Freshwater from precipitation that flows across the earth's land surface and into rivers , lakes , wetlands, and ultimately to the oceans

Removing dissolved salts from ocean water or from brackish water in aquifers for domestic use. It is another way to increase supplies of freshwater

prolonged period in which precipitation is at least 70% lower and evaporation is higher than normal in an area that is normally not dry

Structure built across a river to control the river's flow

After a river is dammed, the river's flow creates an artificial lake behind the dam.

Precipitation that infiltrates the ground and percolates downward through spaces in soil, gravel, and rock until an impenetrable layer of rock stops it

The depth at which groundwater is found.

Underground caverns and porous layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock through which groundwater flows.

Amount of surface runoff that we can generally count on as a source of freshwater from year to year.

Total area of land that flows into a particular river

Contamination of the groundwater with saltwater

Spaces in the ground which are completely filled with water.

Greatest water conservation method used by farmers to water their crops

Process of converting government enterprises into privately owned companies