Human Activity

Watershed: area of land that drains water from higher land to lower land and into a stream

Drainage Basin: area of land that drains water from higher land to lower land and into a stream

Groundwater: water that collects in cracks and spaces in the rocks and sediments beneath Earth’s surface.

Water Table: beneath Earth’s surface, the top of the groundwater.

Surface Water: water that collects in streams, rivers or lakes.

Pollution: any change in the environment that is harmful to organisms.

Pollution from lawns or farms (fertilizers or pesticides) can be carried into lakes and rivers by rain or irrigation.

Point Source: disposal site of leaking pipe Nonpoint Source: pollutants are found in run off of crops, parking lots and other land.

Fertilizer: substances that supply plants and soil with nutrients

Pesticides: is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying or repelling any pest.

Pollution from homes (sewage and dirty water) and factories can be carried into lakes and streams.

Pollution from cars (oil and antifreeze) can be washed off roads and carried into lakes and rivers.

All of this pollution into surface water can leak into our groundwater and can become part of our drinking water.

pH Level Scale used to tell how acidic or basic a substance is Base Taste bitter, change red litmus paper blue, feel slippery, and dissolve fats A pH above 7 Acid Tastes sour, change blue litmus paper red, and react with metals A pH level below 7 A substance with pH of 7 is neutral, neither an acid or base

Oil Spill In Gulf of Mexico An explosion on April 20th aboard the Deepwater Horizon, a drilling rig working on a well for the oil company BP one mile below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, led to the largest accidental oil spill in history. After many failed efforts to plug the leak, BP said on July 15 that it capped the leak, marking the first time in 86 days that oil was not gushing into the gulf. Estimated and actual spread of oil