Water Treatment System Vocabulary

Front 1

Acid rain

Back 1

Precipitation that has been rendered/ made acidic by Airborne pollutants.

Front 2

Water cycle

Back 2

The process of evaporation of water into the air and its return to Earth by precipitation rain or snow. This process also includes transpiration from Plants, groundwater movement and runoff into rivers, streams, and the ocean. Also called the hydrologic cycle

Front 3

Direct runoff

Back 3

Water that flows over the ground surface directly into streams, rivers, or lakes. Also called storm runoff.

Front 4

Impermeable

Back 4

Not easily penetrated. The property of a material or soil that does not allow, or allows only with great difficulty, the movement or passage of water.

Front 5

Soft water

Back 5

Water having a low concentration of calcium and magnesium ions. According to us Geological Survey guidelines, soft water is water having a hardness of 60 mg per liter or less.

Front 6

Turbidity

Back 6

The Cloudy appearance of water caused by the presence of suspended and colloidal matter. Technically, turbidity is an optical property of the water based on the amount of light reflected by suspended particles. Turbidity cannot be directly equated to suspended solids because white particles reflect more light than dark colored particles and many small particles will reflect more light then an equivalent large particle.

Front 7

Stratification

Back 7

The formation of separate layers of temperature, plants, or animal life in a lake or Reservoir characteristics within each layer are similar, for instance, all water in the same layer has the same temperature.

Front 8

Overturn

Back 8

The almost spontaneous mixing of all layers of water in a reservoir or lake when the water temperature becomes similar from top to bottom this may occur in the fall / winter when the surface waters cool to the same temperature as the bottom Waters and in the spring when the surface waters warm after the ice melts. Also called turnover.

Front 9

Algal bloom

Back 9

Sudden, massive growth of microscopic and macroscopic plant life, such as green or blue green algae, which can develop in Lakes, reservoirs, and lagoons under the proper conditions.

Front 10

Algae

Back 10

Microscopic plants containing chlorophyll that live floating or suspended in water. They also may be attached to structures, rocks, or other submerged surfaces. Excess algal growth can impart tastes and odors to potable water. Algae produce oxygen during sunlight hours and use oxygen during night hours. Their biological activities appreciably affect the pH, alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen of the water.

Front 11

Transpiration

Back 11

The process by which water vapor is released to the Atmosphere by living plants. This process is similar to people sweating. Also called evapotranspiration.

Front 12

Aquifer

Back 12

Natural, underground layer of porous, water - bearing materials like sand, gravel and usually capable of yielding a large amount or supply of water.

Front 13

Capillary Fringe

Back 13

The porous material just above the water table that may hold water by capillarity (a property of surface tension that draws water upward) in the smaller void spaces.

Front 14

Topography

Back 14

The arrangement of Hills and Valleys in a geographic area.

Front 15

Head

Back 15

The vertical distance, height, or energy of water above a reference point. A head of water may be measured in either height (feet or meters) or pressure (pounds per square inch or kilograms per square centimeters).

Front 16

Subsidence

Back 16

The dropping or lowering of the ground surface as a result of removing excess water (overdraft or over-pumping) from an aquifer. After excess water has been removed, the soil will settle, become compacted, and the ground surface will drop, which can cause the settling of underground utilities.

Front 17

Raw water

Back 17

1. Water in its natural state, before any treatment.

2. Water entering the first treatment process of a water treatment plant.

Front 18

Potable water

Back 18

Water that does not contain objectionable pollution, contamination, minerals, or infective agents and is considered satisfactory for drinking.

Front 19

Palatable

Back 19

Water at a desirable temperature that is free from objectionable taste, odors, colors, and turbidity. Pleasing to the senses.