Environmental issues

Water

Glossary - WaterWatch

Accuracy
how correct or precise a measurement or reading is. Accuracy can be determined by comparing a measurement with that of a standard sample from different sources or by repeating the measurement several times. The accuracy is is most affected by the equipment and the procedures used
Acid
a substance that releases a Hydrogen (H+) ion in solution, for example Hydrochloric acid. Acidic solutions have a pH of less than 7
Acid sulfate soils
soils containing iron sulfides, found in low lying waterlogged areas, generally less than 5 metres above sea level. When exposed to air, usually by draining or excavation, these sulfides oxidise to produce sulphuric acid, hence the name acid sulfate soils
Acid wash
a weak solution of hydrochloric acid used to wash colorimetric bottles
Action plan
a plan that identifies a goal and the steps required to reach this goal
Aerial photograph
a photograph of the land taken from the air
Aerobic
organisms and processes that require oxygen
Algal blooms
extensive growth of algae in a body of water, which occurs due to climatic conditions or as a result of excess nutrients in the water
Alkalinity
the presence of bicarbonates, carbonates and occasionally borates, silicates and phosphates - a solution with a pH below about 5 contains no alkalinity
Anaerobic
living or occurring without oxygen
Anoxic
conditions where there is no oxygen
ANZECC Guidelines
Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council guidelines for fresh and marine water quality
Aquatic
something that lives in water
Aquatic ecosystems
groups of plants and animals that live in water
Arable
land suitable for the production of crops
Assemblage
a number of species that live together in one area or habitat
Autoclave
an apparatus used to sterilise objects by means of steam under pressure
Available phosphate
a measure of the phosphate compounds that are soluble in water and therefore available to be absorbed by plants
Bank
sloping ground beside a river, stream or lake
Bank vegetation
plants that live on the sloping ground beside a river, stream or lake
Base flow
the flow in a river or stream when the only sources is groundwater seepage from the surrounding water table.
Baseline monitoring
collecting data against which other data can be compared. Data collected before an activity changes the condition of a water body.
Basin
the total area of land drained by a river and its tributaries
Belt transect
a transect where a quadrat frame lies against a transect line at regular intervals - permits a closer look at species composition within a quadrat
Benthic invertebrates
invertebrates that live in the bottom layer of a waterway
Best Management Practices
a monitoring activity that follows practices and
(BMPs)
procedures to ensure the best results relative to the constraints of the monitoring program
Biochemical oxygen demand
the amount of dissolved oxygen required for aerobic organisms to break down organic matter in a volume of water - an estimate of organic load in water samples
Biodegradable
compounds and materials capable of being decomposed by micro-organisms
Biodiversity
the variety of all plants, animals and micro-organisms in an ecosystem, ecological region  or the entire Earth
Biomass
the total mass of living material existing at a given time in a specified area - measured as live or dry weight per unit area
Biota
living plant and animal life
Bird's eye view map
a sketch map drawn as if features were viewed from above
Brackish
water that is slightly salty
Buffer zone
an area of plant ground cover that minimises runoff and erosion
Calibrate
to check and set the accuracy of an instrument such as an EC meter
Calibration standard
solutions of known concentration used to calibrate a meter before running a test
Capacity building
the process of building awareness, skills, knowledge, motivation, commitment and confidence
Carnivore
an animal that feeds on other animals
Catchment
a natural drainage basin where all runoff water flows to a low point
Catchment management
State government organisations established to set
Authorities
regional priorities in natural resource management by the development of catchment action plans , and the implementation of these plans.
Catchment stress
an assessment of how much a stream or waterway has changed from its natural physical state and a catchment's capacity to return to its natural state if the source of the stress is removed.
Chemical impact
the effect of the chemical composition of water on human use and ecosystem functioning
Clarity (water)
the clearness of water
Climate change
the changes occurring in long- term weather patterns over a long period of time
Coastal stream
a stream that flows directly from its source to the ocean
Colorimeter
a piece of equipment used to measure water quality, for a particular parameter, by comparing colour change between an untreated sample and a chemically-treated sample, when a specialised light is shone through the colorimeter chamber.
Colorimeter tubes
the glass bottles containing sample water and/or chemicals inserted into a colorimeter
Community
an assemblage of organisms characterised by a distinctive combination of species occupying a common environment and interacting with one another
Community monitoring
information collected by the community about the health of their local ecosystem - may include both quantitative and qualitative assessments
Consistency
the ability to repeat a procedure many times and obtain the same result
Corrode
to wear away or destroy gradually such as the impact of salt on objects eg rust
Data
numerical value or facts of any kind
Data confidence
the reliability of data as demonstrated by testing quality control samples - quality control results that fall within the designated tolerable error range for a parameter indicate that the monitoring data collected by a group can be treated with a high level of confidence
Data confidence program
the total integrated program for assuring the reliability and accuracy of monitoring data - includes quality control procedures
Decomposition
the breakdown of organic materials by micro-organisms
Deionised water
water that has had all the ions (atoms and molecules) other than hydrogen and oxygen removed
Detection limit
the lowest concentration that your equipment will report on accurately
Detritus
small pieces of dead and decomposing plants and animals
Dilute
to make less concentrated
Dilution factor
the amount by which a sample is diluted - the number of parts of deionised water plus the number of parts of sample water
Discharge area
an area where groundwater reaches the soil surface
Dissolved oxygen
the volume of oxygen that is contained in water
Dissolved oxygen
the relationship between the amount of oxygen in the water
% saturation
relative to the temperature of the water
Distilled water
pure water, free from dissolved salts
Dual range EC meter
an EC meter that can measure both high levels (mS/cm) and low levels (μS/cm) of electrical conductivity
E. coli
a species of bacterium in the faecal coliform group found in large numbers in the intestines of animals and humans - its presence in water indicates fresh faecal contamination
EC
abbreviation of electrical conductivity - a measure of dissolved salts in water. The higher the concentration of salts the higher the reading.
EC meter
a meter that measures salinity by passing an electrical current through the water sample.
Ecosystem
a community of living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment, functioning as one system, e.g. a river
Ecosystem condition
the health of an ecosystem.
Ecosystem integrity
a measure or description of the presence of all species expected for a given type of ecosystem that indicates the health or condition of an ecosystem
Effluent
liquid flowing out
Electrical conductivity
A measure of salinity based on the ability of water or soil conduct an electric current - see also EC.
Electrode of EC meter
the conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves an electrolytic cell, electric arc, electric valve or tube
Emergent plants
water plants that have their leaves above the water level
Environment
the sum total of all influences acting on an organism
Ephemeral stream
a stream that flows only for a short time i.e. infrequently.
Estuaries
the mouth of a river where the effects of tides are evident and fresh water from the inland mixes with salt water from the sea.
Eutrophication
the enrichment of a water body by inorganic plant nutrients. This may occur naturally or may be accelerated by human activities (e.g. fertilisers or sewage disposal) and can lead to algal blooms.
Evaporation
the change of state from a liquid to a gas
Event based monitoring
monitoring that takes place after a certain event, which may be natural such as rainfall, or a human activity
Exotic species
introduced, non native species
Faecal coliform
naturally occurring bacteria found in the intestines of all warm blooded animals (including humans) and birds
Fauna
the animal life inhabiting a particular area or environment
Feedlot
an intensive method of raising animals in a confined area
Fertiliser
any substance, natural or manufactured, which is added to the soil to supply nutrients for plant growth
Field replicate samples
a duplicate sample that is collected at the same time and place - used to measure accuracy of sampling and analysis
Filamentous
the plant body of some types of algae, made up of thread-like rows of similar cells
Filter feeder
any marine or freshwater animal that feeds on microscopic organisms by using a filtering mechanism to trap particles out of water
Fish kill
the sudden death of fish, usually due to the introduction of pollution, the severe reduction in dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water body, change in water temperature or acidity.
Floating plants
plants that grow on the water's surface
Flocculate
a process whereby small particles in a liquid stick together to form clusters
Floodplain
the flat part of the valley bordering a river resulting from the deposition of sediments during times of flood
Fluvial
belonging to or produced by a river
Food chain
a chain of organisms through which energy is transferred - each organism feeds on and obtains energy from the organism preceding it and in turn is eaten by and provides energy for the one following it (e.g. plant eaten by herbivore, then herbivore eaten by carnivore)
Gambusia
Refer to the Gambusia Fact Sheet

See also Green Shore Crabs and Macroinvertebate ID
GPS
Global Positioning System that can be used to identify site location in latitude and longitude
Grazer/scraper
an animal that consumes algae and other material on the surface of submerged plants
Green Shore Crabs
refer to Section 8 of Estuary Field Manual or to http://www.marinepests.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/852108/Carcinus-maenas.pdf

or http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/pests-diseases/marine-pests/species/european--green-shore-crab-carcinus-maenas

See also Gambusia and Macroinvertebrate ID
Groundwater
water found and stored in the pores and crevices of rocks and sediments beneath the surface of the land
Gullying
a type of soil erosion caused by water continuously cutting channels on hillsides
Habitat
a place which provides suitable shelter and food for an organism
Hazard reduction ciiteria
From Senior Field Manual, Section 9.7:

Hazard rating criteria


Headwaters
the upper tributaries of a river
Heavy metals
elements that can contaminate water and sediment causing damage to some forms of life (e.g. Copper, iron)
Herbivore
an animal that feeds solely on plant matter
High range EC meter
an EC meter that can measure high levels of electrical conductivity (mS/cm)
Hydrology
an applied science concerned with the water cycle, which includes precipitation, runoff or infiltration, storage and evaporation
Impact monitoring
monitoring specifically to measure the result of an activity
Impact site
a site located immediately downstream of a pollution source
Impervious surface
a surface that does not allow water to soak in or infiltrate, e.g. asphalt
Incubator
an apparatus in which bacteria, etc. are grown at a suitable temperature
Indicators
key measures that summarise the condition, trends and changes in the health of a waterway and the environment
Indigenous
originating in a particular region or country
Invertebrate
an organism that has no backbone
Irrigation
the artificial addition of water to crops to supplement rainfall
Lagoon
a small pond-like body of water
Larva (larvae)
second developmental stage of an insect which proceeds from egg to larva to pupa to adult
Latitude
the angular distance north and south from the equator of a point on the Earth's surface
Limiting factor
a factor such as temperature, light, water or a chemical that limits the existence, growth, abundance, distribution or presence of an organism
Line drawing
a sketch of the features of the land at a particular location
Line transect
a line made with a tape measure or other object, used to record the number of species touching the tape at regular intervals, to provide an estimate of abundance
Load
the volume or mass of a substance transported in a river, derived by multiplying the concentration by the flow rate over a specific period of time (eg tonnes of salt per year)
Logarithmic scale
a scale of measurement in which an increase of one unit represents a tenfold increase - the scale on a turbidity tube is a logarithmic scale
Longitude
the angular distance east and west of Greenwich of a point on the Earth's surface
Longitudinal assessment
an assessment along a length or reach (of a stream)
Low range EC meter
an EC meter that measures low levels of salinity (uS/cm)
Lower catchment
the part of a river where the landscape is flat and the river travels slowly and deposits large amounts of sediment
Lowland stream
a stream located less than 150 metres above sea level
Macroinvertebrate
an animal without a backbone which is large enough to be seen with the unaided eye
Macroinvertebrate ID
The presence of macroinvertebrates in a sample must be confirmed by a Waterwatch Coordinator. Note the name of the Coordinator in the 'Experience' box provided on the macroinvertebrate sample screen.

See also Gambusia and Green Shore Crabs
Macrophyte
a large aquatic plant (e.g. rushes) that can be seen with the unaided eye
Marine
relates to the ocean
Marsh
land which is waterlogged
Material Safety Data Sheets
information sheets about the risks involved in the use of specified chemicals
Meanders
bends in the course of a river which curve from side to side in wide loops
Meniscus
the curved upper surface of a liquid standing in a tube which is produced by surface tension
Metabolic rate
the rate at which an organism uses energy to sustain essential life processes such as respiration, growth and other activity
mFC broth
selective liquid media which contains nutrients for the growth of faecal coliforms
Micro-organism
a single-celled organism that is invisible or barely visible to the unaided eye (e.g. bacteria, fungi)
Microsiemen/centimetre (uS/cm)
a measurement of salinity


Middle catchment
the part of the river which meanders through floodplains and where occasional flooding is important for maintaining the health of wetlands
Milligram/litre (mg/L)
a measurement that equates to one part per million
Millisiemen/centimetre (mS/cm)
a measure of salinity - 1 mS/cm X1000 = 1 uS/cm
ML
abbreviation of megalitre - one million litres - one Olympic-sized swimming pool of water
mL
abbreviation of millilitre - one thousandth of a litre
Modified Winkler
the method used to determine the amount of dissolved oxygen
Titration method
in a water sample in mg/L
Monitoring
the regular observation and measurement of natural resource condition over time, usually to detect change
Monitoring frequency
how often monitoring will take place
Monitoring objectives
the reasons why monitoring takes place
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are designed to provide both workers and emergency personnel with the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular substance - include information such as physical data, toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment and spill/leak procedures
Mystery sample
solutions provided where the concentrations of particular indicators are unknown
Natural resource condition
the health or condition of a natural resource measured against acceptable guidelines or benchmarks.
Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTUs)
the unit of measurement for turbidity
Nutrients
any substance used or required by an organism for food
Nymph
the young, immature stage of certain insects, usually similar to the adult form
Occupational Health and
a workplace policy designed to minimise and avoid risks -
Safety (OH&S)
Waterwatch incorporates OH&S procedures such as the use of personal protective clothing and site risk assessments prior to volunteer monitoring
Omnivore
an animal that eats both plant and animal matter
Organic
derived from or showing properties of a living organism
Organism
a living animal or plant
Osmosis
the force with which a solvent moves from a solution of lower solute concentration to a solution of higher solute concentration
Other factors affecting water quality
Factors other than the information specifically sought by the sampling results online form may affect water quality. Use the box provided to Add comments about observations of site conditions when you conducted your macroinvertebrate sample - for example: recent rain or flooding; high turbidity; pollution visible; low flow conditions etc.
Outfall
the site of a discharge of liquid from a pipe (e.g. the point at which a sewer discharges to a treatment works)
Over clearing
the removal of plant cover which results in accelerated erosion by wind and water
Overgrazing
continued grazing of grass or pasture at a level that leads to land degradation
Oxygenation
the process of adding dissolved oxygen to a solution
Parameter
a measurable or quantifiable characteristic or feature
Pasture
land that is covered in grass or herbage
Peptone water
a buffer solution used in the faecal coliform test
Perennial stream
a stream that flows most of the time
Permeability
the ease with which water moves through soil or rock
Pesticide
a substance or mixture of substances used to kill unwanted species of plants or animals
pH
a value that represents the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution - defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution
Phosphorus (P)
a nutrient essential to the growth of plants and animals
Phosphate (PO4)
a molecule containing one phosphorus and four oxygen atoms found naturally in the environment, and considered to be a source of nutrients for plants
Photo points
identified locations at a site where photos can be taken to show change over time
Photosynthesis
the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates and oxygen in the presence of chlorophyll and water using light energy.
Physio-chemical
refers to the physical (e.g. temperature, electrical conductivity) and chemical (e.g. concentrations of nitrate, mercury) characteristics of water
Phytoplankton
microscopic floating plants, mainly algae, that live suspended in water bodies
Pipettes
small droppers that deliver a measured quantity of a chemical or substance
Plankton
plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton), usually microscopic, floating in aquatic systems
Point source pollution
a source of pollution that can be pinpointed to a particular source or pipe
Pollution
the introduction of unwanted components into water, air or soil, usually as a result of human activity (e.g. hot water in rivers, sewage in the sea, oil on land)
Pool
a still, deep place in a stream, separated by shallow gravelled areas on straight sections between meanders
Potable
water suitable for drinking
Precipitate
to separate out (a dissolved substance) in solid form from a solution, by means of a reagent
Precision
how well you are able to repeat a measurement result obtained from a specific sample - can be measured by repeated analyses of the same sample, as human error in sampling and analytical technique is a major cause of imprecision.
Primary contact
activities involving direct contact with water, bodily immersion/submersion (e.g. swimming)
Pristine
an environment that remains untouched and undeveloped
Profuse
in great amount, abundant
Protocol
a defined procedure
Pupae
the developmental stage of an insect between larva and adult
Quadrat
a square used to measure species abundance and diversity within a particular location - may be used in conjunction with transects
Qualitative assessments
assessments based on human observations, insight or knowledge about local environments
Quality assurance
the degree of reliability of data based on the quality controls in place
Quality controls
the routine application of procedures for measuring the standard of performance of sampling and testing
Quantitative assessments
the measurement of physical, chemical and biological parameters that provide numerical data about the health of a waterway
Raid biological assessment
a form of biological assessment, best developed using stream macroinvertebrate communities, that uses standardised, cost-effective protocols to provide rapid sample processing, data analysis, reporting and management response
Rate of flow
the speed at which water moves in a river or stream
Reach
a length of stream that is examined for its features
Reagent
a substance which, because of the reactions it causes, is used for chemical analysis
Reagent dropper
a dropper that delivers a measured quantity of a reagent for analysis
Recharge area
a place where surface water infiltrates the soil and regolith to become groundwater.
Recovery site
a site located downstream of a suspected pollution source which is monitored to see how far the pollution impact extends
Reference site
a site used for comparison with your monitored site
Regulated river
a river where the flow is regulated by structures such as dams and weirs
Representative (data)
the extent to which collected data actually represents the conditions you are monitoring - most affected by site location
Resilience
the ability of water or an ecosystem to recover from disturbance
Resolution
the smallest change in a parameter that your method will discern with confidence
Respiration
the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide (in aerobic organisms)
Riffles
shallow water flowing quickly over rocks and pebbles
Riparian zone
the zone alongside a river bank and extending out to 30 metres, including the bank and verge vegetation
Risk assessment
an assessment of the risks of an activity with a view to minimising or avoiding them
River health
a measurement of the functioning and resilience under stress of an ecosystem - can be measured by parameters such as water quality or the presence of some macroinvertebrates.
Runoff
water that flows across the land surface and does not seep into the ground
Salinisation
excessive amounts of soluble mineral salts in the soil, making the land unsuitable for agriculture
Salinity
the presence of soluble salts in or on soils or in water
Salts
compounds that dissolve in water and can conduct an electrical current (e.g. sodium, potassium, calcium)
Saturation
a point at which a solution contains enough of a dissolved solid, liquid or gas so that no more will dissolve into the solution at a given temperature and pressure
Scalding
bare patches lacking vegetation - can be the result of erosion or salinity
Scat
an animal dropping
Scavenger
an animal that feeds mainly on other dead animals or on the products of larger animals
Secondary contact
activities involving some direct contact with the water but where ingestion is unlikely (e.g. boating)
Sediment
unconsolidated mineral and organic particulate material that settles to the bottom of an aquatic environment
Seepage
the process by which water percolates downwards through the soil
Sewage
waste matter which passes through sewers
Sewerage
the pipes and fittings carrying sewage
Siemen
a unit measuring electrical conductivity
SIGNAL 2
SIGNAL stands for 'Stream Invertebrate Grade Number - Average Level' - a simple scoring system developed for macroinvertebrate (water bug) samples from Australian rivers and waterways
Silt
a fine deposit of mud or clay in a water body
Site
a monitoring location
Site name
Refer to Site Naming Protocol
Snags
woody debris found within the river channel
Snapshot monitoring
monitoring that takes place at a certain time in many places, to allow comparison between sites
Soluble
dissolves in solution, usually water
Standard calibration
the usual solution supplied by a laboratory to calibrate
solution
equipment such as an EC meter in different ranges
Standing water
water that does not flow such as water in wetlands, dams, weirs or bores
Stormwater
rainwater which runs off the land. It frequently carries various forms of pollution such as rubbish, animal droppings and dissolved chemicals depending on the landuse and management. Stormwater is carried in stormwater channels and pipes, and generally discharges directly into creeks, rivers, the harbour and the ocean.
Stream order
Stream order diagramdetermined using the Strahler system, which starts with a 1st order stream at the top of the stream network, which is usually a small non perennial stream. Larger perennial streams usually have a stream order >3. 
Stream reach
a length of stream that is examined for its features
Submerged plants
water plants that grow below the water surface
TDS meter
an instrument that measures total dissolved salts in water
Temperature
a measure of how hot or cold the water is in degrees Celsius
Terrestrial
land-based
Thermal pollution
when the temperature of a water body is significantly warmer or cooler than the normal environmental conditions, temperature is considered to be a pollutant
Thermometer
an instrument used to measure temperature
Through flow
water that has been absorbed into topsoil and then moves downhill into a water body
Titration
the addition of a measured quantity of one solution to an unknown solution concentration until a reaction takes place - allows the calculation of the concentration of the unknown solution. Dissolved oxygen can be calculated by titration
Tolerance
the ability to survive and grow in the presence of a toxic substance (e.g. heavy metals). There is usually a threshold for the toxin that, if reached, will impair growth, reproduction or kill a plant or animal.
Tolerant water bug
an aquatic macroinvertebrate that can be found in either clean or dirty water as it has the ability to withstand adverse environmental conditions such as water pollution
Topographic map
a map showing landform as contour lines, and other natural and human features
Total dissolved solids
a measure of the inorganic salts (and organic compounds) dissolved in water
Total phosphate
a measure of all forms of phosphate compounds in a sample - orthophosphate, condensed phosphates and organically bound phosphates
Toxic
harmful, destructive or deadly to organisms
Toxin
a poisonous product generated by an organism (including humans)
Transect
a line between two points that allows changes to be observed along it
Transpiration
the evaporation of water from plant leaves and stems
Tributary
a small stream or river flowing into a larger one
Trigger values
the concentrations (or loads) of key indicators measured for the ecosystem, below which there exists a low risk that adverse biological (ecological) effects will occur
Turbidity
a measure of the cloudiness or muddiness of water
Turbidity tube
a tube used to measure the level of turbidity in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTUs)
Unregulated river
a river where the flow is not impeded by human-made structures such as dams
Upland stream
a stream above 150 metres above sea level
Upper catchment
the top section of the catchment where a river begins to flow
Vegetation
the plant cover of an area
Vegetation cover
the total imaginary shadow cast by the vegetation - a visual guide is used to assist with these estimates, which are usually assessed as a percentage.
Verge vegetation
the vegetation on an area up to 30 metres wide adjacent to a stream, including trees, shrubs and grasses
Water quality guidelines
a recommended value or range for a parameter (e.g. pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen). These water quality guidelines can be adapted to different uses (e.g. environmental, recreation, drinking).
Water quality stressor
a change in a water quality parameter that puts stress on an ecosystem
Water velocity
the speed at which water moves in a river or stream
Watercourse
a channel having defined beds and banks where water flows on a permanent or semi-permanent basis
Water source
Refer to table at the start of the Site Naming Protocol PDF - PDF link required
Watertable
the upper surface of the zone of groundwater saturation
Waterwatch
a community program that provides a framework for involvement in water quality monitoring, and education about catchments and natural resource management.
Waterwatch Plan
a strategy that sets out the purpose, frequency and sites for monitoring, and the equipment and interpretation of information collected as part of the plan through the Waterwatch program.
Weed
a plant that is not native to, and is unwanted in the local area. A weed can be an exotic species or a native species that colonises and persists in an ecosystem in which it did not previously exist.
Wetlands
a general term applied to open water habitats and seasonally or permanently waterlogged land areas (e.g. rivers, marshes and estuaries)
Woody debris
dead branches or roots of living trees that have fallen into a stream
Zone of saturation
the underground area above an impermeable layer where water fills all open spaces between rock, sand and soil particles

Page last updated: 26 February 2011