Calgary Water and Wastewater Management Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary terms covering water treatment, wastewater processing, and stormwater management based on Calgary's infrastructure and general environmental systems.

Watershed

The area where water travels while being filtered of large debris before being pumped to plants for energy production.

Flocculation

A pre-treatment and clarification process used to capture and remove sediments by adding aluminum sulfate, sand, and polymer to the water.

Floc

Heavy particles formed when aluminum sulfate, sand, and polymer attach to sediments, causing them to fall to the bottom of the treatment basin.

Residual treatment facility

A facility that receives debris and silt from pre-treatment and removes as much water as possible before recycling the water.

On-site storage reservoir

A facility used to balance high water demands with plant production and perform a final check for full sanitization.

Post chlorination

The addition of more chlorine before water is pumped off-site to ensure safety throughout its travel through high lift pumping and distribution.

Transition mains

Large pipes used by pumps to push water through the distribution system, such as from Glenmore to Bearspaw.

Sedimentation

A process where floc particles sink to the bottom of a basin to create sludge after chemicals are added and mixed.

Sand filter

A basin of fine to coarse sand where water flows through to catch particles that have run out of space to flow through.

NTU (Nephelometric turbidity units)

The unit used to measure how many particles remain in the water; the target level is less than $0.3\,\text{NTU}$.

Activated carbon

Material containing tiny pores that remove remaining sediments to improve the taste and smell of the water.

Ozone

A disinfectant used to kill bacteria and improve taste and smell, which must be removed at the end of the process so it causes no harm.

Chlorine dioxide

A chemical used to kill microorganisms that can react to other organic materials, which may be harmful to human health.

UV radiation

A treatment that scrambles the DNA of bacteria, making them unable to reproduce.

Bioreactors

Systems that add oxygen and microorganisms to wastewater so the microorganisms can eat ammonia and phosphorus.

Cloth disks

Filters used for wastewater after the microorganisms have been sent back to the bioreactors.

Outfall

The point where a storm drain pipe releases water back into the river.

Natural stormwater filters

Natural systems including wet ponds, wetlands, and rain gardens that filter stormwater before it reaches the Bow river.

Downspout guidelines

City regulations requiring downspouts to be at least $6.6\,\text{m}$ from any sidewalk, road, or path.

Forbidden materials

Items that cannot be put in drains including soil, grease, motor oil, gasoline, paint, cement, and water from hot tubs because they can clog pipes.