|
Acre-Foot |
This unit of
measurement is used in the water industry to describe large
quantities of water, such as the capacity of a reservoir. One
acre-foot equals approximately 326,000 gallons, or enough water
to cover one acre of land (about the size of a football field)
one foot deep in water. One acre-foot of water is enough to meet
the needs of an average family for two years. |
|
Activated sludge |
The biological
process that removes organic matter from wastewater using
microscopic plants and animals (organisms). The activated sludge
process imitates the natural process that a river, lake or
stream uses to clean itself. |
|
Advanced treatment |
Additional
treatment processes used to clean wastewater even further
following primary and secondary treatment. Also known as
tertiary treatment. |
|
Aeration tank |
A chamber in
which air is injected into wastewater to allow microscopic
organisms to clean the water (see Activated Sludge).
|
|
Algae |
The simplest
kind of green plants, usually found growing in damp or wet
places. |
|
Aqueduct |
A constructed
system of canals, channels and/or pipelines to move water from
one location to another. Irvine Ranch Water District receives
about 50 percent of its water through the Colorado River
Aqueduct and the California Aqueduct. |
|
Aquifer |
Underground
rock, sand or gravel formations which store water. Irvine Ranch
Water District supplies about 50 percent of its water needs from
the aquifers that make up the Orange County Groundwater Basin.
|
|
Arid |
Dry; deserts
are arid places. Semi-arid refers to a place that is almost as
dry as a desert. |
|
Biosolids |
The solids, or
sludge, that remain after wastewater treatment. This material is
separated from the cleaned water, treated and composted into
fertilizer. Biosolids are often referred to as sludge.
|
|
Canal |
A ditch used to
move water from one location to another. |
|
Clarify |
To make clear
or pure by separation and elimination of suspended solid
material. |
|
Coagulation |
The clumping
together of solids so they can more easily be settled out or
filtered out of water. A chemical called aluminum sulfate (alum)
is generally used to aid coagulation in water treatment and
reclamation. |
|
Condensation |
The process of
water vapor (gas) changing into liquid water. An example of
condensation can be seen in the tiny water droplets that form on
the outside of a glass of iced tea as warmer air touches the
cooler glass. |
|
Contaminate |
To make unclean
or impure by the addition of harmful substances. |
|
Dam |
A barrier built
across a river or stream to hold water. |
|
Decompose |
To separate
into simpler compounds, substances or elements. |
|
Desalination |
Removing salts
from salt water by evaporation or distillation. |
|
Dilute |
To lessen the
amount of a substance in water by adding more water.
|
|
Disinfect |
To destroy
disease-causing organisms in water. |
|
Effluent |
Treated water
or wastewater exiting a treatment plant, or exiting a particular
stage of the treatment process (i.e. primary effluent, secondary
effluent, final effluent). |
|
Evaporation |
The process
that changes water (liquid) into water vapor (gas). |
|
Filtration |
The process of
allowing water to pass through layers of a porous material such
as sand, gravel or charcoal to trap solid particles. Filtration
occurs in nature when rain water soaks into the ground and it
passes through hundreds of feet of sand and gravel. This same
natural process of filtration is duplicated in water and
wastewater treatment plants, generally using sand and coal as
the filter media. |
|
Greenbelt |
An area of
parks, landscaping or undeveloped natural land surrounding or
within a community. |
|
Groundwater |
Water located
beneath the earth’s surface. |
|
Household hazardous waste
|
Any product
found in the home or garage that can be hazardous to the
environment if not disposed of correctly. Examples of household
hazardous waste include cleaning solutions, pesticides, pool
chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze, or used batteries.
|
|
Hydrologic Cycle |
See Water
Cycle. |
|
Influent |
Water or
wastewater entering a treatment plant, or a particular stage of
the treatment process. |
|
Irrigation |
Applying water
to crops, lawns or other plants using pumps, pipes, hoses,
sprinklers, etc. |
|
MAF |
Million
acre-feet |
|
Microbes |
Microscopic
living plants and animals. |
|
Microorganism |
A animal or
plant of microscopic size. |
|
Mulch |
Any substance
such as leaves, bark, compost, or straw which is spread on the
ground to protect roots of plants from heat, cold or excessive
dryness. |
|
Non-point source pollution
|
Pollution that
is so general or covers such a wide area that no single,
localized source of the pollution can be identified.
|
|
Organism |
Any living
plant or animal. |
|
Percolation |
The movement of
water through soil, sand, gravel, etc. |
|
Point source pollution
|
An identifiable
source of pollution. |
|
Precipitation |
Water from the
atmosphere that falls to the ground as a liquid (rain) or a
solid (snow, sleet, hail). |
|
Primary treatment |
Removing solids
and floating matter from wastewater using screening, skimming
and sedimentation (settling by gravity). |
|
Reservoir |
A place where
water is stored until it is needed. A reservoir can be an open
lake or an enclosed storage tank. |
|
Secondary treatment
|
The biological
portion of wastewater treatment which uses the activated sludge
process to further clean wastewater after primary treatment.
|
|
Sedimentation |
The settling of
solids in a body of water using gravity. |
|
Settle |
To clarify
water by causing impurities or solid material to sink to the
bottom of the container. |
|
Sewer |
The system of
pipes that carries wastewater from homes and businesses to a
treatment plant or reclamation plant. Sewers are separate from
storm drains, which is a system of drains and pipes that carry
rain water from urban streets back to the ocean. Overwatering
your yard can also cause water to run into the streets and into
storm drains. Storm drain water is not treated before it is
discharged. |
|
Sludge |
The solids that
remain after wastewater treatment. This material is separated
from the cleaned water, treated and composted into fertilizer.
Another word for sludge is biosolids. |
|
Storm Drain |
The system of
pipes that carries rain water from urban streets back to the
ocean. Overwatering your yard can also cause water to run into
the streets and into storm drains. Storm drain water is not
treated before it is discharged. Storm drains are separate from
sewers, which is a separate system of pipes to carry wastewater
from homes and businesses to a treatment plant or reclamation
plant for cleaning. |
|
Tertiary treatment |
Additional
treatment processes used to clean wastewater even further
following primary and secondary treatment. Also known as
advanced treatment. |
|
Transpiration |
The process by
which a plant gives off water into the atmosphere. This is part
of the water cycle. |
|
Wastewater |
Used water that
goes down the drains of homes and businesses. |
|
Water conservation |
Using water
wisely and efficiently so that it is not wasted. |
|
Water Cycle |
The continuous
process of surface water (puddles, lakes, oceans) evaporating
from the sun’s heat to become water vapor (gas) in the
atmosphere. Water condenses into clouds and then falls back to
earth as rain or snow (precipitation). Some precipitation soaks
into the ground (percolation) to replenish groundwater supplies
in underground aquifers. |
|
Water Reclamation |
The treatment
of wastewater to make it suitable for a beneficial reuse, such
as landscape irrigation. Also called water recycling.
|
|
Water table |
The top level
of water stored underground. |
|
Watershed |
The lands above
a given point on a waterway that contribute water run-off. |
|
Wetland |
Any area in
which the water table stands near, at, or above the land surface
for at least part of the year. Such areas are characterized by
plants that are adapted to wet soil conditions. |
