Water Cycle Vocab

Front 1

influent

Back 1

untreated waste water going into the sewage plant

Front 2

effluent

Back 2

treated waste water leaving the sewage plant

Front 3

B.O.D.
Biological Oxygen Demand

Back 3

a measurement of water quality

Front 4

fecal coliform

Back 4

non-disease forming bacteria found in intestines of warm-blooded animals, used as an indicator species for other pathogens

Front 5

hypoxia

Back 5

low oxygen conditions in the water sometimes caused by increase of bacteria and other decomposers

Front 6

indicator species

Back 6

a species of organism that gives indication of the presence or abundance of another species of organism

Front 7

pathogens

Back 7

a disease causing bacteria

Front 8

absorption field

Back 8

that part of a septic system usually made up of perforated pipes; these allow wastewater to drain into the soil for its final treatment

Front 9

aeration

Back 9

the porcess of adding air to water; this increases biological activity

Front 10

cake

Back 10

dried sludge material from wastewater; can be used as fertilizer

Front 11

digest

Back 11

to break down material (such as sludge) into smaller parts; may be done by bacteria in wastewater and soils

Front 12

disinfect

Back 12

to kill microorganisms; to clean; one way is to use chlorine

Front 13

grit

Back 13

materials such as sand and gravel which are removed from wastewater in the first step-primary treatment

Front 14

hydrologic cycle

Back 14

the process by which water is recycled by precipitation, evaporation, transportation and condensation

Front 15

impurities

Back 15

substances which, when present, make another substance not pure or clean

Front 16

landfill

Back 16

a disposal site beneath the land surface for solid waste products generated by people; wastes are packed and covered with earth

Front 17

microorganism

Back 17

an organism that can only be seen by microscope (ex. bacteria); bacteria aid in wastemater treatment

Front 18

nutrients

Back 18

chemical elements necessary for good plant growth and health

Front 19

oxygen

Back 19

chemical element present in air

Front 20

perforated

Back 20

something which has been pierced by holes; such as pipes in an absorption field of a septic system

Front 21

primary treatment

Back 21

first stage of treatment in wastewater treatment plant in which large pieces of material are removed

Front 22

scum

Back 22

layer of fats, oils and other materials that float on the liquid in a septic tank

Front 23

secondary treatment

Back 23

second stage of treatment in wastewater treatment plant which removes waste primarily by bacterial action

Front 24

sedimentation tank

Back 24

tank in wastewater treatment plant where solid material settles out from wastewater to bottom of tank; there are typically 2 types of these tanks in treatment process; primary and secondary sedimentation tank

Front 25

septic system

Back 25

wastewater disposal system used by homes not connnected to public systems; usually consists of septic tank and absorption field

Front 26

sewage

Back 26

another name for wastewater

Front 27

sludge

Back 27

solid waste material which settles out during wastewater treatment; after treated-may be used as fertilizer

Front 28

tertiary treatment

Back 28

third stage in wastewater treatment plant which is (sometimes) used to remove even more impurities (nitrates and phosphates) from wastewater

Front 29

wastewater

Back 29

water which has been used by people in homes, businesses, farms or factories; carries solid and dissolved impurities

Front 30

wastewater treatment plant

Back 30

plant which treats wastewater to remove contaminants so that the water can be safely released back to environment