Source water

Definition

Source water is the untreated water from natural sources that is used for drinking or other purposes. It includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Source water is crucial for ecosystems as it supports biodiversity in aquatic biomes.
2. Contamination of source water can have severe ecological impacts and pose health risks to humans.
3. Natural filtration processes in wetlands and riparian zones help maintain the quality of source water.
4. Source water management involves monitoring and protecting watersheds to ensure a sustainable supply.
5. Human activities such as agriculture, industrial discharge, and urban development can significantly affect the quality of source water.

Review Questions

Related terms

Watershed: An area of land that drains all precipitation to a common outlet like a river or bay.

Aquifer: A body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater.

Eutrophication:

The process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, often leading to excessive growth of algae.