Introduction to Water Treatment

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to water treatment as outlined in the lecture notes.

acid rain

Precipitation that is unusually acidic due to high levels of sulfuric and nitric acids.

alkalinity

The capacity of water to neutralize acids, indicating the presence of bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide ions.

BOD (biochemical oxygen demand)

A measure of the amount of oxygen that microorganisms will consume while decomposing organic matter in water.

chlorine residual

The amount of chlorine remaining in water after disinfection that can help to kill any remaining pathogens.

coagulant

A substance added to water to cause small particles to clump together and facilitate their removal.

coagulation

The process by which coagulants cause fine particles to aggregate into larger particles.

coliforms

Bacteria found in the environment and intestines of warm-blooded animals; used as an indicator of water quality.

sedimentation

The process where particles settle out of the water column due to gravity.

flocculation

The gentle mixing that encourages the clumped particles (floc) to grow larger so they can settle out more easily.

pathogenic organisms

Microorganisms that can cause disease in humans or animals.

pH

A measure of how acidic or basic water is on a scale from 0 to 14.

raw water

Water in its natural state before any treatment.

turbidity

The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles.

weir

A barrier across a river designed to alter its flow characteristics.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

A federal law that protects public drinking water supplies in the US.

grab sample

A single sample of water collected at a specific time and place for analysis.

composite sample

A sample that is made up of multiple grab samples collected over time to provide an average measure.

safety data sheet (SDS)

A document that provides information on the properties and handling of hazardous substances.

filtration

The process of removing impurities from water by passing it through a filter.

disinfection

The process of killing or inactivating harmful microorganisms in water.

chlorination

The addition of chlorine to water to kill pathogens and control odor and taste.

sludge

The byproduct of the treatment processes that consists of solid waste materials.

energy conservation

The practice of using less energy, often through more efficient processes.