Select the first letter of the word or phrase you're looking for.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Alum (Aluminum Sulfate):
Added in the drinking water treatment process causing particles to clump together and fall to the bottom of the settling basins.
Anthracite:
A hard coal used in the drinking water treatment process to remove particles.
Aquifer:
An underground layer of rock or soil that holds the water referred to as groundwater.
Chlorine:
A liquid or gas chemical that is used as a disinfectant in the drinking water treatment process.
Coagulation:
The process by which coagulant compounds are mixed into the water to neutralize electrical charges on small impurities and come together to form larger particles.
Condensation:
The change of water from a gas to a liquid.
Contaminant:
Anything added to a substance that makes it impure.
Disinfection:
A chemical process used to kill any germs in the water.
Distribution System:
The process by which water is sent from the treatment plant to homes and businesses.
Drought:
A deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time.
Evaporation:
The process where water becomes vapor in the atmosphere.
Filtration:
The process in which a liquid is passed through a filter to remove any dirt or impurities.
Floc:
The large particles produced from coagulated particles binding together.
Fluoride:
A compound that is sometimes added to drinking water in an effort to help prevent tooth decay.
Greywater:
Domestic wastewater such as water from tubs, showers or washing machine water.
Groundwater:
The water beneath the surface of the ground.
Hardness:
A characteristic of water caused by mineral salts of magnesium and calcium.
Nonpoint Source Pollution:
Pollution that cannot be traced to one specific location. It may include rainwater runoff or fertilizer from fields.
Ozone:
A gas used in the water treatment disinfection process.
Percolate:
Soaking of water through the soil.
pH:
A measure of acidity and alkalinity of a solution, represented by a number on a scale.
Precipitation:
Water in the form of rain, sleet, hail or snow.
Reservoir:
A man-made lake that holds and stores water.
Residual Solids:
Settled solids from the sedimentation segment of the treatment process.
Riparian Buffer:
The green areas along the banks of streams, rivers, lakes and ponds. These areas are important for water quality, flood storage and cover and shade for plants and animals.
Runoff:
The portion of rain that is not absorbed into the soil but flows into streams.
Sediment:
A mineral or organic solid that is washed from the land into lakes, streams, or rivers.
Sedimentation:
The process where solids suspended in water settle to the bottom of a basin.
Source:
Where a stream or river begins.
Surface Water:
Water located on the surface of land, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds.
Transpiration:
The process whereby water vapor is given into the atmosphere by living plants.
Turbidity:
The cloudy or muddy appearance of a naturally clear liquid caused by the suspension of particles.
Water Conservation:
Protecting and preserving the amount of water you use.
Water Cycle:
The process by which water renews itself.
Water Meter:
A device that measures the quantity of water coming into your home or business.
Watershed:
The area where water drains from the land into a common body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean.
Water Treatment:
The process of cleaning water.
Well:
A deep hole drilled in the ground to obtain water.
Xeriscaping:
Landscaping technique designed to minimize the need for watering.
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