(kən ta mə nā shən): The act or process of making something impure or unfit for use by adding something harmful or unpleasant.
effluent
(ə flü ənt): Liquid (such as sewage or industrial by-products) discharged as waste.
export
(ek spȯrt): To carry away.
floodplain
(fləd plān): Flat land area next to a stream or river.
gradient
(grā dē ənt): (1) Slope; upward or downward slant or inclination or degree of slant; (2) a continuous graded change in measure, activity, or substance.
groundwater
(grau̇nd wȯ tǝr): Water within the earth, especially that which supplies wells and springs.
organic
(ȯr ga nik): Of, relating to, or obtained from living things.
regulate
(re gyə lāt): (1) To control according to a system; (2) To bring under control of law or some authority.
runoff
(rən ȯf): Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams.
tributary
(tri byə ter ē): A stream that flows into a larger stream or river or into a lake.
turbidity
(tər bə də tē): A measure of the cloudiness or muddiness of a water body.
velocity
(və lä sə tē): Speed of movement.
wastewater
(wāst wä tər): (1) Water that has been used; (2) sewage.
watershed
(wȯ tǝr shed): A region or area bounded on the edge by a dividing ridge and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water.