NGICP Vocabulary Study Guide
aquifer - correct answer ✔✔underground layers of porous rock saturated with water. Wells are drilled
down into aquifers so that stored water can be pumped out
Bioretention - correct answer ✔✔shallow basins or structures collect stormwater and use vegetation
and layers of soil and aggregates to filter, store and infiltrate the water. vegetation transpires the water.
where is bioretention commonly installed? - correct answer ✔✔parks and wide road medians or
sidewalks
bioswale - correct answer ✔✔shallow, open-channel flow pathway. Use dense vegetation, usually tall
grass, with layers of soil and aggregate to treat stormwater runoff
aggregate - correct answer ✔✔a material or structure formed from a loosely compacted mass of
fragments or particles
blue roof - correct answer ✔✔non-vegetated system of rooftop storage structures installed over a
waterproof roof membrane that temporarily detains water on the roof surface and slows the rate it
reaches the building downspouts
catch basin - correct answer ✔✔box-like structure or pit beneath a storm sewer inlet used to collect
surface water drainage or runoff
check dam - correct answer ✔✔small damn built across minor channels, swales, bioswales, or drainage
ditches; reduces erosion and allows pollutants/sediments to settle
cistern - correct answer ✔✔built in a basement or near a house or building that collects and stores
hundreds of gallons of stormwater from downspouts and nearby impervious surfaces so that water can
be used fir non-potable uses like irrigation and toilet flushing
non-potable water - correct answer ✔✔any water that is not safe for personal consumption but can be
used in other lucrative ways
, detention - correct answer ✔✔process of managing stormwater runoff or sewer flows through a
temporary holding and controlled release
detention pond - correct answer ✔✔shallow basin with a small slope between inlet and outlet structure.
Outlet= low flow opening at the bottom of the pond that lets collected water slowly drain in between
rains. Usually dry, help reduce flooding
dry well - correct answer ✔✔underground storage facility used to capture and temporarily hold runoff
from downspouts or small impervious areas until water can infiltrate into soil. Usually individual and
small sites
erosion - correct answer ✔✔when soil or rock fragments are moved by water, wind, ice, gravity. Moves
from higher to lower elevation
evapotranspiration - correct answer ✔✔combined loss of water from a given area with evaporation
through transpiration from plants. The step in the hydrologic cycle where moisture returns to the air as
humidity.
filter fabric - correct answer ✔✔permeable cloth like material generally made of synthetic products such
as polypropylene used to trap sediment and prevent fine soil particles from washing into stone layers
and filling void spaces. AKA geotextiles
geomembrane - correct answer ✔✔waterproof layers of synthetic products used to contain water or
liquids and prevent draining or infiltration into underlying soil
geotextiles - correct answer ✔✔manufactured, permeable textiles currently used in reinforcing or
stabilizing civil engineering projects
gray infrastructure - correct answer ✔✔constructed structures such as treatment facilities, sewer
systems, stormwater systems, or storage basins. Gray refers to the concrete that is usually used in
construction
aquifer - correct answer ✔✔underground layers of porous rock saturated with water. Wells are drilled
down into aquifers so that stored water can be pumped out
Bioretention - correct answer ✔✔shallow basins or structures collect stormwater and use vegetation
and layers of soil and aggregates to filter, store and infiltrate the water. vegetation transpires the water.
where is bioretention commonly installed? - correct answer ✔✔parks and wide road medians or
sidewalks
bioswale - correct answer ✔✔shallow, open-channel flow pathway. Use dense vegetation, usually tall
grass, with layers of soil and aggregate to treat stormwater runoff
aggregate - correct answer ✔✔a material or structure formed from a loosely compacted mass of
fragments or particles
blue roof - correct answer ✔✔non-vegetated system of rooftop storage structures installed over a
waterproof roof membrane that temporarily detains water on the roof surface and slows the rate it
reaches the building downspouts
catch basin - correct answer ✔✔box-like structure or pit beneath a storm sewer inlet used to collect
surface water drainage or runoff
check dam - correct answer ✔✔small damn built across minor channels, swales, bioswales, or drainage
ditches; reduces erosion and allows pollutants/sediments to settle
cistern - correct answer ✔✔built in a basement or near a house or building that collects and stores
hundreds of gallons of stormwater from downspouts and nearby impervious surfaces so that water can
be used fir non-potable uses like irrigation and toilet flushing
non-potable water - correct answer ✔✔any water that is not safe for personal consumption but can be
used in other lucrative ways
, detention - correct answer ✔✔process of managing stormwater runoff or sewer flows through a
temporary holding and controlled release
detention pond - correct answer ✔✔shallow basin with a small slope between inlet and outlet structure.
Outlet= low flow opening at the bottom of the pond that lets collected water slowly drain in between
rains. Usually dry, help reduce flooding
dry well - correct answer ✔✔underground storage facility used to capture and temporarily hold runoff
from downspouts or small impervious areas until water can infiltrate into soil. Usually individual and
small sites
erosion - correct answer ✔✔when soil or rock fragments are moved by water, wind, ice, gravity. Moves
from higher to lower elevation
evapotranspiration - correct answer ✔✔combined loss of water from a given area with evaporation
through transpiration from plants. The step in the hydrologic cycle where moisture returns to the air as
humidity.
filter fabric - correct answer ✔✔permeable cloth like material generally made of synthetic products such
as polypropylene used to trap sediment and prevent fine soil particles from washing into stone layers
and filling void spaces. AKA geotextiles
geomembrane - correct answer ✔✔waterproof layers of synthetic products used to contain water or
liquids and prevent draining or infiltration into underlying soil
geotextiles - correct answer ✔✔manufactured, permeable textiles currently used in reinforcing or
stabilizing civil engineering projects
gray infrastructure - correct answer ✔✔constructed structures such as treatment facilities, sewer
systems, stormwater systems, or storage basins. Gray refers to the concrete that is usually used in
construction
