waterthat

Waterthat is a neologism used primarily in online discussions and informal writing to denote a hypothetical or idealized sample of water with precisely defined properties. It is not a formal term in hydrology or chemistry, and there is no consensus on a single definition. In many uses, waterthat serves as a placeholder in thought experiments, demonstrations of sampling, or discussions about measurement bias.

Usage and interpretations vary. In thought experiments, waterthat might be described as water with a specific concentration of minerals, temperature, and purity chosen to illustrate how results depend on initial conditions. In environmental planning or policy discussions, waterthat can refer to water that meets a predefined quality standard for drinking or irrigation; the exact criteria depend on the context. In online culture, the term is sometimes employed for humorous or rhetorical effect, highlighting the gap between idealized conditions and real-world data.

Origin and reception: The term appears in informal media from the 2010s onward and is not tied to a particular organization or standard. As a result, references to waterthat typically require clarification of the exact definition in use. See also: Water, Water quality, Thought experiment, Sampling bias.