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environmental flow the amount of water flushing through a natural waterway to keep it healthy. infiltration water that is absorbed by the soil and funneled down to groundwater storm water runoff, water that goes directly into the stream urban run-off water unable to infiltrate due to hard surfaces in urban settings per capita per person rain shadow the area on the dry, sheltered side of a mountain, which receives little rainfall ground water water found beneath Earth's surface and held in soil and permeable rocks. blue green algae algal bloom that grows on the top of waterways during long periods of drought. drought long periods of unusually low precipitation el Nino name given to the short term periodic change in the location of warm and cold water masses in the Pacific Ocean great artesian basin What key physiographic region in Australia provides underground water resources, preventing that portion of Australia from being desert? sustainability the ability to meet humanities current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs water catchment An area where water is collected by the natural landscape in a catchment, all rain and run-off water eventually flows into a creek, river, lake or ocean or into the groundwater system agriculture accounts for 80% of water in Australia irrigation the artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops salinity caused by replacing deep-rooted trees with shallow rooted crops causing salts to rise to the surface. river system A system consisting of a river and its branches gray water the waste water that comes from showers, hand basins, laundry tubs, washing machines, dishwashers and kitchen sinks. desalination the process of removing salt from seawater to produce drinking water. turbidity How much sediment is suspended in the water. This will be high where erosion rates are high.