. Examples include fertilizers,
oil, grease, and excess pet waste.
Non-renewable Resource -Any natural resource from the
Earth that exists in limited supply and cannot be replaced if it is used
up; also, any natural resource that cannot be replenished by natural means
at the same rates that it is consumed. An example is any fossil fuel,
such as coal, gas, and oil.
Nutrients -elements or compounds,
such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus, that are essential for
the growth and development of plants and organisms.
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Oxygen- Oxygen forms approximately one fifth of the Earth's atmosphere.
It is odorless and invisible and is essential to all living things.
Organic- living things.
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pH –Positive Hydrogen ion concentration-
pH is a measurement of the acidic or basic quality of water. The pH scale
ranges from a value of 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), with 7 being
neutral. The pH of natural water is usually between 6.5 and 8.2.
PPB -abbreviation for parts per billion; a unit of proportion
that describes concentrations of pollutants and other substances in water.
1 ppb = 1 drop in 21,700 gallons.
PPM
-abbreviation for parts per million; a unit of proportion that describes
concentrations of pollutants and other substances in water. 1 ppm = 1
drop in 21.7 gallons.
Pathogens -agent that causes
disease, especially a living microorganism such as a bacterium or fungus.
Permeability
- rate at which liquids pass through soil or other materials
in a specified direction.
Pervious Surfaces -surfaces that are capable of absorbing
water runoff (permeable surfaces).
Pesticide -chemical agent used
to control specific organisms, such as insects.
Phosphate – Phosphate is a nutrient needed for plant and animal growth and is also a fundamental element in metabolic reactions. High levels of this nutrient can lead to overgrowth of plants, increase bacterial activity, and decreased dissolved oxygen levels. Phosphate comes from several sources including human and animal waste, industrial pollution, and agricultural runoff.
Photosynthesis- using the sun’s energy to convert inorganic (non-living) compounds into organic (living) compounds.
Point
source pollution – discharges of contaminants that
come from a stationary or fixed facility, for example from a pipe, ditch
or drain.
Pollutant -any introduced substance
that limits the use of air, water, or land resources.
Pollution- the presence of a substance in the environment that
because of its chemical composition or quantity prevents the functioning
of natural processes and produces undesirable environmental and health
effects. Under the Clean Water Act, for example, the term has been defined
as "the man-made or man-induced alteration of the physical, biological,
chemical, and radiological integrity of water and other media."
Pool- deep or still place in a stream.
Porosity
- degree to which soil, gravel, sediment, or rock is permeated
with pores or cavities through which water or air can move.
Preserve- to protect resources, ecosystems, and structures
for present and future generations.
Primary
Consumer- animal that eats grass and other green plants in
a food chain; an herbivore.
Producer- organism that can create food it requires for growth through processes like photosynthesis.
Protocols - series of formal steps for conducting a test.
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Raw
Sewage - untreated wastewater and its contents.
Receiving Waters -bodies of water which receive discharges
such as runoff and effluent.
Renewable Resources - a resource that comes into being through relatively fast-acting natural processes. Plants that grow back every year are considered to be "renewable" while gasoline, which takes millions of years to form, is considered "non-renewable."
Reservoir -natural or artificial pond, lake, or basin used to store and control water.
Resource Management System -a combination of conservation
practices that protects a resource base; such as: tolerable soil loss
levels are met, acceptable water quality and ecological and management
levels for the selected resource use are maintained.
Restore- to put back into a former or original state;
to renew.
Riffle- areas of swifter flowing water
in streams, where the surface is turbulent as it flows over rocks or sandbars.
These areas also re-oxygenate water.
Riparian zones (habitats)– land
along rivers and streams covered with plant-life. Riparian zones help
to maintain healthy streams and aquatic life and improve streamside property
values.
Runoff – excess sediment, pesticides,
nutrients, bacteria, oil, grease and trace metals run directly from impervious
surfaces into streams.
Rural Area -a sparsely settled or agricultural area of
land.
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Scum -lighter particles that float to the surface of a body of water. In a septic system, it usually contains grease and oil and has a foamy texture. In a pond, it is usually very fine algae and forms a dense mat on the surface.
Secondary
Consumer- animal that feeds on smaller plant-eating animals in a food chain.
Sediment -solid particles of eroded soil, rock, or biological
materials transported by water.
Septic Tank -sewage settling tank in which organic
solids are separated from wastewater flowing through the tank. The solids
in the settled sludge on the bottom are decomposed by bacterial action.
The over-flowing wastewater is dispersed into the soil through a subsurface
drainage field.
Solar
Energy- energy
radiated by the sun. Solar energy is needed by green plants for the process
of photosynthesis, which is the ultimate
source of all food.
Storm drain- entrance to a sewer designed to carry precipitation
from the land.
Suburban Area - A residential district located on the outskirts
of a city.
Surface Water -all water on the surface, as opposed to
underground water.
Sustainable use- using resources in such a way that they will
be available for the future (i.e., by maintaining the quality and quantity
of a resource; by reducing use of resources or by recycling).
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Temperature - Water temperature is important
for fish spawning and aquatic life. Between May and September, when trout
are spawning, water should be less than 12°C. Between October and
April, water should be less than 20°C for general trout health and
less than 25°C for most native fish. Water temperature is affected
by climate and by discharges of cooling water from industry.
Tertiary Consumer -animal or organism that feeds on
secondary consumers in a food chain.
Total Dissolved Solids - total concentration of dissolved
mineral constituents in water.
Toxicity - degree to which a chemical detrimentally
affects an organism.
Tributary-secondary or subsidiary
stream or river that flows into another river. The tributary usually is
shorter and carries less water than the water body it is entering.
Trophic Levels - energy levels or steps in a food chain or food web, i.e., producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, and so forth.
Turbidity - Turbidity is a measure of the
murkiness of water, reflecting the amount of sediment in the water. High
turbidity reduces the amount of light available to the plants and animals
living in the water. It reduces the ability of plants to photosynthesize.
It also makes it difficult for fish and other animals to see their prey.
Turbidity should be less than 5 NTU (turbidity measurement scale) for
water to support plant growth.
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Urban (or Urbanized) Area - city or densely
populated area with many buildings.
Urbanization – dispersal of people moving to previously
undeveloped land the related increases in the amount of impervious coverage.
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Wastewater
Treatment -series of physical, biological, and chemical treatment
steps which remove pollutants from used water before discharging it back
into local rivers or streams.
Water
Cycle - life cycle of water in which surface water evaporates from
the sun’s heat and becomes water vapor in the atmosphere. This water then cools and condenses and falls back to the surface of the earth as precipitation.
Water Monitoring -testing or sampling the water quality on a regular or ongoing basis.
Water Quality Criteria - levels of individual pollutants or water quality characteristics, or descriptions of conditions of a water body that, if met, will generally protect the designated use of the water.
Water Quality Standards - includes three major components: designated uses, water quality criteria, and antidegradation provisions.
Water
Sample – collection of water in a sterile
container that will be used to conduct various tests.
Water Quality Criteria - levels of individual pollutants
or water quality characteristics, or descriptions of conditions of a water
body that, if met, will generally protect the designated use of the water.
Water
Table -level in the soil below which the ground is saturated
with water.
Watershed –area of land that drains precipitation (rain
and snowmelt) to a stream, river, or lake. Watersheds are influenced by
soil type, topography, geology, vegetation, groundwater, and land use.
Water Quality Management Plan – friendly policies, site development design, and redevelopment
techniques can help to restore and protect our local streams, especially
when implemented in a multi-community watershed context.
Well -vertical drilled hole into an underground formation,
usually to obtain a source of water; to monitor ground water quality;
or to determine the position of the water table.
Wetland -area of mostly hydric (wet)
soil conditions that is saturated by surface and/or ground water at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support hydrophytes (plants that
grow in water or have a high tolerance for wet conditions). Includes:
swamps, marshes, bogs, wet meadows, potholes, sloughs, and some types
of hardwood forests.
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