Groundwater/Watershed/Water Pollution

Front

What is groundwater?

Back

Water that is stored underground in aquifers, which can be accessed through wells.

Front

What is a watershed?

Back

An area of land that drains rainwater and snowmelt into a common waterbody, such as a river, lake, or ocean.

Front

What is the water table?

Back

The top of the saturated zone in an aquifer, where the soil or rock is fully saturated with water.

Front

What causes the water table to lower?

Back

Periods of low precipitation, increased evaporation, or excessive water extraction.

Front

What is an impermeable surface?

Back

A surface that does not allow water to pass through, such as concrete or clay.

Front

What are the main types of water pollution?

Back

Chemical, biological, and physical pollutants that contaminate water bodies.

Front

What is inorganic pollution?

Back

Pollution caused by non-living substances, such as heavy metals and salts.

Front

What is organic pollution?

Back

Pollution caused by living or once-living organisms, such as sewage and agricultural runoff.

Front

What is the role of vegetation in a watershed?

Back

Vegetation helps to absorb rainfall, reduce runoff, and filter pollutants from water.

Front

What is the Garrison Dam?

Back

A dam on the Missouri River that created Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota.