Glossary of Ground Water Terms

 

Aquifer

A water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel

Brackish

A mixture of fresh water and salt water.

Carcinogen

A substance or agent producing or inciting cancer

Confined

Water that is separated from the atmosphere by an impermeable material

Delineate

To indicate or represent by drawn lines

Environmental Regulation Commission

The Florida Environmental Regulation Commission is the rule-making arm of the department for rules that establish environmental standards, such as the department's water body classifications and its air and water quality standards. The Commission's membership is composed of seven citizens of the state appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate for four-year terms. Members are selected from within the boundaries of the five water management districts, with no more than two members from any one district. Membership is representative of the many diverse economic and social interests in the state.

Estuary

A water passage where the tide meets a river current; an arm of the sea at the lower end of a river

Indigenous

Having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment

Karst

An irregular limestone region with sinks, underground streams, and caverns. This geology is typical of Florida

Mutagenic

Any agent or substance capable of noticeably increasing the frequency of mutation of a fetus

Nonpoint Source

Diffuse source of contamination. Includes runoff from lawns, roads, parking lots, driveways, farms, etc.

Plume

An elongated and usually open and mobile column or band (as of liquid, exhaust gases, or smoke

Point Source

"End of pipe"... a discrete source of contamination that can be easily identified as such. Factories, sewer plants, etc

Potable

Suitable for drinking

Public Water System

A system that provides piped water to the public for human consumption, if it has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twnty-five individuals daily at least sixty days out of the year

Saline

Consisting of or containing salt

Single Source

Determined by the Environmental Regulation Commission to be the only reasonably available source of potable water to a significant segment of the population

Teratogenic

Any agent that may cause malformation

Tidal Waters

Periodically rising and falling or flowing and ebbing

Total Dissolved Solids

The amount of dissolved constituents present in water or wastewater, usually expressed in milligrams per liter and analyzed as filterable residue, as determined using approved methods.

Unconfined

Water that is in direct contact vertically with the atmosphere through open spaces in permeable material

Wellhead Protection Area

The surface and subsurface area surrounding a water well or wellfield supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach the water well or wellfield.