Abstraction: to take water out of or away from groundwater, a river or stream.
Algae: plants that grow in water or moist ground. They range in size from single cell microscopic organisms to large seaweeds.
Alluvial fans: deposits carried and deposited by river, which have accumulated to form fans.
Aquifer: a permeable water carrying formation which water can move through.
Artesian well: groundwater, which is under sufficient pressure to rise above the ground surface when penetrated by a well or bore.
Base Flow: the minimum flow in a stream or river.
CCC: Christchurch City Council.
Chlorination: to add chlorine to the water supply.
Conservation: the maintenance of the quality of the environment and resources.
Contaminate: to add substances, for example chemicals, which make the water less pure.
Ecology: the study of plants and animal and their interaction with their environment.
Ecosystem: a community of organisms, the physical environment in which they live, and the interactions or processes between them.
Endemic: an animal or plant restricted to an area.
Enhancement: to improve or add on to existing values.
Environment: the sum of all external forces or influences that affect an organism.
Evaporation: the change of water from a liquid to a gas state.
Fluoridate: to add fluoride to the water supply.
Fauna: the kinds or animals found in a region.
Flora: the kinds of plants found in a region.
Food chain: the series of organisms through which food energy moves.
Groundwater: water that has filtered into the ground, either from rivers, surface runoff or rainfall.
Habitat: the specific kind of environment occupied by the individuals of a species.
Indigenous: plants and animals originating or occurring naturally in a country or area.
Invertebrate: animals without backbones.
Lifecycle: the series of changes occurring in the life of an organism.
Marine: found in or relating to the sea.
Native: a plant or animal found naturally in an area.
Naturalised: a plant or animal introduced into a particular area.
Orographic rain: rain that is created as it travels over mountains.
pH: a measure of how acidic something is.
Pollute: to add something to the water to make it less clean.
Recharge: the addition of water from outside sources, usually seepage from rivers or rainfall, to an aquifer.
Remnants: small areas of natural plants and animals.
Reservoir: storage area for water.
Restoration: the process of improving habitats
Revegetation: the process of replanting vegetation that previously existed at a site.
Riparian: relating to the margins of waterways and wetlands.
Shrub: a woody plant, smaller than a tree.
Stormwater: rainwater which runs off hard surfaces such as roads, footpaths, car parks, hillsides, farm paddocks, roofs and industrial yards.
Sustainable management: managing the use, development and protection of resources while at the same time allowing people to meet their needs. In terms of waterways this means protecting and conserving natural values, while at the same time allowing people to enjoy and use the waterways.
Urban expansion: the expanding area of development for urban uses, such as housing.
Vegetation: the actual plant cover of an area.
Water Services Unit: the part of the Christchurch City Council that manages Christchurch's waterways and wetlands and water supply.
Waterway: a term used to describe rivers, streams, creeks, drains and channels.
Wetland: permanent or non-permanent wet areas, shallow water, and land margins that support plants and animals that are adapted to living in wet environments.
Wildlife corridor: habitat along which wildlife can move.
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Christchurch City Council PO Box 237, Christchurch, New Zealand Ph +64 3 371-1270, Fax +64 3 371-1384 |
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Christchurch City Council |