GLOSSARY

Activism: Taking action and speaking up to make positive changes in the world, like organizing events or spreading awareness about water and climate issues.

Adaptation: Strategies and actions taken to adjust to the effects of climate change, such as changing water management practices to cope with altered precipitation patterns.

Aquifer: An aquifer is a layer of underground rock or soil that holds and transmits water, providing a source of groundwater.

Carbon Footprint: The amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that we create by doing everyday things. Trying to have a smaller carbon footprint helps the environment.

Citizen Scientist: A citizen scientist is an individual who actively engages in scientific activities, contributing their time and efforts to collect data, conduct experiments, or participate in research projects, often in collaboration with professional scientists or scientific organizations.

Climate Action Plan: A plan that communities or governments make to reduce their impact on the climate and protect the environment.

Climate Resilience: Helping the planet and communities be strong and ready to face the challenges that come with climate change.

Conservation: Taking care of nature by using resources wisely and not wasting things like water, energy, or natural habitats.

Desalination: The removal of salts from saline water to provide freshwater, which is often used for consumption or irrigation. This method is becoming a more popular way of providing freshwater to populations.

Drought: An extended period of below-average precipitation leading to water shortages, impacting agriculture, ecosystems, and communities.

Ecosystem: A community of living things (plants, animals, and other organisms) that interact with each other and their environment.

Environmental Justice: Making sure that everyone, no matter their background, is treated fairly and has the same protection from pollution and other environmental problems.

Equality: Treating everyone equally and ensuring everyone has the same chances and opportunities, including access to water.

Environmental Stewardship: Being responsible for taking care of the Earth and all its living things, including bodies of water.

Groundwater Recharge: Adding water to underground aquifers to replenish their supply.

Hydrological Modeling: The use of mathematical models to simulate and predict the behavior of water systems, aiding in water resource management and planning.

Irrigation: The supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of channels.

Mitigation: Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases and lessen the severity of climate change impacts, including measures to conserve water resources.

Rainwater Harvesting: The collection and storage of rainwater for later use, typically in agriculture or for domestic purposes.

Resilience: The capacity of a system, community, or ecosystem to absorb disturbances and maintain function despite external stresses, including those caused by climate change impacts on water resources.

Rising Sea Levels: The oceans getting higher because of melting ice and warming water.

Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, including the sustainable management of water resources.

Sustainable Living: Making choices every day that help the Earth, like using less plastic, saving energy, and being mindful of water use.

Waste Water Treatment: Cleaning water from homes and industries before returning it to rivers or oceans.

Waterborne Diseases: Illnesses caused by germs in contaminated water.

Water Conservation: Practices aimed at reducing water usage, minimizing waste, and preserving freshwater resources.

Water Cycle: The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth, involving precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, and runoff.

Water-Efficient Appliances: Devices that use less water, like low-flow toilets and efficient washing machines.

Water Footprint: The total volume of freshwater consumed directly or indirectly to produce goods and services, including the water used in production processes.

Water Justice: Making sure that everyone has fair access to clean and safe water, no matter where they live or who they are.

Water Management: Planning and using water resources wisely to meet current and future needs.

Water Monitoring: Keeping track of water quality and quantity over time.

Water Purification: Removing impurities from water to make it safe to drink.

Water Quality: How clean or polluted water is, affecting its safety for drinking and the environment.

Water Rights: Making sure that people have the right to use and share water, especially in a fair and sustainable way.

Water Scarcity: The lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of a region or population.

Water Security: The reliable access to a sufficient quantity and quality of water for human and environmental needs.

Watershed: An area where all the water drains into a specific river or lake.

Water Stress: The condition where the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use.

Wetland Conservation: Protecting areas where land and water meet, which are important for wildlife.