Water Filtration Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Absolute The micron rating of a filter. It indicates that any particle larger than a specific size will be trapped within the filter.
Absorption When a solid takes up molecules into its structure.
Acidity The quantitative capacity of water to neutralize a base, expressed in ppm or mg/L calcium carbonate equivalent. The number of hydrogen atoms that are present determines this. It is usually measured by titration with a standard solution of sodium hydroxide.
Activated coal This is the most commonly used adsorption medium, produced by heating carbonaceous substances or cellulose bases in the absence of air. It has a very porous structure and is commonly used to remove organic matter and dissolved gases from water. Its appearance is similar to coal or peat. Available in granular, powder or block form.
Adsorption Separation of liquids, gases, colloids or suspended matter from a medium by adherence to the surface or pores of a solid.
Advanced Water Treatment The level of water treatment that requires an 85- percent reduction in pollutant concentration, also known as tertiary treatment.
Advanced Wastewater Treatment Any treatment of sewage water that includes the removal of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and a high percentage of suspended solids.
Aeration Technique that is used with water treatment that demands oxygen supply, commonly known as aerobic biological water purification. Either water is brought into contact with water droplets by spraying or air is brought into contact with water by means of aeration facilities. Air is pressed through a body of water by bubbling and the water is supplied with oxygen.
Aggressive water Water that is soft and acidic and can corrode plumbing, pipes and appliances.
Algae Single- or multi-celled organisms that are commonly found in surface water, such as duckweed. They produce their own food through photosynthesis. The algae population is divided up into green algae and blue algae, of which the blue algae are very damageable to human health. Excessive algae growth may cause the water to have undesirable odors or tastes. Decay of algae diminishes oxygen supplies in the water.
Alkalinity Alkalinity means the buffering capacity of water; the capacity of the water to neutralize itself. It prevents the water pH levels from becoming too basic or acid. It also adds carbon to water. Alkalinity stabilizes water at pH levels around 7. However, when the acidity is high in water the alkalinity decreases, which can cause harmful conditions for aquatic life.
Alluvium Sediments deposited by erosion processes, usually by streams.
Aquifer A layer in the soil that is capable of transporting a significant volume of groundwater.
Available chlorine A measure of the amount of chlorine available in chlorinated lime, hypochlorite compounds, and other materials.
B
Back Pressure Pressure that can cause water to backflow into the water supply when a user’s waste water system is at a higher pressure than the public system. .
Backwashing Reversing the flow of water back through the filter media to remove entrapped solids.
Bacteria Microscopically small single-cell organisms, that reproduce by fission of spores.
Bacterial water contamination The introduction of unwanted bacteria into a water body.
Bioaccumulation The increase in concentration of a substance in living organisms, as they take in contaminated air, water, or food, due to slow metabolization and excretion.
Biocide A chemical that is toxic to microorganisms. Biocides are often used to eliminate bacteria and other singlecell organisms from water.
Biodegradable pollutants Pollutants that are capable of decomposing under natural conditions.
Biological contaminants Living organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens that can cause harmful health effects to humans.
Biologically activated carbon Activated carbon that supports active microbial growth, in order to aid in the degradation of organics that have been absorbed on its surface and in its pores.
Biological oxidation Decomposition of complex organic materials by microrganisms through oxidation.
Blackwater Water that contains waste of humans, animals or food.
Brine Highly salty and heavily mineralized water, containing heavy metal and organic contaminants.
C
Cake Solid dewatered residue on a filter media after filtration.
Carcinogen Any dissolved pollutant that can induce cancer.
Cartridge filter Disposable filter device that has a filter range of 0.1 micron to 100 microns.
Carbonates Chemical compounds related to carbon dioxide.
Chelating agents Organic compounds that have the ability to draw ion from their water solutions into soluble complexes.
Chemical pollution Introduction of chemical contaminants into a water body.
Chloramines A chemical complex that consists of chlorine and ammonia. It serves as a water disinfectant in public water supplies in place of chlorine because chlorine can combine with organics to form dangerous reaction products. In which forms chloramines exist depends on the physical/ chemical properties of the water source.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons that contain chlorine. These include a class of persistent insecticides that accumulate in the aquatic food chain. Among them are DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, chlordane, lindane, endrin, Mirex, hexachloride, and toxaphene.
Chlorinated Solvent An organic solvent containing chlorine atoms that is often used as aerosol spray container, in highway paint, and dry cleaning fluids.
Chlorination A water purification process in which chlorine is added to water for disinfection, for the control of present microorganisms. It is also used in the oxidation of compound impurities in water.
Clarity The clearness of a liquid.
Coagulation Destabilization of colloid particles by addition of a reactive chemical, called a coagulant. This happens through neutralization of the charges.
Coalescence Liquid particles in suspension that unite to create particles of a greater volume.
Coliform bacteria Bacteria that serve as indicators of pollution and pathogens when found in water. These are usually found in the intestinal tract of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Coliform index A rating of the purity of water based on a count of coliform bacteria.
Colloids Matter of very small particle size, in the range of 10-5 to 10-7 in diameter.
Concentrate The totality of different substances that are left behind in a filter medium after filtration.
Concentration The amount of material dissolved in a unit of solution, expressed in mg/L.
Contaminant Any foreign component in a substance, for example in water.
Corrosivity Ability of water to dissolve or break down certain substances, particularly metals.
Cryptosporidium A microorganism in water that causes gastrointestinal illness in humans. It is commonly found in untreated surface water and can be removed by filtration. It is resistant to disinfectants such as chlorine.
Cycle The length of time a filter can be used before it needs cleaning, usually including cleaning time.
D
Dealkalinization Any process that serves to reduce the alkalinity of water.
Decarbonation The process of removing carbon dioxide from water, using contact towers or air scrubbers.
Defluoridation The removal of fluoride from drinking water.
De-foaming agents Chemicals that are added to wastewater discharges to prevent the water from foaming when it is discharged into a receiving water body.
Degasification The process of removing dissolved gasses from water, using vacuum or heat.
Deionization Process that serves to remove all ionized substances from a solution. Most commonly is the exchange process where cations and anions are removed independently of each other.
Demineralization Processes to remove minerals from water, usually the term is restricted to ion exchange processes.
Desalination The removal of salt from seawater or brackish water to produce drinking water, using various techniques.
Desorption The opposite of adsorption; the release of matter from the adsorption medium, usually to recover material.
Detergent A water-soluble cleansing agent, other than soap.
Direct run-off Water that flows from the ground surface directly into streams, rivers, and lakes.
Discharge Flow of surface water in a stream or canal.
Disinfectants Fluids or gasses to disinfect filters, pipelines, systems, etc.
Disinfection The decontamination of fluids and surfaces. To disinfect a fluid or surface a variety of techniques are used, such as ozone disinfection. Often disinfection means eliminating the present microorganisms with a biocide.
Distillation Water treatment method where water is boiled to steam and condensed in a separate reservoir.
Effluent The outlet or outflow of any system that deals with water flows, for an oxidation pond for biological water purification. It is the product water of the given system.
Emulsifier A chemical that helps suspending one liquid in another.
Emulsion Dispersion of one liquid in another liquid, occurs when a liquid in insoluble.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) Coliform bacterium that is often associated with human and animal waste and is found in the intestinal court. It is used by health departments and private laboratories to measure the purity of water.
Filtrate A liquid that has passed through the filter medium.
Filtration Separation of a solid and a liquid by using a porous substance that only lets the liquid pass through.
Flocculation The accumulation of destabilized particles and micro flakes, and subsequently the formation of sizeable flakes. One must add another chemical called flocculent in order to facilitate the formation of flakes
Flux The rate at which a Reverse Osmosis Membrane allows water to pass through it.
Freshwater Water containing less than 1 mg/l of dissolved solids of any type.
Giardia A microorganism that is commonly found in untreated surface water and can be removed by filtration. It is resistant to disinfectants such as chlorine.
Granular activated carbon The heating of carbon to encourage active sites to absorb pollutants.
Groundwater Water that can be found in the saturated zone of the soil; a zone that consists merely of water. It slowly moves from places with high elevation and pressure to places with low elevation and pressure, such as rivers and lakes.
Groundwater discharge Ground water entering coastal waters, which has been contaminated by land-fill leachate, deep well injection of hazardous wastes and septic tanks.
Half-life The time required for a pollutant to lose one-half of its original concentraton.
Heavy metals Metals that have a density of 5.0 or higher and a high elemental weight. Most are toxic to humans, even in low concentrations.
Humidification The addition of water vapour to air.
Hydrocarbon Organic compounds that are built of carbon and hydrogen atoms and are often used in petroleum industries.
Impermeable Not easily penetrated by water.
Impurities Particles or other objects that cause water to be unclear.
Indirect discharge Introduction of pollutants from a non-domestic source into a publicly owned wastewater treatment system. Indirect dischargers can be commercial or industrial facilities whose wastes enter local sewers. Infiltration
Penetration of water into a medium, for instance the soil.
Influent The stream of water that enters any system or treatment unit.
Inorganic chemicals Chemical substances of mineral origin, not of basically carbon structure.
Leachate Water that contains solute substances, so that it contains certain substances in solution after percolation through a filter or soil.
Leaching The process by which soluble constituents are dissolved and filtered through the soil by a percolating fluid.
Lime Common water treatment chemical. Lime can be deposed on walls of showers and bathrooms, after lime has reacted with calcium to form limestone.
Limnology The study of the physical, chemical, hydrological, and biological aspects of fresh water.
Liquid A state of matter, neither gas nor solid, that flows and takes the shape of its container.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) The maximum level of a contaminant allowed in water by federal law. Based on health effects and currently available treatment methods.
Medium-size water system A water system that serves 3,300 to 50,000 customers.
Membrane A thin barrier that allows some compounds or liquids to pass through, and troubles others. It is a semi-permeable skin of which the pass-through is determined by size or special nature of the particles. Membranes are commonly used to separate substances.
MFS Micro Filtration System, it serves full automatic solid/ liquid separation.
Microbial growth The multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, diatoms, plankton, and fungi.
Micron A unit to describe a measure of length, equal to one millionth of a meter.
Microorganisms Organisms that are so small that they can only be observed through a microscope, for instance bacteria, fungi or yeasts.
Mineral water Contains large amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron. Some tap waters contain as many or more minerals than some commercial mineral waters. There is no scientific evidence that either high or low mineral content water is beneficial to humans.
Municipal discharge Discharge of effluent from wastewater treatment plants, which receive wastewater from households, commercial establishments, and industries in the coastal drainage basin.
Municipal Sewage Liquid wastes, originating from a community. They may have been composed of domestic wastewaters or industrial discharges.
Municipal sludge Semi liquid residue that remains from the treatment of municipal water and wastewater.
Neutralization The addition of substances to neutralize water, so that it is neither acid, nor basic. Neutralization does not specifically mean a pH of 7.0; it just means the equivalent point of an acid-base reaction.
Nitrification A biological process, during which nitrifying bacteria convert toxic ammonia to less harmful nitrate. It is commonly used to remove nitrogen substances from wastewater, but in lakes and ponds it occurs naturally.
Non-potable Water that is unsafe or unpalatable to drink because it contains pollutants, contaminants, minerals or infective agents.
Nuisance contaminant Constituents in water, which are not normally harmful to health but may cause offensive taste, odor, color, corrosion, foaming, or staining.
Nutrient Any substance that promotes growth with living organisms. The term is generally applied to nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater, but is also applied to other essential and trace elements.
Nutrient pollution Contamination of water resources by excessive inputs of nutrients. In surface waters, excess algal production is a major concern.
Organic matter Substances of (dead) plant or animal matter, with a carbon-hydrogen structure.
Osmosis Water molecules passing through membranes naturally, to the side with the highest concentration of dissolved impurities.
Outfall The place where a wastewater treatment plant discharges treated water into the environment.
Overflow Rate One of the guidelines for design of the settling tanks and clarifiers in a treatment plant to determine if tanks and clarifiers are used enough.
Oxidation A chemical reaction in which ions are transferring electrons, to increase positive valence.
Ozone An unstable oxidizing agent, that consists of three oxygen atoms and can be found in the ozone layer in the atmosphere. It is produced by electrical discharge through oxygen or by specifically designed UV-lamps.
Ozone generator A device that generates ozone by passing a voltage through a chamber that contains oxygen. It is often used as a disinfection system.
Particle size The sizes of a particle, determined by the smallest dimension, for instance a diameter. It is usually expressed in micron measurements.
Particulate loading The mass of particulates per unit volume of water.
Parts per billion Expressed as ppb; a unit of concentration equivalent to the µg/l.
Parts per million Expressed as ppm; a measure of concentration. One ppm is one unit weight of solute per million unit weights of solution. In water analysis the ppm is equivalent to mg/l.
Pasteurization The elimination of microorganisms by heat applies for a certain period of time.
Pathogens Disease-producing microorganisms.
Percent saturation The amount of a substance that is dissolved in a solution compared to the amount that could be dissolved in it.
Percolating water Water that passes through rocks or soil under the force of gravity.
Permeability The ability of a medium to pass a fluid under pressure.
Persistence Refers to the length of time a compound stays in the environment, once introduced.
pH The value that determines if a substance is acid, neutral or basic, calculated from the number of hydrogen ions present. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, on which 7 means the substance is neutral. pH values below 7 indicate that a substance is acidic and pH values above 7 indicate that it is basic.
Phase A state of matter. This can be solid, liquid or gaseous.
POE-treatment Point-Of-Entry treatment. Total water treatment at the inlet to an entire building or facility.
Pore An opening in a membrane or medium that allows water to pass through. charge, for instance water.
Pollutant A contaminant at a concentration high enough to endanger the life of organisms.
POP’s Persistent Organic Pollutants, complex compounds that are very persistent and difficultly biologically degradable.
Potable water Water that is safe for drinking and cooking.
Potentiation The ability of one chemical to increase the effect of another chemical.
POU-treatment Point-Of-Use treatment. Water treatment at a limited number of outlets in a building, for less than the whole building.
Pre-treatment Processes used to reduce or eliminate wastewater pollutants from before they are discharged.
Process water Water that serves in any level of the manufacturing process of certain products.
Product water Water that has passed through a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers.
Protozoa Large microorganisms, which consume bacteria.
Public water system A system that provides piped water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or regularly serves 25 individuals.
Qualitative water assessment Analyses of water used to describe the visible or aesthetic characteristics of water.
Quantitative water assessment Use of analyses of water properties and concentrations of compounds and contaminants in order to define water quality.
Quicksilver water A solution of mercury nitrate used in gilding.
Radioactive Having the property of releasing radiation.
Raw sewage Untreated wastewater and its contents.
Raw water Intake water before any treatment or use.
Reaeration Renewing air supplies in the lower layers of a reservoir in order to raise oxygen levels.
Recarbonization Process in which carbon dioxide is bubbled into treatment water in order to lower the pH.
Receiving waters A river, lake, ocean, stream or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged.
Recharge Area An area where rainwater soaks through the ground to reach an aquifer.
Recirculation Recycling water after it is used. Often it has to pass a wastewater purification system before it can be reused.
Reservoir A natural or artificial holding area used to store water.
Residue The dry solids remaining after the evaporation of a sample of water or sludge.
Resolution The breaking of an emulsion into its individual components.
Reverse Osmosis process The Reversed Osmosis (RO) process uses a semipermeable membrane to separate and remove dissolved solids, organics, pyrogens, submicron colloidal matter, viruses, and bacteria from water. The process is called ‘reverse’ osmosis since it requires pressure to force pure water across a membrane, leaving the impurities behind.
Run-Off The part of precipitation water that runs off the land into streams or other surfacewater.
Safe water Water that does not contain harmful bacteria, toxic materials, or chemicals, and is considered safe for drinking.
Safe yield The annual amount of water that can be taken from a source of supply over a period of years without depleting that source beyond its ability to be naturally refilled.
Salinity The presence of soluble minerals in water.
Sand filtration Sand filtration is a frequently used and very robust method to remove suspended solids from water. The filtration medium consists of a multiple layer of sand with a variety in size and specific gravity. Sand filters can be supplied in different sizes and materials both hand operated and fully automatically.
Scale The precipitate that forms on surfaces in contact with water as the result of a physical or chemical change.
Screening Use of screens to remove coarse floating and suspended solids from sewage.
Secondary treatment The removal or reduction of contaminants and BOD of effluent from primary wastewater treatment.
Sediments Soil, sand, and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain.
Semi-confined aquifer An aquifer partially confined by soil layers of low permeability through which recharge and discharge can still occur.
Semi permeable A medium that allows water to pass through, but rejects dissolved solids, so that it can be used to separate solids from water.
Septic tank An underground storage tank for wastes from homes not connected to a sewer line. Waste goes directly from the home to the tank.
Sewage Waste fluid in a sewer system. Sewage contamination The introduction of untreated sewage into a water body.
Sludge A semi-solid residue, containing microorganisms and their products, from any water treatment process.
Softening The removal of calcium and magnesium from water to reduce hardness.
Soft water Any water that does not contain large concentrations of the dissolved minerals calcium or magnesium.
Solvent Substance (usually liquid) capable of dissolving one or more other substances.
Spring Ground water seeping out of the earth where the water table exceeds the ground surface.
Synergism The combined action of several chemicals, which produces a total effect greater than the effects of the chemicals separately.
TDS Total Dissolved Solids. The weight per unit volume of water of suspended solids in a filter media after filtration or evaporation. Please use also our information about TDS and conductivity.
TH Total Hardness. The sum of calcium and magnesium hardness, expressed as a calcium carbonate equivalent.
TS Total Solids. The weight of all present solids per unit volume of water. It is usually determined by evaporation. The total weight concerns both dissolved and suspended organic and inorganic matter.
Total solids All the solids in wastewater or sewage water, including suspended solids and filterable solids.
Toxic water pollutants Compounds that are not naturally found in water at the given concentrations and that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them.
Transmission lines Pipelines that transport raw water from its source to a water treatment plant.
Treatment plant A structure built to treat wastewater before discharging it into the environment.
THM Trihalomethanes. Toxic chemical substances that consist of a methane molecule and one of the halogen elements fluorine, bromine, chlorine and iodine attached to three positions of the molecule. They usually have carcinogenic properties.
Turbidity A measure of non-transparency of water due to the presence of suspended matter.
Ultra-violet oxidation A process using extremely short wave-length light that can kill micro-organisms (disinfection) or cleave organic molecules (photo oxidation) rendering them polarized or ionized and thus more easily removed from the water.
Unloading The release of the contaminant that was captured by a filter medium.
Unsaturated zone The area above the water table where soil pores are not fully saturated with water.
Up-flow An upward flow of water.
UP-water Ultra pure water creation demands a specialized way of working. A number of techniques are used amongst others; membrane filtration, ion exchanges, sub micron filters, ultraviolet and ozone systems. The produced water is extremely pure and contains none to very low concentrations of salts, organic/pyrogene components, oxygen, suspended solids and bacteria.
Urban run-off Water from city streets domestic properties that carries pollutants into the sewer systems and receiving waters.
UV Ultra Violet. Radiation that has a wavelength shorter than visible light. It is often used to kill bacteria and destroy ozone.
Vapor
The gaseous phase of substances such as water. Vaporize Conversion of a liquid into vapor.
Viruses The smallest life forms known, that are not cellular in nature. They live inside the cells of animals, plants and bacteria and often cause disease. They are made up of a chromosome surrounded by a protein shell.
Viscosity The syrupiness of water and it determines the mobility of the water. When the temperature rises, the viscosity degrades; this means that water will be less mobile at higher temperatures.
VOC Volatile Organic Compound. Synthetic organic compounds which easily vaporize and are often carcinogenic.
Wastewater The spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter.
Wastewater infrastructure The plan or network for the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage in a community.
Water monitoring The process of constant control of a body of water by means of sampling and analyses.
Water pollution The presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage water quality.
Water quality The condition of water with respect to the amount of impurities in it.
Water recycling Using water again for the same or another process step, after a small form of purification is applied.
Watershed A land area from which water drains to a particular water body.
Water system A river and all its branches.
Water table The surface of groundwater in the soil.
Weir A spill over device used to measure or control water flows.
Well A deep hole with the purpose to reach underground water supplies.
Zero discharge water The principle of “zero discharge” is recycling of all industrial wastewater. This means that wastewater will be treated and used again in the process. Because of the water reuse wastewater will not be released on the sewer system or surface water.
Zone of saturation The space in the soil below the water table in which all the pores are filled with water. The water in the zone of saturation is groundwater.
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