ENEV 321: L-1 Water & Wastewater Treatment Overview

A set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key terms related to water and wastewater treatment.

Groundwater

Water that is found underground in aquifers.

Surface Water

Water found on the surface of the earth, including rivers, lakes, and glaciers.

Greywater

Wastewater that is not contaminated by solid waste, typically from sinks, showers, and washing machines.

Wastewater

Used water that is no longer suitable for its intended use due to contaminants.

Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

A facility that treats drinking water to make it safe for consumption.

Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

A facility designed to treat wastewater to remove contaminants before releasing it back into the environment.

Contaminants

Substances in water that can cause harm to health or the environment.

Public Health

The health of the population as a whole, often monitored and regulated by government agencies.

Aquatic Ecosystems

Habitat systems that are composed of water and living organisms, including freshwater and marine environments.

BOD

Biochemical Oxygen Demand, a measure of the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water.

Turbidity

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

pH

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

Alkalinity

The capacity of water to resist changes in pH that would make it more acidic.

Nutrients

Substances that provide nourishment essential for the growth and maintenance of living organisms, such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Heavy Metals

Metallic elements with high density that are toxic at low concentrations, such as lead and mercury.

Coliform Organisms

Bacteria commonly found in the environment, used as indicators of water quality.

Influent

Water or wastewater that flows into a treatment facility.

Effluent

Treated water that flows out of a treatment facility.

Supernatant

The liquid that is on the surface of a sediment or precipitate after settling.

Sludge

The solid residue that is separated during the treatment of wastewater.

Characteristics

Measurable factors used to assess water quality.