Info of interest | Glossaries: specific and related

Specific Glossary / Related glossaries

Specific Glossary

[A]  [B]  [C]  [D]  [E]  [F]  [G]  [H]  [I]   [L]  [M]  [N]  [O]  [P]  [Q]  [R]  [S]  [U]  [W]

A
	Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) The storage of water in a well when water is available, and recovery of the water from the same when it is needed. [CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation]
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B
	Best Available Technology (BAT) The best technology - treatment techniques, or other means - which someone finds to be available, after examination for efficacy under field conditions and not solely under laboratory conditions, and taking cost into consideration. [EPA, Environmental Protection Agency - US] Bioaccumulation Concentration of substances (especially toxicants) in the tissues of plants and animals. Biological treatment Methods of wastewater treatment in which bacterial or biochemical action is intensified as a means of improving water quality. Biosolids A nutrient-rich organic material resulting from the treatment of wastewater. Biosolids contain nitrogen and phosphorus along with other supplementary nutrients in smaller doses, such as potassium, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc. Soil that is lacking in these substances can be reclaimed with biosolids use. The application of biosolids to land improves soil properties and plant productivity, and reduces dependence on inorganic fertilizers. [Alabama Water Quality Information System] Blackwater Domestic wastewater containing faecal matter and kitchen waste.
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C
	Chlorination Disinfection method based on the application of chlorine or chlorine compounds to water or wastewater, usually for the purpose of pathogen reduction, but often to provide chemical oxidation and odour control. [Melbourne Water]
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D
	Disinfection The treatment of water to inactivate, destroy or remove pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms, but not bacterial spores. At the present time Chlorination is the most important disinfection option for drinking water treatment for the foreseeable future; however, other viable disinfection processes include Ozonation and Ultraviolet Radiation (UV). [Alabama Water Quality Information System]
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E
	Epidemiological studies Studies directed at detecting rates of disease in a community exposed to a particular factor (e.g. supplied with water from a particular source).
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F
	Fecal Coliform Bacteria Common, harmless forms of bacteria that are normal constituents of human intestines and found in human waste and in wastewater. Fecal coliform bacteria counts are used as an indicator of presence of pathogenic microbes. [Environmental Protection Agency - EPA]
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G
	Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) In water treatment, granular activated carbon has been used mainly for taste and odour control, with some special applications that remove Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) or Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) from contaminated water. [Alabama Water Quality Information System] Greywater Domestic wastes from baths, showers, basins and laundries including floor wastes from these areas.
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H
	Health risk The likelihood (or probability) that a given exposure or series of exposures may have or will damage the health of individuals experiencing the exposures. (e.g. Supplied with water from a particular source) [Alabama Water Quality Information System]
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I
	Infiltration-percolation An extensive wastewater treatment processs ensuring high treatment and disinfection efficiency with lower residence times, only few hours of days. It behaves as an aerobic biological filter and removes suspended solids, organic matter, nutrients and microorganisms from the influent. [CatchWater Project] Integrated water reuse management (IWRM) A dynamic process of devising and promoting alternative and coordinated sequences of development and management interventions in water, land and related resources, and selecting the sequences or activities that will optimize the achievement of economic and social well being of all stakeholders in an equitable manner and at the same time ensuring the sustainability of the ecosystem. [CatchWater Project]
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L
	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 dissolved and carried away by water. [Melbourne Water] Logooning / waste stabilisation pond An extensive treatment technology practised over 3000 years, which reproduce in a controlled environment the natural purification and disinfection processes found in lakes and streams. [CatchWater Project]
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M
	Maximum Concentration Limits (MCL) The greatest amount of a contaminant that can be present in drinking water without causing a risk to human health. MCLs are set for certain inorganic and organic chemicals, turbidity, coliform bacteria, and certain radioactive materials. Membrane filtration Tertiary treatment processes, based on the use of a membrane, or more properly, a semipermeable membrane, to separate substances when a driving force is applied across the membrane. Once considered a viable technology only for desalination, membrane processes are increasingly employed for the removal of bacteria and other microorganisms, particulate material, and natural organic material which can impart color, tastes, and odors to water and react with disinfectants to form Disinfection Byproducts (DBP). Due to their greater effectiveness, waste stream disposal, at up to 15-25 percent (and higher for the RO process) of the total treated water volume, is a significant problem with membrane treatment systems. [Alabama Water Quality Information System] Microfiltration The process of passing wastewater through porous membranes in the form of sheets or tubes to remove suspended and particulate material. Pore sizes can be very small and particles as small as 0.2 microns can be retained. [Melbourne Water]
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N
	Nanofiltration A pressure-driven membrane separation process. In water treatment, nanofiltration is used to remove non-volatile substances such as natural and synthetic organics, colour and disinfection by-product precursors, and multivalent inorganic substances (for example, water softening by removing calcium and magnesium). [Symons, Bradley & Cleveland 2000]
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O
	Ozonation Disinfection method using ozone to destroy bacteria and viruses.
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P
	Pathogen An organisme that causes illness, disease or infection. Precautionary principle The concept that lack of scientific certainty should not be used as an excuse for postponing action where there is a risk of serious or irreversible environmental harm being done. [European Comission]
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Q
	Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) A formalised process of identifying risks to human health posed by microbiological pathogens. [Queensland Water Recycling Strategy]
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R
	Recycled water Wastewater that has been subjected to an array of biological, physical, and chemical treatments as necessary depending on the end use. [Queensland Water Recycling Strategy] Reverse osmosis (RO) An intensive method of wastewater treatment which relies on a semi-permeable membrane to separate water from its impurities. [WBM Oceanics Australia 1999] Risk assessment A methodology that consists of the use of an objective basis to define the potential health effects of exposure of individuals, populations, or ecosystems to hazardous materials and situations. Risk management Decisions about whether an assessed risk is sufficiently high to present a public health concern and about the appropriate means for control of a risk judged to be significant. [Alabama Water Quality Information System]
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S
	Sand filter A device used to remove particles from drinking water prior to distribution to customers. The water is allowed to percolate through a chamber containing sand of various grain sizes, with the finest grain size located on the top. The particles in the water are removed at the surface of the sand and later discarded by reverse flushing. Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) / geopurification Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) relies on natural processes to polish treated wastewater. Where soil and groundwater conditions are favourable for artificial recharge of groundwater through infiltration basins, a high degree of upgrading can be achieved by allowing partially-treated sewage effluent to infiltrate into the soil and move down to the groundwater. The unsaturated or "vadose" zone then acts as a natural filter and can remove essentially all suspended solids, biodegradable materials, bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms. Significant reductions in nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals concentrations can also be achieved.
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U
	Ultrafiltration Filtration using membranes which have a nominal pore size of approximately 0.001 microns and an MWCO of 1,000 to 100,000 daltons. Pushing water through these smaller membrane pores requires a higher operating pressure than either MF or UF. Operating pressures are usually near 600 kPa (90 psi) and can be as high as 1,000 kPa (150 psi). These systems can remove virtually all cysts, bacteria, viruses, and humic materials. UV irradiation Disinfection method using concentrated UV radiation. These rays disinfect wastewater by inactivating the pathogenic organisms through induced photochemical changes in the cells' deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), interfering with their ability to replicate.
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W
	Water stress Situation in which the annual internal renewable water resources are between 1,000 and 1,667 m3 per capita. [United Nations] Water security Access to safe water for drinking, appropriate sanitation, food, energy and other uses at reasonable cost, while maintaining and protecting the environment in the process. [Global Water Partnership] Water scarcity Situation in which the annual internal renewable water resources are below 1,000 m3 per capita. [United Nations] Water reuse The use of water a second (or further time) within the system or area in which it was first used without discharging it to the environment or the sewerage system. Water recycling The process of treating wastewater to produce water for beneficial use, the storage and distribution of recycled water to the place of use, ant the actual use of recycled water. Water reclamation The process of treating wastewater to a standard that is appropriate for its intended use. [Melbourne Water] Water quality management Planning for the protection of water quality for various Beneficial Uses, for the provision of adequate wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for municipalities and industries, and for activities that might create water quality problems, and regulating and enforcing programmes to accomplish the planning goals and laws and regulations dealing with water. [Alabama Water Quality Information System] Water governance Refers to the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to regulate the development and management of water resources and provision of water services at different levels of society. [Global Water Partnership] Wastewater A combination of the liquid or water-carried wastes removed from residences, institutions, commercial and industrial establishments together with groundwater, surface water and storm water as may be present. It has no further immediate value to the process that produced it. [Queensland Parliamentary Library]
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