Suspended sediment refers to tiny particles of soil or other material that are suspended in water and move along with the water current. Some common synonyms for this term include suspended solids, turbidity, sediment load, and sediment concentration. Suspended solids are often used in water quality monitoring and assessment, as they can impact the health of aquatic ecosystems and even human health if drinking water contains high levels of sediment. Turbidity refers to the cloudiness or haziness of water caused by suspended particles, and can be measured using a turbidimeter. Sediment load and sediment concentration both refer to the amount of suspended sediment in water, with concentration usually expressed as mass per unit volume.