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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Activated Sludge
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Sludge grown in aeration tanks in the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO), which teams with bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
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Activated Sludge Process
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Activated Sludge is added to wastewater and the mixture (mixed liquor) is aerated and agitated followed by sedimentation (settling). Some settled sludge is returned to the aeration tank to maintain sludge age.
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Advanced Waste Treatment
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Any process that upgrades the level of wastewater treatment beyond conventional treatment processes to meet specific reuse requirements such as chemical treatment and pressure filtration. AKA Tertiary Treatment
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Aeration
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The process of adding air to wastewater to provide dissolved oxygen (DO) for aerobic bacterial treatment, to freshen wastewater and to keep solids in suspension.
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Aeration Tank
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Basin used to mix raw wastewater with return activated sludge (RAS) and aerate the mixed liquor.
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Aerobic
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The condition in which free oxygen is dissolved in the water. Aerobic Bacteria need free oxygen to live and multiply.
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Aerobic Digestion
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Breakdown of wastes in the presence of dissolved oxygen. Process used to further stabilize solids removed from WWTPs in aerobic digesters.
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Algae
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A class of microscopic plant life that contain chlorophyll, live suspended in water or are attached to rocks, walls and other surfaces, and grow and multiply through photosynthesis. Algae produce oxygen in sunlight, use oxygen in darkness, and affect the pH and DO levels in water.
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Algal Bloom
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Sudden, Massive growth of algae that develops in lagoons, lakes, and reservoirs.
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Alkalinity
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The capacity of water to neutralize acids; the buffering capacity of water to resist changes in pH, especially with regard to acids, the effects of chlorine addition and Denitrification process.
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Anaerobic
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The condition in which there is little or no free dissolved oxygen in the water Anaerobic bacteria live in the absence of free oxygen but they are able to obtain their oxygen from combined oxygen that exists in chemical compounds.
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Anaerobic Digestion
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Anaerobic bacteria decompose wastewater solids in two steps into 1) volatile Acids, and 2) methane gas, carbon dioxide and water in the absence of dissolved oxygen (DO). Specially designed basins, digesters, are used to carry out the digestion processes, prevent air from entering and to capture the methane gas.
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Aquifer
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A natural underground layer of porous materials usually capable of yielding a supply of water.
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Available Chlorine
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The amount of chlorine available in compound chlorine sources compared with that of elemental (liquid or gaseous) chlorine.
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BOD
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Biochemical Oxygen Demand, used to measure the strength of wastewater. BOD test measures the rate at which microorganisms use oxygen while decomposing organic matter under aerobic conditions.
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Backflow
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A reverse flow condition, created by a difference in water pressures, which causes water to flow back into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source other than an intended source.
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Backsiphonage
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A form of backflow caused by a negative or below atmospheric pressure within a water system.
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Bacteria
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Bacteria are single celled living microscopic organisms which use organic matter for food and produce waste products. The 3 main types are: Aerobic, Anaerobic, and Fucultative.
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Base
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A substance that takes up or accepts protons, dissociates in water to produce hydroxyl ions, reacts with metals and is corrosive.
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Berm
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Earthen dike that surrounds ponds, lagoons, and containment areas for hazardous material.
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Biomass
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A mass or clump of living organisms feeding on wastes in wastewater, dead organisms and other debris. The mass may protect the organisms, as well as store food.
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Blue-Green Algae
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Varieties of algae characterized by their bluish-green color. The appearance of blue-green algae indicates unhealthy conditions in lagoon cells, often associated with organic overloading and lack of adequate dissolved oxygen (DO).
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Cavitation
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The formation and collapse of a gas pocket or bubble on the blade of an impeller or gate of a valve. The collapse of the bubble drives water into the impeller or gate with a terrific force that can cause pitting of the surface. Cavitation is indicated by loud hammering noises.
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Carbon Dioxide
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A common gas, CO2, found abundantly in air, is a product of bacterial respiration and used by algae in photosynthesis. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the lagoon water governs the pH of the lagoon.
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Carcinogen
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Any substance that tends to produce cancer in an organism.
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Chloramines
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Compounds formed by the reaction of hypochlorous acid (or aqueous chlorine) with ammonia.
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Chlorination
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The application of chlorine to water for disinfection or oxidation of undesirable compounds. Chlorine compounds are gas and liquid or solid (hypochlorites).
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Chlorine Contact Unit
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A baffled basin that provides sufficient time for disinfection to occur.
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Chlorine Demand
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The difference between the amount of chlorine added to water and the amount of chlorine residual remaining after a given contact time.
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Chlorine Residual
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The amount of chlorine remaining after meeting chlorine demand under given conditions and is necessary to complete disinfection.
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Chlorine Requirement
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The amount of chlorine needed for a particular treatment.
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Chlororganic
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Organic compounds combined with chlorine
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Clarification
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Any process or processes used to reduce the concentration of suspended matter in a liquid, such as quiescent settling or sedimentation. Lagoons provide clarification across the cells and in quiescent zones in aerated systems, allowing solids to settle into a sludge layer.
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Clarifier
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A tank or basin in which the heavier suspended solids settle to the bottom. Clarifiers are also called SETTLING BASINS or SEDIMENTATION BASINS.
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Clean Water Act
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Federal Legislation passed in 1972 creating the Environmental Protection Agency, requiring a nationwide system for controlling pollutant discharges and providing for construction and regulation of publicly owned treatment works.
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Coagulation
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The clumping together of very fine particles into larger particles caused by the use of chemicals.
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Coliform
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The presence of coliform bacteria indicates that the water is polluted, may contain pathogenic organisms and indicate the possible presence of human or animal waste. Fecal coliform are specific to feces from warm blooded animals, including humans. The fecal coliform test is a specific coliform test used to regulate and protect public health from WWTP discharges containing pathogens.
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Colloids
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Very small, finely divided particles that do not dissolve for a long time due to their small size and negative electrical charge.
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Combined Sewer
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A sewer designed to carry both sanitary wastewater and storm/surface-water runoff.
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Comminutor
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A device used to reduce the size of the solid chunks in wastewater influent by shredding. (Also called a Barminutor)
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Composite (Proportional) Sample
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A collection of individual samples obtained at regular intervals during a 24hr period. Each individual sample is combined with the others in proportion to the rate of flow when the sample was collected. The resulting mixture, or composite, forms a representative sample and is analyzed to determine the avg conditions during the sampling period.
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Coning
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Development of a cone-shaped flow of liquid, like a whirlpool, through sludge. This can occur in a sludge hopper during sludge withdrawal when the sludge becomes too thick. Part of the sludge remains in place while the liquid is removed.
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Contamination
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The introduction into water of microorganisms, chemicals, toxic substances, wastes, or wastewater in a concentration that makes the water unfit for its next intended use.
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Conventional Treatment
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The preliminary treatment, sedimentation, flotation, trickling filter, rotating biological contractor, activated sludge and chlorination wastewater treatment processes.
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Crest
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The bottom wedge of a weir plate.
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Cross-Connection
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A connection between a drinking water system and an unapproved system.
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Crustaceans
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A class of microscopic water animals that consume large quantities of bacteria and algae.
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Daphnia
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A crustacean commonly found in wastewater lagoons.
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Dechlorination
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The removal of chlorine from the effluent of a treatment plant.
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Denitrification
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An anaerobic process that occurs when nitrite and nitrate ions are reduced to nitrogen gas and bubbles are formed. These bubbles attach to sludge flocs, causing rising sludge that floats to the surface of secondary clarifiers.
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Detention Time
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The theoretical time that water may stay in a lagoon. It is the total volume of the lagoon divided by the flow rate. Usually expressed in days of time.
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Disinfection
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The process designed to kill most microorganisms in water, including the destruction or inactivation of pathogenic bacteria. Disinfection differs from sterilization which destroys all living forms.
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Dissolved Oxygen
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Molecular (atmospheric) oxygen dissolved in water or wastewater, usually abbreviated as DO.
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Dissolved Solids
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The salts an other residues left after evaporation of water that has been passed through a laboratory filter. Dissolved solids cannot be filtered out. Some colloidal solids may not be in true solution, but if they pass through the standard membrane filter, they are considered dissolved solids.
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Diurnal
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Having a daily cycle; usually a 24hr period from 12:01am to 12:00pm
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Duckweed
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A water plant with a single small leaf that floats and accumulates on the surface of lagoons.
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Effluent
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The treated water leaving the treatment plant.
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Endogenous Respiration
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A reduced level of respiration in which organisms break down compounds within their own cells to produce the oxygen they need.
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F/M Ratio
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Food to microorganism ratio. A measure of food (organic waste) provided to bacteria in an aeration tank.
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Facultative
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A combination of both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Facultative cells have both aerobic and anaerobic zones. Facultative bacteria are able to exist in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A facultative pond is commonly used to treat wastewater flows in small communities. It has an upper aerobic zone, a lower anaerobic zone, and algae provide most of the oxygen for the bacteria.
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Fermentation
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A process of decomposition of organic solid materials by bacteria and other biological actions.
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Floc
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Clumps of bacteria and particulate impurities that have come together and formed a cluster.
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Flocculation
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The gathering together of fine particles after coagulation to form larger particles by a process of gentle mixing.
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Free Available Residual Chlorine
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That portion of the total available chlorine residual composed of dissolved chlorine gas (CI2), hypochlorous acid (HOCI), and/or hypochlorite ion (OCI) remaining in water after chlorination.
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Free Oxygen
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Oxygen can be dissolved in water as the soluble gas 02 when it is called free oxygen. or it can be available as a combined form in compounds such as nitrates and sulfates.
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Freeboard
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The vertical distance from the normal water surface to the top of the confining wall.
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Grab Sample
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A single sample of water collected at a particular time and place which represents the composition of water only at that time and place.
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Green Algae
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The common forms of algae in an aerobic lagoon environment. Green algae are essential for lagoon treatment.
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Grit
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Raw sewage carries a variable amount of solids such as sand, and other heavier settleable solids. These are generally classed as grit.
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Hard Water
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Water having a high concentration of calcium and magnesium ions.
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Head
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The vertical distance (in Feet) equal to the pressure (in psi) at a specific point. The pressure head is equal to the pressure in psi times 2.31ft/psi.
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Headworks
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The facilities where wastewater enters a WWTP, generally consisting of bar screens, comminutors, a wet well and pumps.
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Hydraulic Loading
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The flow of water per acre of surface area.
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Hydrogen Sulfide
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A very odorous and poisonous gas. Commonly known as rotten egg gas. It is a combined form of hydrogen and sulfur with the formula H2S.
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Hydrologic Cycle
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The process of evaporation of water into the air and its return to earth by precipitation. AKA Water Cycle.
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Hypochlorinators
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Chlorine pumps, chemical feed pumps or devices used to dispense chlorine solutions made from hypochlorites into the water being treated.
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Infiltration
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The gradual flow of water into the soil.
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Inflow
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Water discharged into the sewer system from sources other than regular connections, including yard drains, foundation drains and around manhole covers.
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Influent
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The flow coming into the system.
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Inorganic
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Material such as sand, salt, iron, calcium salts and other mineral materials and other than of plant or animal origin or of carbon compounds (organic).
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Methane
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A combustible gas produced during anaerobic fermentation of organic matter, such as by anaerobic digestion of wastewater solids.
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Microorganisms
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Microscopic Living organisms.
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Milligrams Per Liter, (mg/L)
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A measure of the concentration by weight of a substance per unit volume. One thousandth of a gram in one liter. One mg/L is equal to one part per million.
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MPDES Permit
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Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. This permit lists the conditions that must be met before treatment plants can discharge an effluent into state receiving waters.
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Nitrification
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An aerobic process in which bacteria change ammonia and organic nitrogen into nitrite and nitrate forms of nitrogen.
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Nonpotable
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Water that is considered unsafe and/or unpalatable for drinking.
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Nonpoint Discharge
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A source of wastewater that comes from a relatively large area and would have to be controlled by a management or conservation practice. Storm waters and most agricultural waters are nonpoint sources.
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NPDES
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National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Establishes national levels of treatment and conditions for discharges to receiving waters.
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Nutrients
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Substances required by living plants and organisms. Forms of nitrogen and phosphorous are nutrients that can cause problems in receiving waters.
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Organic
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Substances from animal or plant sources. Organic substances contain carbon.
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Organic Acids
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Weak acids formed from organic compounds, such as acetic acid and citric acid. These acids form first in anaerobic digesters and then are converted to methane. The organic acids in wastewater lagoons are much more complex and generally weaker.
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Oxidation Pond
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A term often used interchangeably with lagoon. Oxidation ponds are used after other treatment processes.
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Ozonation
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The application of ozone to water primarily for disinfection.
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pH
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The intensity of the basic or acid condition of a liquid.
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Palmer-Bowlus Flume
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A flow measuring device consisting of a preformed flume.
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Parshall Flume
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A flow measuring device consisting of a preformed flume with a restrictive area called the throat. The head of water at a stilling well just upstream from the narrow part of the throat is measured and a chart is used to obtain flow.
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Pathogenic Organisms
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Organisms capable of causing diseases in a host.
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Percolation
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The movement of flow of water through soil or rocks. A discharge option for many wastewater treatment systems. In Montana, a Montana Ground Water Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MGWPDES) permit and sampling in groundwater monitoring wells are required.
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Photosynthesis
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A complex process in all green plants that contain chlorophyll. The process uses sunlight as energy to convert carbon dioxide into plant growth. As a by-product, oxygen is released.
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Polishing Pond
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A final lagoon cell after other treatment which completes the treatment, or "polishes" the effluent.
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