Sustainability Principles and Practice
Fourth Edition
aquifer
An underground water-bearing layer of permeable rock, sand, or gravel capable of supplying wells or springs.
blackwater
Wastewater from toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers.
first flush
The initial quantity of water that runs off a surface at the beginning of a rainstorm.
graywater
Untreated wastewater collected from bathroom sinks, showers, bathtubs, and clothes washers which has not come into contact with toilet waste.
groundwater
Water that has accumulated in saturated soil or rock below the Earth’s surface.
hyporheic zone
The subsurface environment below a stream channel.
potable water
Water which is suitable for drinking.
rainwater endowment
The amount of rainwater which can be captured on a particular site.
rainwater harvesting
The process of collecting water that falls as rain and storing it for later use.
residence time
The average amount of time that a substance spends in a particular reservoir.
saltwater intrusion
The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers.
stormwater
Water that falls as rain.
virtual water
The quantity of water required for the production of food or other goods, measured at the place where they were actually produced.
water footprint
The virtual water content of a good or service.