Water | Key Definitions
Visualizing An Economical and Sustainable Source Of Water
Aquifer. An underground geological formation able to store and yield water.
Conjunctive Use. The use of groundwater to supplement surface water supplies.
Drought. An extended period with little or no precipitation; often affects crop production and availability of water supplies.
Firm Water. Surface water available in a drought of record.
Groundwater. Water found in the spaces between soil particles and cracks in rocks underground (located in the saturation zone). Groundwater is a natural resource that is used for drinking, recreation, industry, and growing crops.
Integrated management. Any combination of physical, technical, administrative, and legal practices relating to surface water and groundwater supply an demands, land and related resources in a manner designed to balance economic, social and environmentally sustainable benefits. Conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water is an example of an integrated water management strategy.
LCRA. Lower Colorado River Authority. A public agency, created by the state, that is tasked with managing the water supply for the Central Texas region.
Potable water. Water of a quality suitable for drinking.
Recharge. Water added to an aquifer. For example, when rainwater seeps into the ground. Recharge may occur artificially through injection wells or by spreading water over groundwater reservoirs.
Safe yield. The annual amount of water that can be taken from a source of supply over a period of years without depleting that source beyond its ability to be replenished naturally in "wet years."
Surface water. Water above the surface of the land, including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, floodwater, and runoff.
Well field. An area in which productive wells are drilled.