Wetlands Solution

Aquifer- underground geological formation able to store and yield groundwater; water exists in spaces between rock, sand and gravel

Biodiversity- the variety and complexity of all forms of life: plants, animals, micro-organisms, their genes and their ecosystems

Contaminant- substance that makes water or other substance impure and unfit for consumption or an intended use

Easement- access rights to property for which the owner forfeits his/her rights of development; the right to use the land of another for a specific purpose

Ecosystem- functional natural unit with interacting biological, chemical and physical components in a system who boundaries are defined by the flow of energy, matierals and organisms; ecosystems often overlap with one another; a watershed is just one of many types of ecosystems

Endangered Species- organisms that are in danger of extinction throughout all or a large portion of its range because of a loss or change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, disease, disturbance or contamination

Erosion- wearing down or washing away of the soil and land surface by the action of water, wind, or ice

Eutrophication- increase in nutrient levels (nitrogen and phosphorous) in a body of water which can result in increased algae growth and decrease oxygen levels, thereby reducing quality of aquatic environment for other organisms; can be a natural process or induced by human inputs

Geomorphology- the study of the classification, description and origin of land forms such as mountains, valleys, streams, etc.

Green space- areas of undeveloped or previously developed land with some portions of natural habitats for plants and animals; can take the form of parks or nature preserves; places for opportunities for recreation, reflection, and relaxation

Invasive species- (as defined by National Council on Invasive Species) is “a species that is non-native or alien to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm to human or environmental health”.

Keystone Species: species whose presence contributes to the diversity an ecosystem and whose extinction would lead to the extinction of other forms of life

Restoration- process of returning the ecological system to an undisturbed (or pre-disturbed) condition

Threatened Species- organisms that are likely to become endangered throughout all or a large portion of its range in the foreseeable future if environmental conditions begin to or continue to deteriorate

Ground water- water that seeps down through the soil and fills spaces between soil, rock and sand particles; slowly moves underground at a downward angle and may eventually seep into streams, lakes, and oceans; natural resource that is used for drinking, recreation, industry, and growing crops.

Non-point source (NPS) pollution- occurs when water delivers contaminants from large area of land (not specific location) to watershed or body of water; can include: sediment, nutrients, organic and toxic substances

Point source pollution- occurs when pollutants are discharged from any identifiable point, including: pipes, ditches, channels, sewers, tunnels, and containers

Pollution- alteration in chemical, biological or physical quality of the environment, or any of its components, that renders it less suited for certain uses

Riparian- pertaining to body of water such as a stream, river or lake; of or on the bank of body of water

Riparian buffer- vegetated area along banks of body of water; provides shade and protects body of water from land uses

Runoff- precipitation that flows over land to surface streams, rivers, and lakes

Septic system- treats household sewage by letting solids decompose and settle in a tank and letting liquid absorb into the soil; used when a sewer line is not available to carry wastes to a sewage treatment plan

Storm drain- man-made opening on road through which runoff flows into underground system

Surface water- water above the surface of the land; includes: lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, floodwater, and runoff

Wastewater- water that contains unwanted materials from homes, businesses, and industries

Wastewater treatment- any process used to change the quality of wastewater in order to make it more acceptable to humans and the environment

Water quality- chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water with respect to a particular use

Watershed- land area from which water, sediment and dissolved materials drain into a body of water such as a stream, lake, or river; also called a drainage basin; watersheds vary greatly in size

Wellhead protection area- protected area surrounding a well supplying a public water system to keep contaminants from reaching the well water

Explanations of Water Quality Parameters

(Note: µg/L = micrograms per liter ~= parts per billion; mg/L = milligrams per liter ~= parts per million)

Oxygen Measurements
DO mg/L	Dissolved oxygen, which is vital to fish and other aquatic life. Low DO levels stress or kill biota, especially some sensitive, highly valued fish. This is probably the most important water quality parameter for aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen below 5.0 mg/L stresses aquatic life, below 1-2 mg/L can result in massive fish kills.
BOD mg/L	Biochemical oxygen demand. This is a measure of the concentration of biodegradable matter in the water. As it degrades, it consumes oxygen, lowering dissolved oxygen. Biological oxygen demand should be at least 5-7 mg/L depending on temperature
COD mg/L	Chemical oxygen demand. This is similar to BOD, but its concentration is usually somewhat larger because it includes matter that is degradable only by chemical means.
Other Important Water Quality Measurements
pH	Measure of acidity (technical, the activity of the hydrogen ion). Neutral pH is 7; values below 7 are acid, and values above 7 are alkaline (or basic). Most unpolluted surface water has pH between 6 and 9. pH (recommended between 6.5- 8.5)
Temperature ºC	Water temperature. Some organisms require/prefer lower temperature to function well. Also, oxygen solubility decreases as temperature increases, leading to lower dissolved oxygen. Temperature varies with body of water.
Conductivity/ Specific Conductance Salinity	Conductivity and salinity are related to the concentration of total dissolved (as opposed to suspended) solids (TDS) in water. Salinity is a measure of the amount of salt dissolved in water. TDS is approximately equal to salinity. Electrical conductivity is also related to TDS/salinity because how well water conducts electricity depends on the concentration of dissolved salt. Seawater has a salinity of approximately 35 parts per thousand (ppt). In the Meadowlands, fresh water mixes with seawater, which reduces the salinity Salinity 0 ppt for fresh water, 32-35 ppt for ocean water. Conductivity/ Specific Conductance measure of how well water can pass an electrical current below 0.2 MS/cm is excellent, above 1.0 MS/cm is poor
Hardness	Measure of water hardness, related to the concentration of salts of calcium and magnesium Hardness (0-60 mg/L soft, 60-120 mg/L moderate, 120-180 mg/L hard, above 180 mg/L very hard)
Alkalinity mg/L	Ability of water to neutralize acids, related to the concentration of bicarbonate and hydroxide. Expressed as milligrams per liter of equivalent calcium carbonate. Alkalinity is not the same as pH because water does not have to be strongly alkaline (high pH) to have a high alkalinity. Alkalinity values in the range of 20- 200 mg/L are typical in fresh water; below 10 mg/L system is considered to be poorly buffered
NH₄ NO³	NH4 is the concentration of ammonia. Ammonia can be toxic to aquatic life at higher concentrations. Nitrate is the concentration of NO3.Both chemicals are bioavailble forms of the nutrient nitrogen (N). In estuaries, nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient (the nutrient in least supply, relative to its requirement). So, an increased supply of N can lead to excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae (eutrophication) Nitrate recommended below 10 mg/L for drinking water; below 0.5 mg/L for aquatic life .Ammonia should not go above 90 mg/L.
NO²	nitrite recommended below 1 mg/L for drinking water.
Phosphate/ Total Phosphorus	Phosphorous recommended not more than 0.05-0.1 mg/L
Chloride mg/L	Concentration of chloride. Chloride in public drinking water should not exceed 250 mg/L.
Sulfate mg/L	Concentration of Sulphate (SO4).
TOC	Total organic carbon.

Solids
TDS	Conductivity and salinity are related to the concentration of total dissolved (as opposed to suspended) solids (TDS) in water. Salinity is a measure of the amount of salt dissolved in water. TDS is approximately equal to salinity. Electrical conductivity is also related to TDS/salinity because how well water conducts electricity depends on the concentration of dissolved salt. Seawater has a salinity of approximately 35 parts per thousand (ppt). In the Meadowlands, fresh water mixes with seawater, which reduces the salinity. Total dissolved solids recommended no higher than 500 mg/L for drinking waterv
TSS	Total suspended solids below 20 mg/L is considered to be clear; between 40-80 mg/L appears cloudy; above 150 mg/L is considered to be dirty.
Turbidity	measured in NTU dependent on site

Heavy Metals
Copper (Cu)
Cadmium (Cd)
Lead (Pb)
Total Iron (Fe) (toxic to aquatic life above 1.0 mg/L)
Chromium (Cr)
Zinc (Zn)
Nickel (Ni)

Bacteria
Fecal Coliform (water used for swimming, rafting, etc. should not be above 200 fecal coliforms per 100 mL; water for fishing, boating and general water supply should not be above 2000 fecal coliforms per 100 mL)

Glossary

Explanations of Water Quality Parameters