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Acequia
Acequias are gravity-driven waterways, similar in
concept to a flume. Most are simple ditches with
dirt banks, but they can be lined with concrete.
They were important forms of irrigation in the
development of agriculture in the American
Southwest. The proliferation of cotton, pecans and
green chile as major agricultural staples owe their
progress to the acequia system.
Acid
A substance that has a pH of less than 7, which
is neutral. Specifically, an acid has more free
hydrogen ions (H+) than hydroxyl ions (OH-).
Acid Rain
Acid Rain is rain that has been made acidic by
certain pollutants released in the air, most
commonly caused by human activities. Acid rain
creates tiny particles which can easily enter
people's lungs and cause health problems,
especially those with difficulty breathing. Acid
rain also harms forests by precipitating harmful
toxins into the soil which then destroys certain
nutrients that nature is dependent on. Lastly,
acid rain damages lakes and streams by
increasing the acidity in water which can be
deadly to aquatic wildlife.
Acre-foot
(acre-ft)
The volume of water required to cover 1 acre of
land (43,560 square feet) to a depth of 1 foot.
Equal to 325,851 gallons or 1,233 cubic meters.
Albumin
Albumin is the main protein in human blood
and is the key to the regulation of the osmotic
pressure of blood. Albumin is important because
it has the ability to bind to water and without
it our tissues would swell up with water.
Alkaline
Sometimes water or soils contain an amount of
alkali (strongly basic) substances sufficient to
raise the pH value above 7.0 and be harmful to
the growth of crops.
Alkalinity
The capacity of water for neutralizing an acid
solution.
Alluvium
Deposits of clay, silt, sand, gravel, or other
particulate material that has been deposited by
a stream or other body of running water in a
streambed, on a flood plain, on a delta, or at
the base of a mountain.
Aluminum
An abundant metallic chemical widely used
throughout the world for a wide range of
products. Aluminum is a malleable metal commonly
used to make soda cans. It is the third most
common element in the Earth's crust and is the
most common metallic element on Earth. Aluminum
in drinking water is said to be associated with
Alzheimer's disease because the aluminum could
damage nerve cells and their connectors.
Ammonia
A colorless gas with a pungent odor used
commonly in commercial cleaning products. Most
people are exposed to ammonia from inhalation of
the gas or vapors. Ammonia interacts immediately
with the moisture in the skin, eyes, respiratory
tract, and causes the necrosis of tissues
through disruption of cell membrane lipids
leading to cellular destruction.
Anemia
A decrease in the number of red blood cells or
less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in
the blood. Hemoglobin normally carries oxygen to
the tissues so anemia leads to lack of oxygen in
organs.
Anti-Convulsant
A medication used to control or prevent
seizures. The goal of the anti-convulsant is to
suppress the rapid and excessive firing of
neurons that start a seizure.
Anti-Scorbutic
Any remedy that cures or prevents scurvy. Foods
with high concentrations of Vitamin C have
excellent sources of anti-scorbutic.
Antibiotics
A medicine used to treat infections by killing
the bacteria and inhibiting its ability to
reproduce. Antibiotics do not work on viruses
because viruses are not alive, unlike bacteria.
It is important to finish the course of the
prescribed antibiotics so the bacteria is fully
killed. If some bacteria remain, they can
reproduce causing the illness to come back which
also means they will be stronger the next time
you take the antibiotic.
Appropriation
doctrine
The system for allocating water to private
individuals used in most Western states. The
doctrine of Prior Appropriation was in common
use throughout the arid west as early settlers
and miners began to develop the land. The prior
appropriation doctrine is based on the concept
of "First in Time, First in Right." The first
person to take a quantity of water and put it to
Beneficial Use has a higher priority of right
than a subsequent user. Under drought
conditions, higher priority users are satisfied
before junior users receive water. Appropriative
rights can be lost through nonuse; they can also
be sold or transferred apart from the land.
Contrasts with Riparian Water Rights.
Arthrosis
A disease of the bone joint which refers to an
area where two bones are fixed for the purpose
of allowing movement of body parts. It is
associated with a disparity between the
production and deterioration of bone cells. As
the disease gets worse it can result in the loss
of free movement in the joint.
Aquaculture
Farming of plants and animals that live in
water, such as fish, shellfish, and algae.
Aqueduct
A pipe, conduit, or channel designed to
transport water from a remote source, usually by
gravity.
Aquifer
A geologic formation(s) that is water bearing. A
geological formation or structure that stores
and/or transmits water, such as to wells and
springs. Use of the term is usually restricted
to those water-bearing formations capable of
yielding water in sufficient quantity to
constitute a usable supply for people's uses.
Aquifer (confined)
Soil or rock below the land surface that is
saturated with water. There are layers of
impermeable material both above and below it and
it is under pressure so that when the aquifer is
penetrated by a well, the water will rise above
the top of the aquifer.
Aquifer (unconfined)
An aquifer whose upper water surface (water
table) is at atmospheric pressure, and thus is
able to rise and fall.
Arsenic
A odorless and tasteless chemical element
commonly used to strengthen alloys of copper and
especially lead. Arsenic poisoning can occur
when arsenic is consumed in high concentrations
in drinking water. The EPA has set the standard
for drinking water at 0.010 parts per million to
protect consumers from the long term, chronic
effects of arsenic. Arsenic has been linked to
cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney,
liver and more.
Artesian
Water
Ground water that is under pressure when tapped
by a well and is able to rise above the level at
which it is first encountered. It may or may not
flow out at ground level. The pressure in such
an aquifer commonly is called artesian pressure,
and the formation containing artesian water is
an artesian aquifer or confined aquifer.
Artificial
Recharge
An process where water is put back into
ground-water storage from surface-water supplies
such as irrigation, or induced infiltration from
streams or wells.
Asbestos
A set of six naturally occurring silicate
minerals used commercially for their desirable
physical properties. Asbestos is useful because
of its sound absorption, strength, and its
resistance to heat and electrical damage.
Exposure to asbestos fibers increase your risk
of developing lung disease. Asbestos used to be
used in homes as fire proofing, roofing, and
flooring but most products made today do not
contain asbestos.
Asthma
Asthma is the inflammation and swelling of the
airways which is a chronic condition that
affects the ability to breathe. Symptoms of
asthma include shortness of breathe, wheezing,
coughing, and tightness in the chest. It is
important to manage your asthma everyday because
several factors can trigger it and make symptoms
worse such as allergies, infections, or strong
odor or fumes.
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Bacteria
A single cell microorganism which can exist either
as an independent organism or upon another organism
for life. Bacteria can cause disease, spoil food,
and contaminate water. The transmission of disease
through drinking water can occur when drinking water
has been contaminated by human or animal waste.
Base
A substance that has a pH of more than 7, which
is neutral. A base has less free hydrogen ions
(H+) than hydroxyl ions (OH-).
Base flow
Sustained flow of a stream in the absence of
direct runoff. It includes natural and
human-induced streamflows. Natural base flow is
sustained largely by ground-water discharges.
Bedrock
The solid rock beneath the soil and superficial
rock. A general term for solid rock that lies
beneath soil, loose sediments, or other
unconsolidated material.
Biliousness
Any remedy that cures or prevents scurvy.
Lemons for example, are rich in Vitamin C and
act as an anti-scorbutic to aid in the cure of
scurvy.
Bloating
To cause to swell or inflate with liquid, gas,
or air. Most commonly caused by fluid retention
(water retention), or sometimes irritable bowel
syndrome and stress.
Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD)
The amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic
biological organisms in a body of water to break
down organic material present in a given water
sample at certain temperature over a specific
time period. BOD can be used to gauge the
effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants.
Body
Hydration
Water is the largest component of your body so
it is vital to keep your body hydrated. Most
doctors recommend drinking 8 to 9 cups of water
per day to maintain proper body hydration,
however it can vary depending on how much one
exercises or how much one weighs. A sign of
thirst is the first sign of dehydration.
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the main air passages to the
lungs. Bronchitis can be divided into two types,
acute and chronic. Acute is most commonly
developed by a cough during the course of a
viral illness. Chronic most often develops from
a recurrent injury to the airways by inhaled
irritants, such as smoking.
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Cadmium
A minor metallic element naturally occurring in the
earth's crust and waters. Cadmium used to be used as
a pigment for corrosion resistant plating on steel
while cadmium compounds were used to stabilize
plastic. Now cadmium is used less and less due to
competing technologies. Exposure to certain forms
and concentrations of cadmium is known to produce
toxic effect on humans.
Calcium
The most abundant mineral in the human body
stored mostly in our bones and teeth. The body
constantly breaks down and rebuilds the bones,
however the older the body gets it tends to
reabsorb more calcium than it returns leading to
osteoporosis. Calcium is found in milk, cheese,
yogurt, dark green vegetables, but more
importantly your body needs Vitamin D to be able
to absorb the calcium.
Capillary action
The means by which liquid moves through the
porous spaces in a solid, such as soil, plant
roots, and the capillary blood vessels in our
bodies due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion,
and surface tension. Capillary action is
essential in carrying substances and nutrients
from one place to another in plants and animals.
Carcinogen
Any substance that is an agent directly involved
in causing cancer. This may be due to the damage
or disruption of cellular metabolic processes.
Carcinogens may increase the risk of cancer by
altering cellular metabolism or damaging DNA
directly in cells.
Chemicals
Chemicals that are a compound or substance that
is used or results from a reaction involving
changes to atoms or molecules. Chemicals exist
as solids, liquids, gases, or plasma and may
change between these phases of matter with
changes in temperature or pressure. Drinking
water is often contaminated with toxic chemicals
and need to be filtered or it can cause severe
illness over time.
Chlorine
A yellow-green gas with a pungent, irritating
odor similar to bleach. Chlorine can be
pressurized and cooled to change into a liquid
form. Chlorine is used to disinfect pools, used
as bleach in the manufacture of paper and cloth,
and used to make pesticides and solvents.
Chlorine is used in drinking water to kill
harmful bacteria but overtime the continuous
consumption of low levels of chlorine can cause
serious health problems.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color and
absorbs light that is used in photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll makes it possible for plants to
convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and
glucose in the presence of sunlight. Chlorophyll
produces energy which gives power to the plants
essential growth and development.
Cholelithiasis
A condition in which small calculi form in the
gall bladder, also known as gallstones. There
are two types of gallstones, one type is made up
of cholesterol and the other is made up of
bilirubin, which can occur when red blood cells
are being destroyed. Symptoms most often
includes pain in the upper or middle abdomen,
fever, jaundice, and vomiting.
Chronic
Dehydration
The body is comprised of 75% water and is
required for many essential functions of the
body. Over time when the body is not properly
hydrated chronic dehydration occurs which can
lead to fatigue, constipation, high/low blood
pressure, stomach ulcers, repertory problems,
and many more.
Chromium
A steel-like gray, odorless, tasteless, hard
metal that takes a high polish and has a high
melting point. Chromium is known for its high
corrosion resistance, hardness, and remarkable
magnetic properties. Chromium compounds bind to
soil and eventually contaminate drinking water.
Health effects include skin irritation,
ulceration, and liver and kidney damage.
Clean Water
Act
This act gives the EPA the authority to set
limits on water quality basis that ensure
protection of the receiving water. This will
help to regulate the discharge of pollutants
from point sources to waters in the United
States.
Coliform Bacteria
Coliform is a type of bacteria that is present
in the environment and in the feces of all warm
blooded animals and humans. Coliforms themselves
do not cause serious illness but are rather used
as an indicator of sanitary quality of foods and
water. If coliform bacteria is found in your
drinking water your water system it should be
inspected to find and eliminate any other
sources of contamination.
Commercial water
use
Water used for motels, hotels, restaurants,
office buildings, other commercial facilities,
and institutions. Water for commercial uses
comes both from public-supplied sources, such as
a county water department, and self-supplied
sources, such as local wells.
Condensation
The process of water vapor in the air turning
into liquid water. Water drops on the outside of
a cold glass of water are condensed water.
Condensation is the opposite process of
evaporation.
Connate
Water
Refers to liquids that have been trapped in the
pores of sedimentary rocks as they were
deposited. These liquid solutions are composed
of water and contain many mineral components. As
rocks are buried it may block the escape route
which can cause a pore fluid pressure to build
up, leading to overpressure.
Consumptive use
That part of water withdrawn that is evaporated,
transpired by plants, incorporated into products
or crops, consumed by humans or livestock, or
otherwise removed from the immediate water
environment. Also referred to as water consumed.
Conveyance loss
Water that is lost in transit from a pipe,
canal, or ditch by leakage or evaporation.
Generally, the water is not available for
further use; however, leakage from an irrigation
ditch, for example, may percolate to a
ground-water source and be available for further
use.
Copper
A malleable metallic element used in large
quantities as an electrical conductor such as
brass and bronze. Copper is often found in
drinking water because of the corrosion of water
pipes and can cause short and long term illness.
Corrosion
When a material deteriorates due to interaction
with the environment. Dissimilar metal, oxygen,
water, and debris can all cause corrosion. For
example, when the pH of water is lower than 8,
copper oxide no longer creates a barrier in the
pipe and causes the pipe to corrode. This can be
harmful to health because corroded particles may
enter the drinking water supply.
Cubic feet per second
(cfs)
A rate of the flow, in streams and rivers, for
example. It is equal to a volume of water one
foot high and one foot wide flowing a distance
of one foot in one second. One "cfs" is equal to
7.48 gallons of water flowing each second. As an
example, if your car's gas tank is 2 feet by 1
foot by 1 foot (2 cubic feet), then gas flowing
at a rate of 1 cubic foot/second would fill the
tank in two seconds.
Cyst
Widespread intestinal parasite that causes
diarrheal illness in people. Cysts are extremely
small; they are about ten times smaller than the
smallest object that can be seen with the naked
eye. When cysts are consumed they hatch in the
small intestine and multiply causing diarrhea,
nausea, abdominal cramps, and weight loss. Cysts
are most commonly transmitted by untreated
drinking water.
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Dehydrated
Dehydration occurs when the body is lacking in
vital fluids. The first sign of dehydration is
typically a headache followed by dizziness and
severe thirst. More severe dehydration symptoms
involve loss of appetite, muscle cramping, and
increased heart rates. When the body loses more
than 15% of its water volume, it is usually
fatal.
Deionization
The process used to remove all salts from water.
The first step removes the calcium and magnesium
ions, and in the process replaces them with
hydrogen ions instead of sodium. The second step
is an anion exchange where the negative ions
(anions) are absorbed into the anion exchange
and release hydroxyl anions. The result of this
two step ion exchange is mineral free water.
Desalination
The removal of salts from saline water to
provide freshwater. This method is becoming a
more popular way of providing freshwater to
populations.
Detox
Short for detoxification, is the physiological
or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a
living organism. A diet detox serves as a plan
to eliminate waste or toxic materials out of the
body, leaving a toxin-free healthy body. There
are different types of detox diets for alcohol
addiction, improved digestion, enhanced
concentration, drug detoxification and many
more.
Diphtheria
A highly contagious bacterial disease causing
inflammation of the mucous membrane. It is an
upper respiratory tract illness caused by the
bacteria "Corynebacterium diphtheriae" which
most commonly affects the nose and the throat.
Diphtheria is a disease spread by direct
physical contact, however it is rare to develop
these days because of immunization.
Discharge
The volume of water that passes a given location
within a given period of time. Usually expressed
in cubic feet per second.
Distilled
Water
Water that has many of its impurities removed
through distillation. Distillation is the
process of boiling water which condensates the
clean water into a container leaving a broad
range of contaminants behind. Distillation's
disadvantage is that it requires a large amount
of energy and water which can be costly.
Diuretic
Substance that is natural or synthetic which
promotes the excretion or release of urine.
Caffeine, cranberry juice, and green tea are
examples of diuretics. Diuretic medication can
be very effective in treating many conditions
such as hypertension, varicose veins and
premenstrual syndrome. Diuretics can cause the
body to lose too much fluid and result in
dehydration.
Domestic water use
Water used for household purposes, such as
drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing
clothes, dishes, and dogs, flushing toilets, and
watering lawns and gardens. About 85% of
domestic water is delivered to homes by a
public-supply facility, such as a county water
department. About 15% of the Nation's population
supply their own water, mainly from wells.
Dormant
Having physical functions suspended or slowed
down for a period of time. Causing no symptoms
but not cured and liable to recur.
Drainage
basin
Land area where precipitation runs off into
streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It is a
land feature that can be identified by tracing a
line along the highest elevations between two
areas on a map, often a ridge. Large drainage
basins, like the area that drains into the
Mississippi River contain thousands of smaller
drainage basins. Also called a "watershed."
Drip
irrigation
A common irrigation method where pipes or tubes
filled with water slowly drip onto crops. Drip
irrigation is a low-pressure method of
irrigation and less water is lost to evaporation
than high-pressure spray irrigation.
Drawdown
A lowering of the ground-water surface caused by
pumping.
Drought
An extended period of time when a region has a
deficiency in water supply. This generally
occurs in regions that receive below average
precipitation and can range from months to even
years. Intense drought can cause serious
problems to the agriculture and ecosystem.
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Effluent
Water that flows from a sewage treatment plant after
it has been treated.
Electrolyte
An ion that is electronically charged and moves
to either a negative or positive electrode.
Electrolytes are important because they are what
your cells use to carry electrical impulses
across themselves to other cells. Electrolytes
are often added to sports drinks to replenish an
athlete with the electrolytes they lost during
their workout.
Element
An element consists of only one kind of atom and
cannot be broken down into a simpler type of
matter.
Endocrine
Disrupter
Chemicals that interfere with the process
controlled by the endocrine system. These
chemicals can be ingested, inhaled, or through
touch. Endocrine disruptors can imitate the
hormone and disrupt the process of a hormone
binding to its receptor which can send incorrect
signals to the glands.
Environmental
Protection Agency
An agency of the federal government formed to
protect human health and the environment by
enforcing certain regulations. An example of a
regulation that has been passed is the Safe
Water Drinking Act. This act requires many
actions to protect drinking water and its
sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and
ground water wells.
Epilimnion
The top most layer in a thermally stratified
lake. It is warmer and typically has a higher pH
but lower dissolved oxygen concentration than
the hypolimnion.
Equilibrium
A state of rest or balance due to the equal
action of opposing forces. Drinking more water
can bring the body's functions back to
equilibrium and help your body rid problems of
water retention.
Erosion
The process in which a material is worn away by
a stream of liquid (water) or air, often due to
the presence of abrasive particles in the
stream.
Estuary
A place where fresh and salt water mix, such as
a bay, salt marsh, or where a river enters an
ocean.
Eutrophication
Refers to an increase of nutrients in a body of
water. A natural process for the environment,
however at an accelerated rate it can become a
problem by impacting water quality and
biodiversity. As an excess of nutrients are
carried into the water an explosion of plant
life causes a scarcity of oxygen in the water.
Evaporation
The process of liquid water becoming water
vapor, including vaporization from water
surfaces, land surfaces, and snow fields, but
not from leaf surfaces. See transpiration
Evapotranspiration
The sum of evaporation and transpiration.
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Feed Water
Water that has been purified to prevent scale
deposit or corrosion and is supplied to a generator
to be converted into steam.
Flood
An overflow of water onto lands that are used or
usable by man and not normally covered by water.
Floods have two essential characteristics: The
inundation of land is temporary; and the land is
adjacent to and inundated by overflow from a
river, stream, lake, or ocean.
Flood, 100-year
A 100-year flood does not refer to a flood that
occurs once every 100 years, but to a flood
level with a 1 percent chance of being equaled
or exceeded in any given year.
Flood plain
A strip of relatively flat and normally dry land
alongside a stream, river, or lake that is
covered by water during a flood.
Flood stage
The elevation at which overflow of the natural
banks of a stream or body of water begins in the
reach or area in which the elevation is
measured.
Flowing well/spring
A well or spring that taps ground water under
pressure so that water rises without pumping. If
the water rises above the surface, it is known
as a flowing well.
Fluoride
Fluoride is naturally present in many drinking
water sources and is said to prevent levels of
tooth decay. However, the controversy over
fluoride in water supply states that long time
exposure has been demonstrated to have effects
on skeletal and bone tissues. This is why it is
important to get your water levels tested to see
the amount of fluoride and other contaminants
present in the water.
Freshwater,
freshwater
Water that contains less than 1,000 milligrams
per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids; generally,
more than 500 mg/L of dissolved solids is
undesirable for drinking and many industrial
uses.
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Gage height
The height of the water surface above the gage datum
(zero point). Gage height is often used
interchangeably with the more general term, stage,
although gage height is more appropriate when used
with a gage reading.
Gaging
station
A site on a stream, lake, reservoir or other
body of water where observations and hydrologic
data are obtained. The U.S. Geological Survey
measures stream discharge at gaging stations.
Germicidal
A disinfectant agent as heat, radiation, or a
chemical that destroys microorganisms that might
carry disease. An ultraviolet light can be
installed in a drinking water system to
disinfect bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens
in the water preventing their ability to
multiply.
Geyser
A geothermal feature of the Earth where there is
an opening in the surface that contains
superheated water that periodically erupts in a
shower of water and steam.
Giardiasis
A disease that results from an infection by the
protozoan parasite Giardia Intestinalis, caused
by drinking water that is either not filtered or
not chlorinated. The disorder is more prevalent
in children than in adults and is characterized
by abdominal discomfort, nausea, and alternating
constipation and diarrhea.
Glacier
A huge mass of ice, formed on land by the
compaction and recrystallization of snow, that
moves very slowly downslope or outward due to
its own weight.
Glycogen
The main form of carbohydrates stored in the
liver and muscles, used as fuel during exercise.
Glycogen can be stored as energy unlike water,
where the body expects us to provide a
continuous supply.
Gout
Gout is characterized by painful inflammation of
the joints, most commonly in the hands and feet.
The cause of gout is usually the accumulation of
urate crystals around your joint which causes it
to become inflamed. Gout is caused by too much
uric acid in the blood which can be caused by
too much alcohol, meat, being overweight, or
other factors.
Greywater
Wastewater from clothes washing machines,
showers, bathtubs, hand washing, lavatories and
sinks.
Ground
water
(1)Water that flows or seeps downward and
saturates soil or rock, supplying springs and
wells. The upper surface of the saturate zone is
called the water table. (2) Water stored
underground in rock crevices and in the pores of
geologic materials that make up the Earth's
crust.
Ground water, confined
Ground water under pressure significantly
greater than atmospheric, with its upper limit
the bottom of a bed with hydraulic conductivity
distinctly lower than that of the material in
which the confined water occurs.
Ground-water recharge
Inflow of water to a ground-water reservoir from
the surface. Infiltration of precipitation and
its movement to the water table is one form of
natural recharge. Also, the volume of water
added by this process.
Ground water, unconfined
Water in an aquifer that has a water table that
is exposed to the atmosphere.
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Halite
More commonly known as rock salt, is a mineral form
of Sodium Chloride. Halite occurs when lakes and
seas dry up and evaporate, leaving sedimentary
minerals behind. Halite is often used to manage ice.
Hardness
A water-quality indication of the concentration
of alkaline salts in water, mainly calcium and
magnesium. If the water you use is "hard" then
more soap, detergent or shampoo is necessary to
raise a lather.
Headwater(s)
(1)The source and upper reaches of a stream;
also the upper reaches of a reservoir. (2) the
water upstream from a structure or point on a
stream. (3) the small streams that come together
to form a river. Also may be thought of as any
and all parts of a river basin except the
mainstream river and main tributaries.
Hemolytic
Uremic Syndrome
A condition that occurs from the abnormal
premature destruction of red blood cells. Most
cases of HUS occur in children after several
days of bloody diarrhea because the damaged red
blood cells begin to clog the filtering system
in the kidneys which may lead to serious kidney
failure. Most cases of HUS are caused by E.
coli, which is a foodborne illness.
Herbicide
Used to control all types of weeds in industrial
areas. Herbicides are used to kill or control
the growth of undesirable plants by affecting
their hormones.
Hydraulic
Pressure
The force per unit area exerted by a fluid on
the surface within the container.
Hydrochloric
Acid
Hydrochloric acid is a colorless and odorless
solution made up of hydrogen chloride and water.
It is also known as gastric acid and found in
diluted amounts in our stomachs. Today the acid
is used in many functions such as the
manufacture of leather goods, pharmaceutical
products, and various household cleaning
products. In large concentrations HCL releases
acid mist in the air which can harm the skin and
mucous membranes.
Hydroelectric
power water use
The use of water in the generation of
electricity at plants where the turbine
generators are driven by falling water.
Hydrologic cycle
The cyclic transfer of water vapor from the
Earth's surface via evapotranspiration into the
atmosphere, from the atmosphere via
precipitation back to earth, and through runoff
into streams, rivers, and lakes, and ultimately
into the oceans.
Hypolimnion
The dense bottom layer of a lake in a thermally
stratified lake that lies below the thermocline.
Typically the hypolimnion is the coldest layer
of a lake in summer and the warmest layer during
winter.
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Impermeable layer
A layer of solid material, such as rock or clay,
which does not allow water to pass through.
Industrial water
use
water used for industrial purposes in such
industries as steel, chemical, paper, and
petroleum refining. Nationally, water for
industrial uses comes mainly (80%) from
self-supplied sources, such as a local wells or
withdrawal points in a river, but some water
comes from public-supplied sources, such as the
county/city water department.
Infiltration
Flow of water from the land surface into the
subsurface.
Influenza
An acute viral infection characterized by the
inflammation of the respiratory tract. Influenza
is contagious and its symptoms are fever,
chills, prostration and muscular pain.
Injection
well
Refers to a well constructed for the purpose of
injecting treated wastewater directly into the
ground. Wastewater is generally forced (pumped)
into the well for dispersal or storage into a
designated aquifer. Injection wells are
generally drilled into aquifers that don't
deliver drinking water, unused aquifers, or
below freshwater levels.
Iron
Iron is one of the most abundant metals on
earth, and is an essential mineral to the human
body health. Iron's main function is to carry
oxygen from our lungs throughout our body. Iron
deficiency in our body can cause many health
issues and is the leading cause of anemia. Iron
is also used as a common metal to build
automobiles, machine tools, large ships and many
more.
Irrigation
The controlled application of water for
agricultural purposes through manmade systems to
supply water requirements not satisfied by
rainfall.
Irrigation water use
Water application on lands to assist in the
growing of crops and pastures or to maintain
vegetative growth in recreational lands, such as
parks and golf courses.
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Jackson Turbidity Unit
(JTU)
The JTU is a measurement of the turbidity, or lack
of transparency, of water. It is measured by
lighting a candle under a cylindrical transparent
glass tube and pouring a sample of water into the
tube until an observer looking from the top of the
tube cannot see the image of the candle flame.
Jet stream
A high-speed, meandering wind current, generally
moving from a westerly direction at speeds often
exceeding 400 kilometers (250 miles) per hour at
altitudes of 15 to 25 kilometers (10 to 15
miles).
Juandice
A condition easily recognized by its symptoms of
yellowed skin due to an accumulation of
bilirubin in the body. Jaundice is often seen in
liver disease such as hepatitis or liver cancer
and can indicate other potentially serious
conditions.
Junior Water
Appropriator
The holder of a surface, or ground-water right
that was acquired subsequent to other water
rights on the same stream or aquifer.
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Kilogram
One thousand grams.
Kilowatthour (KWH)
A power demand of 1,000 watts for one hour.
Power company utility rates are typically
expressed in cents per kilowatt-hour.
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Leaching
The process by which soluble materials in the soil,
such as salts, nutrients, pesticide chemicals or
contaminants, are washed into a lower layer of soil
or are dissolved and carried away by water.
Lead
Lead is a soft malleable metal in the carbon
group and is counted as one of the heavy metals.
The most important use of lead is in the
manufacture of lead-acid storage batteries,
commonly used in a car battery. Lead is
sometimes used in household plumbing which
allows water to easily be contaminated with the
metal. Lead consumption has short term and long
term health effects and should be filtered out
with a water filtration system before water is
suitable to drink.
Lentic
waters
Ponds or lakes (standing water).
Levee
A natural or manmade earthen barrier along the
edge of a stream, lake, or river. Land alongside
rivers can be protected from flooding by levees.
Limnology
The study of inland waters such as biological,
chemical, physical, geological, fresh water,
etc. A limnologist studies both the aquatic
system and the surrounding environment by
observing how the body of water interacts with
its watershed and how the changes in the
environment affect the water.
Litmus
Paper
A particular dye on paper that turns red under
acidic conditions and blue under alkaline
conditions. It is most commonly used to test the
pH, or acidity and alkalinity of liquids. For
example, it turns red in lemon water and blue in
soapy water.
Livestock water
use
Water used for livestock watering, feed lots,
dairy operations, fish farming, and other
on-farm needs.
Lotic waters
Flowing waters, as in streams and rivers.
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Magnesium
A chemical element which is known as an alkaline
earth metal abundant in earth's crust. Magnesium is
found in the body where it is stored half in the
bones and half in the other organs and cells and is
crucial for normal muscle and nerve function.
Magnesium is also related to strong bones and a
healthy immune system.
Malignant
Cells
Cells that tend to be threatening to life which
spread and destroy nearby tissue. These cells
eventually spread beyond the tissue or organ in
which it originated.
Manganese
A chemical element with important industrial
metal uses, particularly in stainless steel.
Manganese is also present in tiny amounts in the
body and serves to help the body form connective
tissue, bone, blood clotting, carbohydrate
metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar
regulation. When manganese is found in water it
produces extremely dark stains and causes
deposit to collect in the pipes. Light
concentrations of manganese in water can be
removed by a water softener and higher
concentrations may be removed by oxidizing
filters.
Maximum contaminant
level (MCL)
The designation given by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to water-quality
standards promulgated under the Safe Drinking
Water Act. The MCL is the greatest amount of a
contaminant that can be present in drinking
water without causing a risk to human health.
Mercury
A heavy silvery element that is the only metal
that is liquid at standard conditions for
temperature and pressure. Mercury is used in
thermometers, barometers, manometers, and other
scientific apparatus. Mercury is typically
released from industrial processes, agricultural
processes, or commercial and medical products
and can enter drinking water systems. High
levels of mercury consumption can cause kidney
damage.
Metabolism
The chemical reactions in the body that convert
the fuel from food into energy, and determine
how efficiently you burn that fuel. Whether you
are eating, sleeping, or running your body is
constantly burning calories to keep you going.
In order to increase your metabolism it is
important to exercise and to eat a lower fat
diet. As you get older your metabolism will slow
down which makes it easier to gain weight. Keep
in mind that the energy burning process of
metabolism needs water to work effectively.
Milligram
(mg)
One-thousandth of a gram.
Milligrams per liter (mg/l)
A unit of the concentration of a constituent in
water or wastewater. It represents 0.001 gram of
a constituent in 1 liter of water. It is
approximately equal to one part per million
(PPM).
Million gallons per
day (Mgd)
A rate of flow of water equal to 133,680.56
cubic feet per day, or 1.5472 cubic feet per
second, or 3.0689 acre-feet per day. A flow of
one million gallons per day for one year equals
1,120 acre-feet (365 million gallons).
Minerals
A natural occurring solid chemical substance
formed through biogeochemical processes with a
crystalline structure. Minerals help your body
with many different functions and are essential
in growth and maintaining health.
Mining water
use
Water use during quarrying rocks and extracting
minerals from the land.
Municipal water
system
A water system that has at least five service
connections or which regularly serves 25
individuals for 60 days; also called a public
water system
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Nephelometric
turbidity unit (NTU)
Unit of measure for the turbidity of water.
Essentially, a measure of the cloudiness of water as
measured by a nephelometer. Turbidity is based on
the amount of light that is reflected off particles
in the water.
Nitrate
A chemical that can be found in some public or
private drinking water supplies. Nitrates are
oxygen chemical units which combine with other
various organic and inorganic compounds. Once
taken into the body, nitrates are converted into
nitrites. The greatest use of nitrates is as a
fertilizer. Nitrates are very soluble and do not
bind to soil and are likely to to remain in
water until consumed by plants or other
organisms.
NGVD
National Geodetic Vertical Datum. (1) As
corrected in 1929, a vertical control measure
used as a reference for establishing varying
elevations. (2) Elevation datum plane previously
used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) for the determination of flood
elevations. FEMA current uses the North American
Vertical Datum Plane.
NGVD of 1929
National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. A
geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment
of the first order level nets of the United
States and Canada. It was formerly called "Sea
Level Datum of 1929" or "mean sea level" in the
USGS series of reports. Although the datum was
derived from the average sea level over a period
of many years at 26 tide stations along the
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Coasts, it
does not necessarily represent local mean sea
level at any particular place.
Non-point source
(NPS) pollution
Pollution discharged over a wide land area, not
from one specific location. These are forms of
diffuse pollution caused by sediment, nutrients,
organic and toxic substances originating from
land-use activities, which are carried to lakes
and streams by surface runoff. Non-point source
pollution is contamination that occurs when
rainwater, snowmelt, or irrigation washes off
plowed fields, city streets, or suburban
backyards. As this runoff moves across the land
surface, it picks up soil particles and
pollutants, such as nutrients and pesticides.
Nutrients
A chemical that an organism needs in order to
live and grow. Nutrients are used to build and
repair tissues, regulate body processes, and are
used to convert and use energy in the body. Some
nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, proteins,
and vitamins. It is best to consume the most
natural nutrients as well as a variety of
nutrients and not just the same kind.
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Organic
matter
Plant and animal residues, or substances made by
living organisms. All are based upon carbon
compounds.
Osmosis
The movement of water molecules through a thin
membrane. The osmosis process occurs in our
bodies and is also one method of desalinating
saline water.
Osteoarthritis
A type of arthritis that causes the cartilage in
between joints to breakdown and eventually
deteriorate. This causes immense pain because
the bones and joints will rub against each other
without any cushion. Highly acidic foods are
said to bring on osteoarthritis symptoms so
there is an alkaline diet developed to lower
acidity in ones body by avoiding acidic food and
drinks.
Osteoporosis
The most common type of bone disease which
occurs when the body fails to form enough new
bone, or when too much old bone is reabsorbed by
the body or both. The most common symptoms of
osteoporosis is a hunched back and fracture in
the bones. Calcium and phosphate are two
essential minerals for the growth of bones that
are used to grow bones throughout our lifetime.
As time goes by the body absorbs these two
minerals which makes the bone tissue weaker.
Outfall
The place where a sewer, drain, or stream
discharges; the outlet or structure through
which reclaimed water or treated effluent is
finally discharged to a receiving water body.
Oxidize
The combination of a substance with oxygen. A
reaction in which atoms in an element lose
electrons and the valence of the element is
correspondingly increased. The liver eliminates
90-95% of the alcohol by oxidation of the
alcohol to carbon dioxide and water.
Oxygen
demand
The need for molecular oxygen to meet the needs
of biological and chemical processes in water.
Even though very little oxygen will dissolve in
water, it is extremely important in biological
and chemical processes.
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Particle
size
The diameter, in millimeters, of suspended
sediment or bed material.
Particle-size classifications are:
[1] Clay—0.00024-0.004 millimeters (mm);
[2] Silt—0.004-0.062 mm;
[3] Sand—0.062-2.0 mm; and
[4] Gravel—2.0-64.0 mm.
Parts per
billion
The number of "parts" by weight of a substance
per billion parts of water. Used to measure
extremely small concentrations.
Parts per million
The number of "parts" by weight of a substance
per million parts of water. This unit is
commonly used to represent pollutant
concentrations.
Pasteurized
A process that uses heat at a specific
temperature to destroy bacteria which slows the
microbial growth in food. Pasteurization does
not aim to kill all micro-organisms in the food,
it aims to reduce the viable pathogens so they
are unlikely to cause disease.
Pathogen
A disease-producing agent; usually applied to a
living organism. Generally, any viruses,
bacteria, or fungi that cause disease.
Peak flow
The maximum instantaneous discharge of a stream
or river at a given location. It usually occurs
at or near the time of maximum stage.
Per capita use
The average amount of water used per person
during a standard time period, generally per
day.
Perchlorate
Both a natural and man made chemical used to
produce rocket fuel, explosives, fireworks,
which is also present in bleach and some
fertilizers. The use of this salt can be
released into the environment which is why the
EPA has decided to regulate perchlorate under
the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Percolation
(1) The movement of water through the openings
in rock or soil. (2) the entrance of a portion
of the streamflow into the channel materials to
contribute to ground water replenishment.
Permeability
The ability of a material to allow the passage
of a liquid, such as water through rocks.
Permeable materials, such as gravel and sand,
allow water to move quickly through them,
whereas unpermeable material, such as clay,
don't allow water to flow freely.
Perspiration
The production of water and and other various
dissolved solids excreted by the sweat glands in
the skin. Toxins are excreted through
perspiration and is our body's way of cooling
itself down. Emotional induced sweating will
occur in the armpits, hands, soles or foreheads
while physical induced sweating will occur
throughout the body. It is important to drink
plenty of water to balance the loss of water
through perspiration.
Pesticide
Chemicals, biological agents, antimicrobial's,
or disinfectants that are designed to repel,
control, attract, and then terminate pests.
Pests include insects, weeds, birds, mammals,
fish, and more. Pesticides are one of the causes
of water pollution, and some of the pesticides
are persistent organic pollutants which can
contribute to soil pollution.
pH
A measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity
of water. Water with a pH of 7 is neutral; lower
pH levels indicate increasing acidity, while pH
levels higher than 7 indicate increasingly basic
solutions.
pH balance
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of
an aqueous solution and is a good indicator of
whether water is hard or soft. Pure water is
said to be at a pH of 7, pH lower than 7 is said
to be acidic and greater than 7 is considered
alkaline. The measure of pH and alkalinity is
needed to determine the corrosiveness of water.
Phlegm
A liquid secreted by the mucous membranes
produced by the respiratory system and
discharged through the mouth. The color can
range from dark yellow and green to dark brown
depending on the constituents. Phlegm is always
produced throughout the body but is more
noticeable when one is coughing during a period
of sickness.
Phosphate
An inorganic material which is found in many
foods and preservatives. Phosphates are often
used to prevent scale formation and corrosion
(Iron & Manganese) in water distribution
systems. It is also used to reduce lead and
copper in drinking water. Studies have shown
that high levels of phosphate in the body have
been linked to cardiovascular disease and other
health issues.
Plutonium
A man made element used to make nuclear weapons.
Testing of these nuclear weapons has caused
plutonium to be dispersed into the environments
soil. As plutonium decays it releases radiation
and forms other radioactive isotopes which can
contaminate food, water, and soil. Plutonium
that reaches the body generally stays in the
body for decades and can expose tissue to
radiation.
Pneumonia
An inflammatory condition of the lung associated
with fever, chest symptoms, and lack of air
space. Pneumonia is caused by several factors
including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
parasites. Symptoms are cough, chest pain, fever
and difficulty breathing.
Point
of Entry Disinfection Unit
When the unit is installed on your main water
line to purify all the water in your home.
Unlike the point of use, which is where water is
purified only on a single faucet.
Point-source
pollution
Water pollution coming from a single point, such
as a sewage-outflow pipe.
Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCBs)
A group of synthetic, toxic industrial chemical
compounds once used in making paint and
electrical transformers, which are chemically
inert and not biodegradable. PCBs were
frequently found in industrial wastes, and
subsequently found their way into surface and
ground waters. As a result of their persistence,
they tend to accumulate in the environment. In
terms of streams and rivers, PCBs are drawn to
sediment, to which they attach and can remain
virtually indefinitely. Although virtually
banned in 1979 with the passage of the Toxic
Substances Control Act, they continue to appear
in the flesh of fish and other animals.
Porosity
A measure of the water-bearing capacity of
subsurface rock. With respect to water movement,
it is not just the total magnitude of porosity
that is important, but the size of the voids and
the extent to which they are interconnected, as
the pores in a formation may be open, or
interconnected, or closed and isolated. For
example, clay may have a very high porosity with
respect to potential water content, but it
constitutes a poor medium as an aquifer because
the pores are usually so small.
Potable
water
Water of a quality suitable for drinking.
Potassium
Potassium is an important mineral to the normal
functioning of your body and works with other
minerals to keep the body's water level
balanced. Potassium levels in the body are
regulated by the kidneys and excess potassium is
excreted in the urine to maintain balance.
Precipitation
Rain, snow, hail, sleet, dew, and frost.
Primary wastewater
treatment
The first stage of the wastewater-treatment
process where mechanical methods, such as
filters and scrapers, are used to remove
pollutants. Solid material in sewage also
settles out in this process.
Prior appropriation
doctrine
The system for allocating water to private
individuals used in most Western states. The
doctrine of Prior Appropriation was in common
use throughout the arid West as early settlers
and miners began to develop the land. The prior
appropriation doctrine is based on the concept
of "First in Time, First in Right." The first
person to take a quantity of water and put it to
beneficial use has a higher priority of right
than a subsequent user. The rights can be lost
through nonuse; they can also be sold or
transferred apart from the land. Contrasts with
riparian water rights.
Private
Well
A family or individual's personal access to
water that comes from a well. EPA does not have
the authority to regulate the water quality of
private water wells which can cause hazardous
health issues because the water may be
contaminated.
Public
supply
Water withdrawn by public governments and
agencies, such as a county water department, and
by private companies that is then delivered to
users. Public suppliers provide water for
domestic, commercial, thermoelectric power,
industrial, and public water users. Most
people's household water is delivered by a
public water supplier. The systems have at least
15 service connections (such as households,
businesses, or schools) or regularly serve at
least 25 individuals daily for at least 60 days
out of the year.
Public water use
Water supplied from a public-water supply and
used for such purposes as firefighting, street
washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools.
Pulmonary
The specialty that deals with the diseases of
the respiratory tract.
Purified
Water
Water from any source that is physically
processed to remove impurities. Drinking water
is expected to have contaminants that can cause
several problems over time. Which makes it
important to have access to purified water in
order to avoid these contaminants and protect
your health.
Putrefaction
Putrefaction is the bacterial or fungal
decomposition of organic matter with resulting
obnoxious odors.
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Quantification
limit
The lower limit to the range in which the
concentration of a solute can be determined by a
particular analytical instrument.
Quarry
water
The moisture content of freshly quarried stone,
esp. if porous.
Quarter-flow
interval
The shortest period of time in days (typically)
during which one-quarter of the annual runoff
occurs.
Quicksand
(1) Sand that is unstable due to the upward
pressure of water. (2) Sand easily moved or
readily yielding to pressure, especially a deep
mass of loose sand mixed with water, very
dangerous from the difficulty of extricating
anything that begins sinking into it.
Quickwater
The part of a stream that has a strong current;
an artificial current or bubbling patch of water
just astern of a moving boat.
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Radium
A naturally occurring silvery-white radioactive
material that can exist in several forms called
isotopes found in soil, rocks, plants, and foods at
low levels. Surface water is generally low in radium
but groundwater can contain significant amounts.
Most people are exposed to radium levels daily and
it is insignificant to their health, however high
levels of exposure can lead to tissue and bone
cancer.
Radium
A naturally occurring silvery-white radioactive
material that can exist in several forms called
isotopes found in soil, rocks, plants, and foods
at low levels. Surface water is generally low in
radium but groundwater can contain significant
amounts. Most people are exposed to radium
levels daily and it is insignificant to their
health, however high levels of exposure can lead
to tissue and bone cancer.
Rating
curve
A drawn curve showing the relation between gage
height and discharge of a stream at a given
gaging station.
Recharge
Water added to an aquifer. For instance,
rainfall that seeps into the ground.
Reclaimed
wastewater
Treated wastewater that can be used for
beneficial purposes, such as irrigating certain
plants.
Recycled
water
Water that is used more than one time before it
passes back into the natural hydrologic system.
Reservoir
A pond, lake, or basin, either natural or
artificial, for the storage, regulation, and
control of water.
Return flow
(1) That part of a diverted flow that is not
consumptively used and returned to its original
source or another body of water. (2)
(Irrigation) Drainage water from irrigated
farmlands that re-enters the water system to be
used further downstream.
Return flow (irrigation)
Irrigation water that is applied to an area and
which is not consumed in evaporation or
transpiration and returns to a surface stream or
aquifer.
Reverse
Osmosis
(1) (Desalination) The process of removing salts
from water using a membrane. With reverse
osmosis, the product water passes through a fine
membrane that the salts are unable to pass
through, while the salt waste (brine) is removed
and disposed. This process differs from
electrodialysis, where the salts are extracted
from the feedwater by using a membrane with an
electrical current to separate the ions. The
positive ions go through one membrane, while the
negative ions flow through a different membrane,
leaving the end product of freshwater. (2)
(Water Quality) An advanced method of water or
wastewater treatment that relies on a
semi-permeable membrane to separate waters from
pollutants. An external force is used to reverse
the normal osmotic process resulting in the
solvent moving from a solution of higher
concentration to one of lower concentration.
Rheumatism
Any variety of disorders marked by inflammation,
degeneration, or metabolic derangement of the
connective tissue structures. Often accompanied
by pain, stiffness, or limitation of movement in
joints and related structures. Most often people
associate rheumatism with arthritis, rheumatic
fever, or a complication of strep throat.
Rickets
A deficiency disease resulting from the lack of
Vitamin D, calcium, or lack of exposure to
sunlight. It is characterized by the softening
of developing bone, malnutrition, and
enlargement of the liver and spleen. Rickets is
uncommon in the United States but is a frequent
childhood disease in developing countries
because of the lack of calcium and phosphate
available.
Riparian water
rights
The rights of an owner whose land abuts water.
They differ from state to state and often depend
on whether the water is a river, lake, or ocean.
The doctrine of riparian rights is an old one,
having its origins in English common law.
Specifically, persons who own land adjacent to a
stream have the right to make reasonable use of
the stream. Riparian users of a stream share the
streamflow among themselves, and the concept of
priority of use (Prior Appropriation Doctrine)
is not applicable. Riparian rights cannot be
sold or transferred for use on nonriparian land.
River
A natural stream of water of considerable
volume, larger than a brook or creek.
RO
Permeate
Reverse osmosis permeate, the point at which the
water flows through the pores of the membrane to
remove chlorine, dust, rust, and other
particles.
Runoff
(1) That part of the precipitation, snow melt,
or irrigation water that appears in uncontrolled
surface streams, rivers, drains or sewers.
Runoff may be classified according to speed of
appearance after rainfall or melting snow as
direct runoff or base runoff, and according to
source as surface runoff, storm interflow, or
ground-water runoff. (2) The total discharge
described in (1), above, during a specified
period of time. (3) Also defined as the depth to
which a drainage area would be covered if all of
the runoff for a given period of time were
uniformly distributed over it.
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Saline
water
Water that contains significant amounts of
dissolved solids.
Here are our parameters for saline water:
Fresh water - Less than 1,000 parts per million
(ppm)
Slightly saline water - From 1,000 ppm to 3,000
ppm
Moderately saline water - From 3,000 ppm to
10,000 ppm
Highly saline water - From 10,000 ppm to 35,000
ppm
Salinity
Is the amount of salt dissolved in a body of
water. The higher the salinity the more salt it
has may it be sodium chloride, magnesium, or
calcium sulfates.
Scale
Deposits
Hard water is known to leave behind scale
deposits on dishes, sinks, toilets, etc. Scale
deposits are composed mainly of calcium and
magnesium. The build up of these deposits can
restrict the flow of water in pipes over time.
This is why it is often preferred to use soft
water to prevent the damages due from scale
deposits.
Scurvy
A disease caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C.
Scurvy is rare in countries where fresh fruits
and vegetables are readily available. Scurvy's
symptoms are often lethargy, spots on the skin,
spongy gums, fever, loss of teeth, and bleeding
from the mucous membranes.
Secondary
wastewater treatment
Treatment (following primary wastewater
treatment) involving the biological process of
reducing suspended, colloidal, and dissolved
organic matter in effluent from primary
treatment systems and which generally removes 80
to 95 percent of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD) and suspended matter. Secondary wastewater
treatment may be accomplished by biological or
chemical-physical methods. Activated sludge and
trickling filters are two of the most common
means of secondary treatment. It is accomplished
by bringing together waste, bacteria, and oxygen
in trickling filters or in the activated sludge
process. This treatment removes floating and
settleable solids and about 90 percent of the
oxygen-demanding substances and suspended
solids. Disinfection is the final stage of
secondary treatment.
Sediment
Usually applied to material in suspension in
water or recently deposited from suspension. In
the plural the word is applied to all kinds of
deposits from the waters of streams, lakes, or
seas.
Sedimentary
rock
Rock formed of sediment, and specifically: (1)
sandstone and shale, formed of fragments of
other rock transported from their sources and
deposited in water; and (2) rocks formed by or
from secretions of organisms, such as most
limestone. Many sedimentary rocks show distinct
layering, which is the result of different types
of sediment being deposited in succession.
Sedimentation
tanks
Wastewater tanks in which floating wastes are
skimmed off and settled solids are removed for
disposal.
Self-supplied
water
Water withdrawn from a surface- or ground-water
source by a user rather than being obtained from
a public supply. An example would be homeowners
getting their water from their own well.
Seepage
(1) The slow movement of water through small
cracks, pores, Interstices, etc., of a material
into or out of a body of surface or subsurface
water. (2) The loss of water by infiltration
into the soil from a canal, ditches, laterals,
watercourse, reservoir, storage facilities, or
other body of water, or from a field.
Sepsis
A severe illness in which the bloodstream is
overwhelmed by bacteria. The body may develop an
inflammatory response by the immune system to
microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, and skin.
Sepsis causes the blood pressure to drop which
causes major organs and body systems to stop
working properly.
Septic tank
A tank used to detain domestic wastes to allow
the settling of solids prior to distribution to
a leach field for soil absorption. Septic tanks
are used when a sewer line is not available to
carry them to a treatment plant. A settling tank
in which settled sludge is in immediate contact
with sewage flowing through the tank, and
wherein solids are decomposed by anaerobic
bacterial action.
Settling pond
(water quality)
An open lagoon into which wastewater
contaminated with solid pollutants is placed and
allowed to stand. The solid pollutants suspended
in the water sink to the bottom of the lagoon
and the liquid is allowed to overflow out of the
enclosure.
Sewage treatment
plant
A facility designed to receive the wastewater
from domestic sources and to remove materials
that damage water quality and threaten public
health and safety when discharged into receiving
streams or bodies of water. The substances
removed are classified into four basic
areas:
[1] greases and fats;
[2] solids from human waste and other
sources;
[3] dissolved pollutants from human waste and
decomposition products; and
[4] dangerous microorganisms.
Most facilities employ a combination of
mechanical removal steps and bacterial
decomposition to achieve the desired results.
Chlorine is often added to discharges from the
plants to reduce the danger of spreading disease
by the release of pathogenic bacteria.
Sewer
A system of underground pipes that collect and
deliver wastewater to treatment facilities or
streams.
Silicates
A compound containing a silicon bearing anion,
known to be present in all living organisms. The
earth's crust contains 80-90% silicates as well
as other compounds. Water moving over natural
deposits will dissolve a small amount of
silicate minerals, making silicates a common
contaminant of most waters. Silicon is found in
products such as detergent, stoneware, wood,
cement, etc.
Sinkhole
A depression in the Earth's surface caused by
dissolving of underlying limestone, salt, or
gypsum. Drainage is provided through underground
channels that may be enlarged by the collapse of
a cavern roof.
Sobriety
Not intoxicated or drunk, especially in the use
of liquor. Water is the best beverage to drink
when trying to become sober because it hydrates
the body and reduces and slows down drunkenness.
Sodium
Sodium is a major mineral necessary to regulate
blood pressure and fluid volume. It is also
important in maintaining the balance of pH
levels. Sodium is essential in the body but must
not be taken in excess amounts. The more sodium
you consume, the more water your body will
retain which can result in bloating and high
blood pressure.
Sodium
Carbonate
Also known as washing soda or soda ash, is a
sodium salt of carbonic acid. It is known for
its everyday use as a water softener. Sodium
Carbonate is also used as a pH regulator to
maintain stable alkaline conditions.
Sodium
Sulfate
The sodium salt of sulfuric acid (Na2SO4), the
most important mineral in the chemicals
industry. Sodium sulfate is used to make soaps,
detergents, glass, and paper.
Soft
Water
Water treated in which the only ion is sodium.
In comparison to hard water, soft water contains
less calcium and other deposits. It may taste
salty but is preferred in homes because it does
not damage sinks and faucets with deposits as
hard water is known to do. A great advantage of
soft water is that it is known to save users
money because it requires less soap when
showering or washing clothes. Soft water is also
known to leave less film deposits on dishes and
bathroom areas.
Solute
A substance that is dissolved in another
substance, thus forming a solution.
Solution
A mixture of a solvent and a solute. In some
solutions, such as sugar water, the substances
mix so thoroughly that the solute cannot be
seen. But in other solutions, such as water
mixed with dye, the solution is visibly changed.
Solvent
A substance that dissolves other substances,
thus forming a solution. Water dissolves more
substances than any other, and is known as the
"universal solvent".
Specific
conductance
A measure of the ability of water to conduct an
electrical current as measured using a 1-cm cell
and expressed in units of electrical
conductance, i.e., Siemens per centimeter at 25
degrees Celsius. Specific conductance can be
used for approximating the total dissolved
solids content of water by testing its capacity
to carry an electrical current. In water
quality, specific conductance is used in ground
water monitoring as an indication of the
presence of ions of chemical substances that may
have been released by a leaking landfill or
other waste storage or disposal facility. A
higher specific conductance in water drawn from
downgradient wells when compared to upgradient
wells indicates possible contamination from the
facility.
Spray
irrigation
An common irrigation method where water is shot
from high-pressure sprayers onto crops. Because
water is shot high into the air onto crops, some
water is lost to evaporation.
Spring
A water body formed when the side of a hill, a
valley bottom or other excavation intersects a
flowing body of groundwater at or below the
local water table, below which the subsurface
material is saturated with water.
Storm
sewer
A sewer that carries only surface runoff, street
wash, and snow melt from the land. In a separate
sewer system, storm sewers are completely
separate from those that carry domestic and
commercial wastewater (sanitary sewers).
Stream
A general term for a body of flowing water;
natural water course containing water at least
part of the year. In hydrology, it is generally
applied to the water flowing in a natural
channel as distinct from a canal.
Streamflow
The water discharge that occurs in a natural
channel. A more general term than runoff,
streamflow may be applied to discharge whether
or not it is affected by diversion or
regulation.
Stool
The waste product of the human digestive system,
also known as human feces. Infection with E.
coli can be diagnosed by detecting the bacterium
in the stool, mostly commonly detected by bloody
stool.
Subsidence
A dropping of the land surface as a result of
ground water being pumped. Cracks and fissures
can appear in the land. Subsidence is virtually
an irreversible process.
Sulfuric Acid
Clear, colorless, odorless liquid that is very
corrosive. Agricultural fertilizer represent the
largest use for sulfuric acid, but other uses
consist of dyes, alcohols, plastics, rubber,
glue, film, drugs, explosives, soaps, paper, and
pharmaceutical products. Sulfuric acid reacts
violently with water and if it gets on your skin
it immediately begins to take water out of the
skin which causes acid burn.
Surface
tension
The attraction of molecules to each other on a
liquid's surface. Thus, a barrier is created
between the air and the liquid.
Surface water
Water that is on the Earth's surface, such as in
a stream, river, lake, or reservoir.
Suspended
sediment
Very fine soil particles that remain in
suspension in water for a considerable period of
time without contact with the bottom. Such
material remains in suspension due to the upward
components of turbulence and currents and/or by
suspension.
Suspended-sediment concentration
The ratio of the mass of dry sediment in a
water-sediment mixture to the mass of the
water-sediment mixture. Typically expressed in
milligrams of dry sediment per liter of
water-sediment mixture.
Suspended-sediment discharge
The quantity of suspended sediment passing a
point in a stream over a specified period of
time. When expressed in tons per day, it is
computed by multiplying water discharge (in
cubic feet per second) by the suspended-sediment
concentration (in milligrams per liter) and by
the factor 0.0027.
Suspended solids
Solids that are not in true solution and that
can be removed by filtration. Such suspended
solids usually contribute directly to turbidity.
Defined in waste management, these are small
particles of solid pollutants that resist
separation by conventional methods.
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Tertiary wastewater
treatment
Selected biological, physical, and chemical
separation processes to remove organic and inorganic
substances that resist conventional treatment
practices; the additional treatment of effluent
beyond that of primary and secondary treatment
methods to obtain a very high quality of effluent.
The complete wastewater treatment process typically
involves a three-phase process: (1) First, in the
primary wastewater treatment process, which
incorporates physical aspects, untreated water is
passed through a series of screens to remove solid
wastes; (2) Second, in the secondary wastewater
treatment process, typically involving biological
and chemical processes, screened wastewater is then
passed a series of holding and aeration tanks and
ponds; and (3) Third, the tertiary wastewater
treatment process consists of flocculation basins,
clarifiers, filters, and chlorine basins or ozone or
ultraviolet radiation processes.
Thermal
pollution
A reduction in water quality caused by
increasing its temperature, often due to
disposal of waste heat from industrial or power
generation processes. Thermally polluted water
can harm the environment because plants and
animals can have a hard time adapting to it.
Thermoelectric
power water use
Water used in the process of the generation of
thermoelectric power. Power plants that burn
coal and oil are examples of
thermoelectric-power facilities.
Total
Dissolved Solids
The measure of the combined content of all
inorganic and organic substances. The principle
use of TDS is in the application of water
quality for streams, rivers, and lakes to
indicate the presence of chemical contaminants
in the water. Primary sources of TDS in water
come from natural sources, sewage, urban
run-off, industrial wastewater, and chemicals
used in the water treatment process. A high
concentration of TDS does not pose a health risk
but it does affect the aesthetic quality of the
water, interfere with washing clothes and
corroding plumbing fixtures.
Transmissibility
(ground water)
The capacity of a rock to transmit water under
pressure. The coefficient of transmissibility is
the rate of flow of water, at the prevailing
water temperature, in gallons per day, through a
vertical strip of the aquifer one foot wide,
extending the full saturated height of the
aquifer under a hydraulic gradient of
100-percent. A hydraulic gradient of 100-percent
means a one foot drop in head in one foot of
flow distance.
Transpiration
Process by which water that is absorbed by
plants, usually through the roots, is evaporated
into the atmosphere from the plant surface, such
as leaf pores. See evapotranspiration.
Trihalomethane
Organic chemical that often occurs in drinking
water as a result of chlorine treatment for
disinfectant purposes, therefore known as
disinfection byproducts. Trihalomethanes are
environmental pollutants and are considered
cancer causing. THMs may be absorbed into the
body by inhalation, ingestion, and through the
skin.
Triclosan
An antibacterial and antifungal agent that is
used in many consumer products that we use on a
daily basis. It is popular in hand soaps,
toothpaste, utensils, toys, etc. It is one of
the most detected elements in wastewater because
it degrades very slowly. It is a current dispute
that triclosan may be carcinogenic.
Tri-Sodium
Phosphate
A white, granular or crystalline solid, highly
soluble in water producing an alkaline solution.
It is a cleaning agent, food additive, stain
remover, and degreaser. TSP is generally not
good for cleaning bathrooms because it can
corrode pipes.
Tributary
A smaller river or stream that flows into a
larger river or stream. Usually, a number of
smaller tributaries merge to form a river.
Tuberculosis
An infectious disease that may affect almost any
tissue of the body especially the lungs.
Tuberculosis can affect anyone of age and is
spread through air by those who are untreated.
Turbidity
The amount of solid particles that are suspended
in water and that cause light rays shining
through the water to scatter. Thus, turbidity
makes the water cloudy or even opaque in extreme
cases. Turbidity is measured in nephelometric
turbidity units (NTU).
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Unsaturated
zone
The zone immediately below the land surface where
the pores contain both water and air, but are not
totally saturated with water. These zones differ
from an aquifer, where the pores are saturated with
water.
Urban Runoff
The water that has drained from man-made
surfaces such as roads, freeways, sidewalks,
airports, roofs, and industrial sites among
others. This runoff carries many different types
of contaminants such as bacteria, oil, grease,
and many other toxic chemicals. This runoff
poses a threat to human health because it is a
source of contamination to drinking water.
Uric
Acid
Uric acid is a chemical created when the body
breaks down substances called pureness found in
assorted foods and drinks. Most uric acid passes
out in urine but if your body produces too much
uric acid or does not remove enough of it, it
can result in illness. Keeping your body
hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout
the day can help prevent the build up of uric
acid by releasing it through urine.
Urolithiasis
A condition in which crystals in the urine
combine to form stones found anywhere in the
urinary tract. These stones cause irritation and
discomfort and mostly end up in the bladder. It
is recommended to increase water intake to
assist the stone to pass through the urinary
system.
Uterine
Hemorrhages
When bleeding occurs in the uterus, sometimes
caused by complicated childbirths or fibroids.
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Variance
State or EPA permission not to meet a certain
drinking water standard. The water system must prove
that: (1) it cannot meet a MCL, even while using the
best available treatment method, because of the
characteristics of the raw water, and (2) the
variance will not create an unreasonable risk to
public health. The State or EPA must review, and
allow public comment on, a variance every three
years. States can also grant variances to water
systems that serve small populations and which prove
that they are unable to afford the required
treatment, an alternative water source, or otherwise
comply with the standard.
Violation
A failure to meet any state or federal drinking
water regulation.
Vitamin B
Complex
A group of 8 water soluble vitamins that play a
vital role in cell metabolism. Vitamin B complex
is important to enhance immune and nervous
system function, maintain healthy skin, promote
cell growth and division, prevent anemia, and
reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. (Ex:
Vitamin B1, B2, B3...etc)
Vulnerability
Assessment
An evaluation of drinking water source quality
and its vulnerability to contamination by
pathogens and toxic chemicals.
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Wastewater
Water that has been used in homes, industries, and
businesses that is not for reuse unless it is
treated.
Wastewater-treatment
return flow
Water returned to the environment by
wastewater-treatment facilities.
Water
cycle
The circuit of water movement from the oceans to
the atmosphere and to the Earth and return to
the atmosphere through various stages or
processes such as precipitation, interception,
runoff, infiltration, percolation, storage,
evaporation, and transportation.
Waterborne
Disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms
which are directly transmitted when contaminated
fresh water is consumed. Water borne diseases
are spread by contamination of drinking water
systems with the urine and feces of infected
animal or people. This is likely to occur from
runoff from landfills, septic fields, sewer
pipes, or any surface water.
Water quality
A term used to describe the chemical, physical,
and biological characteristics of water, usually
in respect to its suitability for a particular
purpose.
Water
quality report
A status report on the quality of water in any
given area. Different standards are required for
different water body uses such as swimming,
drinking, showering, etc. It is important to
monitor these water qualities to protect our
health. The three most common pollutants found
in water are dirt, bacteria, and nutrients.
Water table
The top of the water surface in the saturated
part of an aquifer.
Water use
Water that is used for a specific purpose, such
as for domestic use, irrigation, or industrial
processing. Water use pertains to human's
interaction with and influence on the hydrologic
cycle, and includes elements, such as water
withdrawal from surface- and ground-water
sources, water delivery to homes and businesses,
consumptive use of water, water released from
wastewater-treatment plants, water returned to
the environment, and instream uses, such as
using water to produce hydroelectric power.
Watershed
The land area that drains water to a particular
stream, river, or lake. It is a land feature
that can be identified by tracing a line along
the highest elevations between two areas on a
map, often a ridge. Large watersheds, like the
Mississippi River basin contain thousands of
smaller watersheds.
Watthour
(Wh)
An electrical energy unit of measure equal to
one watt of power supplied to, or taken from, an
electrical circuit steadily for one hour.
Well
(water)
An artificial excavation put down by any method
for the purposes of withdrawing water from the
underground aquifers. A bored, drilled, or
driven shaft, or a dug hole whose depth is
greater than the largest surface dimension and
whose purpose is to reach underground water
supplies or oil, or to store or bury fluids
below ground.
Withdrawal
Water removed from a ground- or surface-water
source for use.
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Xeriscaping
A method of landscaping that uses plants that are
well adapted to the local area and are
drought-resistant. Xeriscaping is becoming more
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Zebra
mussel
The zebra mussel, a freshwater Eurasian
lamellibranch mollusk (Dreissena polymorpha), is a
marine shellfish which was first discovered in the
Great Lakes of the United States in 1988 and is
believed to have arrived in North America by being
carried in the ballast water of a cargo vessel.
Since the first discovery of this exotic species,
they have spread rapidly through North American
surface waters, particularly throughout the Great
Lakes and Mississippi River basins and their
navigable tributaries. As of March 1996, zebra
mussels were resident in nineteen states and two
Canadian provinces. Zebra mussels can cause severe
fouling of municipal drinking water, electric power
generation, and industrial water systems; they are
also harmful to aquatic ecosystems, boating and
navigation, agricultural irrigation equipment,
aquacultural equipment, and recreation beach use.
Zero
discharge
The goal, in the preamble to the Clean Water Act
(CWA), of zero pollutants in water discharges.
Zinc
A metallic chemical element that is an essential
mineral to human health as well as for its use
of galvanization. Galvanization is the process
of coating other metals with iron or steel. Zinc
supports your healthy immune system and is
essential for wound healing. Zinc deficiencies
can cause health issues such as growth
retardation, hair loss, delayed sexual
maturation, and many more. Zinc may leach from
galvanized water pipes and into drinking water
systems which may pose health threats.
Zoning
The partition of a city, county, township, or
other governmental unit or area by ordinance
into sections reserved for different land-use
purposes, such as residential, business,
manufacturing, greenbelt, or agriculture.
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