What is the term for all the land area that drains into a specific body of water?

• A. Watershed
• B. Runoff
• C. Leachate
• D. Groundwater

Answer: (A)

The term for all the land area that drains into a specific body of water is a watershed. A watershed, also called a drainage basin or catchment, collects all precipitation that falls within its boundaries and funnels it toward that water body through streams, rivers, and even groundwater movement. The boundary is defined by high ground like ridges that divert runoff to different outlets. Within a watershed, runoff refers to the water that travels over the land surface during rain, but the area itself is the watershed. Leachate is the contaminated liquid formed when water percolates through waste, and groundwater is the subsurface water that can contribute to the body of water, but neither term names the entire drainage area.