absorption - The process in which one substance is taken into the body of an absorbent.

acid - A substance which increases the concentration of hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Most acids will dissolve the common metals and will react with a base to form a neutral salt and water.

acidity - The quantitative capacity of water or a water solution to neutralize an alkali or base. It is usually measured by titration with a standard solution of sodium hydroxide and expressed in terms of its calcium carbonate equivalent. (See mineral acidity, total acidity, carbon dioxide.)

acre-foot - The volume of water which would cover an area of one acre to a depth of one foot. It is equal to 43,560 cubic feet (1,233 cubic meters) or 325,851 gallons (1,233,L).

activated carbon - A granular material usually produced by roasting various grades of coal in the absence of air. It has a very porous structure and it is used in water conditioning as an adsorbent (see "adsorption") for organic matter and certain dissolved gases. Sometimes called "activated charcoal".

activated silica - A material usually formed from the reaction of a dilute silicate solution with a dilute acid. It is used as a coagulant aid.

adsorbent - A material, usually solid, capable of holding gases, liquids and/or suspended matter at its surface and in exposed pores. Activated carbon is a common adsorbent used in water treatment.

adsorption - The process in which matter adheres to the surface of an adsorbent.

aeration - The process in which air is brought into intimate contact with water, often by spraying water through air, or by bubbling air through water. Aeration may be used to add oxygen to the water for the oxidation of matter such as iron, or to cause the release of dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide from the water.

aerobic - An action or process conducted in the presence of air, such as aerobic digestion of organic matter by bacteria.

air gap - A clear vertical space between a water or drain line and the flood level of a receptacle to prevent back-flow or siphoning from the receptacle in the event of negative pressure or vacuum. Most plumbing codes require the air gap to be at least twice the diameter of the water or drain line, with a minimum of 1-1/2 inches (3.8 cm). (See vacuum breaker or back-flow presenter.)

algae - Small primitive plants containing chlorophyll, commonly found in surface water. Excessive growths may create taste and odor problems, and consume dissolved oxygen during decay.

alkali - A group of water soluble mineral compounds, usually considered to have moderate strengths as bases (as opposed to the caustic or strongly basic hydroxides, although this differentiation is not always made). In general, the term is applied to bicarbonate and carbonate compounds when they are present in the water or solution. (See alkali, base.)

alkalinity - The quantitative capacity of a water or water solution to neutralize an acid. It is usually measured by titration with a standard acid solution of sulfuric acid and is expressed in terms of its calcium carbonate equivalent. (See alkali, base.)

alkyl benzene sulfonate - A term applied to a family of branched chain chemical compounds, formerly used as detergents,. Sometimes called "hard" detergents, because of their resistance to biological degradation, these compounds have been largely replaced with linear alkyl sulfonate (LAS) which are more readily degraded to simpler substances. (See detergent, linear alkyl sulfonate.)

alum - A common name for aluminum sulfate, used as a coagulant.

amoeba - A small, single-celled animal or protozoan.

anaerobic - An action or process conducted in the absence of air, such as the anaerobic digestion of organic matter by bacteria in a septic tank.

anion - A negatively charged ion in solution, such as bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate or sulfate.

anion exchange - An ion exchange process in which anions in solution are exchanged for other anions from an ion exchanger. In demineralization, for example, bicarbonate, chloride and sulfate anions are removed from solution in exchange for a chemically equivalent number of hydroxide anions from the anion exchange resin. (See ion exchange, demineralization.)

Angstrom unit - A unit of length equal to one ten-billionth of a meter.

anode - The positive pole of an electrolytic system meter when oxidation occurs. Anodes made of magnesium or zinc are sometimes installed in water heaters or other tanks to deliberately establish galvanic cells to control corrosion of the tank through the sacrifice of the anode.

aquifer - A layer or zone below the surface of the earth which is capable of yielding a significant volume of water.

atom - The smallest particle of an element that can exist either alone or in combination.

attrition - In water treatment, the process in which solids are worn down or ground down by friction, often between particles of the same material. Filter media and ion exchange materials are subject to attrition during backwashing, regeneration and service.

backflow - Flow of water in a pipe or line in a direction opposite to normal flow. Often associated with back siphonage or the flow of possibly contaminated water into a potable water system.

back-flow preventer - A device or system installed in a water line to stop back-flow. (See vacuum breaker, air gap.)

backwash - The process in which beds of filter or ion exchange media are subjected to flow opposite to the service flow direction to loosen the bed and to flush suspended matter collected during the service run.

bacteria - Unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which typically reproduce by cell division.

base - A substance which releases hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water. Bases react with acids to form a neutral salt and water. (See alkali.)

base exchange - Synonymous with cation exchange.

batch - A quantity of material treated or produced as a unit.

batch operation - A process method in which a quantity of material is processed or treated usually with a single charge of reactant in a single vessel, and often involving stirring. Example: The neutralization of a specific volume of an acid with a base in a vessel, with stirring or mixing, is a batch operation.

bed - The ion exchanger or filter media in a column or other tank or operational vessel.

bed depth - The height of the ion exchanger or filter media in the vessel after preparation for service.

bed expansion - The increase in the volume of a bed of ion exchange or filter media during upflow operations, such as backwashing, caused by lifting and separation of the media. Usually expressed as the percent of increase of bed depth.

bicarbonate alkalinity - The alkalinity of a water due to the presence of bicarbonate ions (HCO3).

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - The amount of oxygen consumed in the oxidation of organic matter by biological action under specific standard test conditions. Widely used as a measure of the strength of sewage and waste water.

biodegradable - Subject to degradation to simpler substances by biological action, such as the bacterial breakdown of detergents, sewage wastes and other organic matter.

bleach - An oxidizing agent formulated to break down colored matter. Includes the widely used hypochlorites, as well as perborates and other special purpose materials.

BOD - Abbreviation for "Biochemical Oxygen Demand".

brackish water - Water having salinity values ranging from approximately 500 to 5,000 parts per million (milligrams per liter).

breakpoint chlorination - A chlorination procedure in which chlorine is added until the chlorine demand is satisfied and a dip (breakpoint) in the chlorine residual occurs. Further additions of chlorine produce a chlorine residual proportional to the amount added.

breakthrough - The appearance in the effluent from a water conditioner of the material being removed by the conditioner, such as hardness in the effluent of a softener, or turbidity in the effluent of a mechanical filter; an indication that regeneration, backwashing, or other treatment is necessary for further service.

brine - A strong solution of salt(s), such as sodium chloride used in the regeneration of ion exchange water softeners, but also applied to the mixed sodium, calcium and magnesium chloride waste solution from regeneration.

buffer - A chemical which causes a solution to resist changes in pH, or to shift the pH to a specific value.

builder - A chemical incorporated in a detergent formulation to produce a desired alkalinity level and improve the ability to suspend soil. The alkaline phosphates are widely used for this purpose.

bypass - A connection or a valve system that allows untreated water to flow through a water system while a water treatment unit is being regenerated, backwashed or serviced; also applied to a special water line installed to provide untreated water to a particular tap, such as a sill cock.

calcium - One of the principal elements in the earth's crust. When dissolved, in water, calcium is a factor contributing to the formation of scale and insoluble soap curds which are a means of clearly identifying hard water.

calcium carbonate equivalent - A common basis for expressing the concentration of hardness and other salts in chemically equivalent terms to simplify certain calculations; signifies that the concentration of a dissolved mineral is chemically equivalent to the stated concentration of calcium carbonate.

calcium hypochlorite - A chemical compound, [Ca(Cl 0)24H2O], used as a bleach and as a source of chlorine in water treatment; specifically useful because it is stable as a dry powder and can be formed into tablets.

capacity - An expression of the quantity of an undesirable material which can be removed from water by a water conditioning medium, i.e., cleaning, regeneration or replacement, as determined under standard test conditions. For ion exchange water softeners, the capacity is expressed in grains of hardness removed between successive regenerations and is related to the pounds of salt used in regeneration. For filters, the capacity may be expressed in the length of time or total gallons delivered between servicing.

capacity curve - A graph of the capacity versus regenerant levels for an ion exchange unit or system.

capillary action - A phenomenon in which water or many other liquids will rise above the normal liquid level in a tiny tube or capillary, due to attraction between molecules of the liquid for each other and the walls of the tube.

carbonaceous - Materials of or derived from organic substances such as coal, lignite, peat, etc.

carbonaceous exchanger - Ion exchange material produced by the sulfonation of carbonaceous matter.

carbonate - The CO32 ion.

carbonate alkalinity - Alkalinity due to the presence of the carbonate ion (CO32).

carbonate hardness - Hardness due to the presence of calcium and magnesium bicarbonates and carbonates in water; the smaller of the total hardness and the total alkalinity. (See temporary hardness.)

carbon chloroform extract - The matter adsorbed from a stream of water by activated carbon, and then extracted from the activated carbon with chloroform, using a specific standardized procedure; a measure of the organic matter in a water.

carbon dioxide - A gas present in the atmosphere and formed by the decay of organic matter; the gas in carbonated beverages; in water it forms carbonic acid.

carbonic acid formed - It does not contribute to total dissolved solids, but does have a pronounced effect on specific resistance. This effect must be included when estimating the water quality from a weak base deionizer. Carbonate and bicarbonate alkalinity are destroyed by cation resin and converted to carbonic acid. To calculate carbonic acid formed add the carbonates, bicarbonates, and twice the carbon dioxide.

carboxylic - An organic acidic group (COOH) which contributes cation exchange ability to some resins.

cartridge - Any removable preformed or prepackaged component containing a filtering media or ion exchanger.

cathode - The negative pole of an electrolytic system; an electrode where reduction occurs. (See anode.)

cathodic protection - A corrosion control system in which the metal to be protected is made to serve as a cathode, either by the deliberate establishment of a galvanic cell or by impressed current. (See anode.)

cation - An ion with a positive electrical charge. Calcium, magnesium and sodium are cations.

cation exchange - Ion exchange process in which cations in solution are exchanged for other cations from an ion exchanger.

cation load factory y - This is the sum of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. It is the sum of all cations.

caustic - Any substance capable of burning or destroying animal flesh or tissue. The term is usually applied to strong bases.

caustic soda - The common name for sodium hydroxide.

CC - Abbreviation for "carbon chloroform extract".

channeling - The flow of water or other solution through a limited number of passages in a filter or ion exchanger bed, instead of distributed flow through all passages in the bed. May be due to fouling of the bed and plugging of many passages, poor distributor design, flow rates which are too low, faulty operational procedures, or other causes.

chelate - To form a complex chemical compound in which an ion, usually metallic, is bound into a stable ring structure.

chelating agent - A chemical compound sometimes fed to water to tie up undesirable metal ions, keep them in solution, and eliminate or reduce the normal effects of the ion. (See sequestering agent.)

chemical stability - Resistance to attach by chemical action.

chlorides - Salts of chloride are generally soluble. High concentrations contribute to corrosion problems.

chlorine - A gas, C2, widely used in the disinfection of water and an oxidizing agent for organic matter, iron, etc.

chlorinator - A device designed to feed chlorine gas or solutions of its compounds, such as hypochlorite, into a water supply.

chlorine demand - A measure of the amount of chlorine consumed by oxidizable substances in a water before a chlorine residual will be found.

coagulant - A material, such as alum, which will cause the agglomeration of finely divided particles into larger particles which can then be removed by settling and/or filtration.

coagulant aid - A material which is not a coagulant, but which improves the effectiveness of a coagulant by forming larger or heavier particles, speeding the reactions, or by permitting reduced coagulant dosage.

coagulation - The process in which very small, finely divided solid particles are agglomerated into larger particles.

COD - The abbreviation for "Chemical Oxygen Demand".

Coliform bacteria - A group of microorganisms used as indicators of water contamination, and the possible presence of pathogenic (disease producing) bacteria.

collector - A device or system designed to collect backwash water from a filter or ion exchange bed. May also be used as an upper distributor to spread the flow of water in downflow column operation. (See distributor.)

colloid - Very finely divided solid particles which do not settle out of a solution; intermediate between a true dissolved particle and a suspended solid which will settle out of solution. The removal of colloidal particles usually requires coagulation.

color - The shade or tint imparted to water by substances in true solution, and thus not removed by mechanical filtration; most commonly caused by dissolved organic matter, but may be produced by dissolved mineral matter. As measured in a water analysis, only the intensity of yellow color is reported.

color throw - The discharge of color to the effluent of a filter or ion exchange system by any component. It usually occurs after a period of standing which allows slowly soluble colored matter to accumulate in the system.

column operation - The process in which the solution to be treated is passed through a bed, or column (as in a tank), of filter media or ion exchanger; may be either upflow or downflow.

combined available chlorine - The chlorine present as chloramine or other chlorine derivatives in a water, but still available for disinfection and the oxidation of organic matter. Combined chlorine compounds are more stable than free chlorine forms, but are somewhat slower in disinfection action.

compensated hardness - A calculated value based on the total hardness, the magnesium to calcium ratio and the sodium concentration of a water. It is used to correct for the reductions in hardness removal capacity caused by these factors in zeolite exchange water softeners. No single method of calculation has been widely accepted.

composite sample - A mixture of a number of single or "grab" samples, intended to produce a typical or average sample. May be made up of equal volumes of individual samples, or of single samples proportioned to variations in flow or usage.

concentration factor - A number used to estimate the scaling potential in reverse osmosis systems when the TADS rejection is expected to exceed 90%; equal to the reciprocal of 1 minus the recovery ratio. When multiplied by the feed TADS, the result is the approximate waste water TADS. (See recovery, rejection.)

conductance - In water conditioning, the readiness of water to carry electricity; the reciprocal of electrical resistance. The unit of measure for conductance is the mho (reciprocal ohm). Used to approximate the dissolved solids content of water. (See conductivity, resistance, specific conductance.)

conductivity - The quality or power to carry electrical current; in water; related to the concentration of ions capable of carrying electrical current. (See conductance, electrolyte.)

connate water - Water deposited simultaneously with rock and held with essentially no flow; usually occurs deep in the earth, and usually is high in minerals due to long contact.

contamination - The presence of foreign matter in a substance which reduces the value of the substance, or interferes with its intended use.

conversion - See "recovery".

corrosion - The disintegration of a metal by electrochemical means.

Crenothrix polyspora - A genus of filamentous bacteria which utilize iron in their metabolism, and cause staining, plugging and taste and odor problems in water systems. (See iron bacteria.)

cross connection - A direct link between a potable water system and a non-potable water system, which permits undesirable substances to be drawn into the potable water.

cross-sectional area - The area of a plane at a right angle to the direction of flow through a tank or vessel; often expressed in square feet, and related to the flow rate. (Example: 5 gallons per minute per square foot of ion exchanger bed area.)

Cryptosporidium - A common intestinal parasite found in waters contaminated by sewerage or runoff containing animal waste. It causes diarrhea, nausea, and cramps. Individuals with weakened immune systems are at particular risk. Although resistant to chlorine and most oxidizing agents, it is effectively removed by filtration to 1 micrometer, and can be destroyed by boiling.

cube - A slang expression sometimes used to mean a cubic foot of ion exchanger or filter media.

cubic foot - The volume of a cube whose sides have the length of one foot. The common basis for the measurement of the volume of ion exchangers or loose filter media.

cycle - A series of events or steps which ultimately lead back to the starting point, such as the exhaustion-regeneration cycle of an ion exchange system.

dechlorination - The removal of chlorine residual.

deionization - The removal of all ionized minerals and salts from a solution by a two-phase ion exchange process. First, positively charged ions are removed by a cation exchange resin in exchange for a chemically equivalent amount of hydrogen ions. Second, negatively charged ions are removed by an anion exchange resin for a chemically equivalent amount of hydroxide ions. The hydrogen and hydroxide ions introduced in this process unite to form water molecules. The term, commonly abbreviated as DI, is often used interchangeably with demineralization. (See demineralization, ion exchange.)

demineralization - The removal of ionized minerals and salts from a solution by a two-phase ion exchange procedure, similar to deionization, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. (See deionization, ion exchange.)

density - The mass of a substance per specified unit of volume; for example, pounds per cubic foot. True density is the mass per unit volume excluding pores; apparent density is the mass per unit volume including pores. (See specific gravity.)

detergent - Any material with cleaning powers, including soaps, synthetic detergents, many alkaline materials and solvents, and abrasives. In popular usage the term is often used to mean the synthetic detergents such as ABS of LAS. (See alkyl benzene sulfonate, linear alkyl sulfonate, soap.)

D.I. or DI - Abbreviation for "deionization".

dialysis - The separation of components of a solution by diffusion through a semi-permeable membrane which is capable of passing certain ions or molecules while rejecting others. (See electrodialysis, semi-permeable membrane.)

diaphragm pump - A type of positive displacement pump in which the reciprocating piston is separated from the solution by a flexible diaphragm, thus protecting the piston from corrosion and erosion, and avoiding problems with packing and seals.

diatomaceous earth - A processed natural material, the skeletons of diatoms, used as a filter medium.

diatomite - Another name for diatomaceous earth.

dielectric fitting - A plumbing fitting made of, or containing, an electrical nonconductor, such as plastic; used to separate dissimilar metals in a plumbing system to control galvanic corrosion.

differential pressure - See pressure differential.

digestion - The process in which complex materials are broken down into simpler substances; may be due to chemical, biological or a combination of reactions. (See sterilization.)

disinfection - A process in which vegetative bacteria are killed; may involve disinfecting agents such as chlorine, or physical processes such as heating. (See aerobic, anaerobic.)

dissociation - The separation of molecules into positively and negatively charged ions; occurs when salts dissolve in water. (See ionization.)

dissolved solids - The weight of matter in true solution in a stated volume of water; includes both inorganic and organic matter; usually determined by weighing the residue after evaporation of the water at 105 or 180oC.

distillation - The process in which a liquid, such as water, is converted into its vapor state by heating, and the vapor cooled and condensed to the liquid state and collected; used to remove solids and other impurities from water; multiple distillations are required for extreme purity.

distributor - A device or system designed to produce even flow through all sections of an ion exchanger or filter bed, and to retain the media in the tank or vessel; usually installed at the top and bottom of loose media systems. (See collector.)

dolomite - A specific form of limestone containing chemically equivalent concentrations of calcium and magnesium carbonates; the term is sometimes applied to limestones with compositions similar to true dolomite.

domestic - A term sometimes applied to water conditioning equipment designed for household use.

downflow - A term designating the direction (down) in which water or a regenerant flows through an ion exchanger or filter during any phase of the operating cycle.

drain - A pipe or conduit in a building plumbing system which carries liquids to waste by gravity; sometimes the term is limited to liquids other than sewage.

drain line - A tube or pipe from a water conditioning unit that carries backwash water, regeneration wastes and/or rinse water to a drain or waste system.

dynamic - Active, alive, or tending to produce motion, as opposed to static, resting or fixed.

dynamic system - A system or process in which motion occurs, or includes active forces, as opposed to static conditions with no motion.

E. Coli - The common abbreviation of Escherichia Coli.

eductor - A device utilizing a nozzle and throat, installed in a stream of water to create a partial vacuum to draw air or liquid into the stream; commonly used to draw regeneration chemicals into an ion exchange water treatment system, such a softener or deionizer.

effective size - A measure of the size of particles of ion exchanger or filter medium; defined as the diameter of a specific particle in a bed, batch or lot which has 10 percent smaller and 90 percent larger particles.

efficiency - The ratio of output per unit input or the effectiveness of performance of a system; in an ion exchange system, often expressed as the amount of regenerant required to produce a unit of capacity, such as the pounds of salt per kilograin of hardness removal.

effluent - The stream emerging from a unit, system or process, such as the softened water from an ion exchange softener.

ejector - A device which used a high velocity jet to entrain a gas or liquid in a stream of air or liquid. (See eductor.)

electrodialysis - A process in which a direct current is applied to a cell to draw charged ions through ion selective semipermeable membranes, thus removing the ions from the solution.

electrolysis - In general, the chemical change caused by the passage of an electric current, often a decomposition of a material; the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen by the application of a direct current; the action in which one metal goes into solution in a galvanic cell at the junction between dissimilar metals in a water system. (See galvanic corrosion.)

electrolyte - A nonmetallic substance that carries an electric current, or a substance which, when dissolved in water, separates into ions which can carry an electric current. (See conductance, ionization.)

electron - A fundamental particle found in the atom which carries a single negative charge.

elution - The stripping of ions from an ion exchange material by other ions, either because of greater affinity or because of much higher concentration.

endpoint - The point at which a process is stopped because a predetermined value of a measurable variable is reached.

equilibrium - The state in which the action of multiple forces produce a stead balance.

equilibrium reaction - A chemical reaction which proceeds primarily in one direction until the concentrations of reactants and products reach an equilibrium.

equivalent weight - The weight in grams of an element, compound or ion which would react with or replace 1 gram of hydrogen; the molecular weight in grams divided by the valence.

erosion - The process in which material is worn away by a stream of air or liquid, often due to the presence of abrasive particles in the stream; a physical or mechanical wearing process rather than a chemical solution process.

Escherichia Coli - One of the members of the coliform groups of bacteria indicating fecal contamination. (See fecal, coliform.)

exchange velocity - The rate with which one ion is displaced from an ion exchange material in exchange for another ion.

exhaustion - The state of an ion exchange material that is no longer capable of effective function due to the depletion of the initial supply of exchangeable ions. (See ion exchange, endpoint.)

fecal - Matter containing or derived from animal or human wastes or feces.

filter - A device or system for the removal of solid particles (suspended solids).

filter area - The effective area through which water passes through filter media, often expressed in square feet. (See cross sectional area.)

filter medium - (See medium.)

filtrate - The effluent liquid from a filter.

fines - Extremely small particles of filter media or ion exchange material, often the result of breakage or chemical or physical deterioration.

fixed solids - The suspended or dissolved solids remaining after ignition, usually at 600oCl; usually due to inorganic matter which is not volatilized at the ignition temperature.

fixture - In plumbing, a permanently installed device in which water is used, such as a faucet or toilet.

fixture unit - An arbitrary unit assigned to different types of plumbing fixtures, and used to estimate flow rate requirements and drain capacity requirements.

floc - An agglomeration of finely divided suspended particles in a larger, usually gelatinous particle the result of physical attraction or adhesion to a coagulant compound.

flocculation - The process of causing a "floc" to form after treatment with a coagulant by gentle stirring or mixing. (See coagulation.)

flow control- A device designed to limit or restrict the flow of water or regenerant; may include a throttling valve, an orifice of fixed diameter, or a pressure compensating orifice.

flow rate- The quantity of water or regenerant which passes a given point in a specified unit of time, often expressed in gallons per minute.

fluoridation- The addition of a fluoride compound to a water supply for the reduction in incidence of dental caries.

flush tank- A tank or chamber in which water is stored for rapid release.

flush valve- A self-closing valve designed to release a large volume of water when tripped.

FMA - Abbreviation for free mineral acidity (see mineral acidity).

fouling - The process in which undesirable foreign matter accumulates in a bed of water conditioning media, clogging pores and coating surfaces and thus inhibiting or retarding the proper operation of the bed.

free available chlorine - The concentration of residual chlorine present as dissolved gas, hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite, not combined with ammonia or in other less readily available form.

freeboard- The vertical distance between a bed of filter media or ion exchange material and the overflow or collector for backwash water; the height above the bed of granular media available for bed expansion during backwashing; may be expressed either as a linear distance or a percentage of bed depth.

free carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide present in water as the gas, or as carbonic acid, but not that combined in carbonates or bicarbonates.

free chlorine- See free available chlorine.

free mineral acidity - See mineral acidity.

Gallionella ferruginea - A genus of stalked, ribbon-like bacteria which utilize iron in their metabolism, and cause staining, plugging and odor problems in water systems. (See iron bacteria.)

gallon - A unit of liquid volume; the U.S. gallon has a volume of 231 cubic inches or 3.78533 liters; the British (Imperial) gallon has a volume of 277.418 cubic inches or 4.54596 liters.

galvanic cell - A cell which generates an electrical current, consisting of dissimilar metals in contact with each other and with an electrolyte.

galvanic corrosion - The form of corrosion which occurs in a galvanic cell, in which one of the metals goes into solution; accelerated by high concentrations of dissolved minerals in water, which increases the electrical conductance; and elevated temperatures. (See corrosion, electrolyte.)

gate valve - A valve with the closing element that is a disc which is moved across the stream, often in a groove or slot, for support against pressure.

gel zeolite- A synthetic sodium aluminoscilicate ion exchanger.

Giardia Lamblia - An intestinal parasite commonly found in water supplies originating in mountainous or wooded watersheds. It exists as a free-swimming protozoan-like organism in warm-blooded animals' intestines, causing chronic diarrhea, cramps, bloating and weight loss. Outside of the intestines, it forms a tough cyst that protects it until it finds a new host. Resistant to chlorine and most oxidizing agents, Giardia can be removed effectively through filtration below 1 micrometer.

globe valve - A valve in which the closing element is a sphere, or a flat or rounded gasket, which is moved into or onto a round port.

gpg - Abbreviation for "grain(s) per gallon".

grab sample - A single sample of material collected at one place and one time.

grain (gr.) - A unit of eight equal to 1/7000th of a pound, or 0.0648 gram.

grain(s) per gallon (gpg) - A common basis for reporting water analyses in the United States and Canada; one grain per U.S. gallon equals 17.12 milligrams per liter (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm). One grain per British (Imperial) gallon equals 14.3 milligrams per liter or parts per million.

gram (g) - The basic unit of weight (mass) of the metric system, originally intended to be the weight of 1 cubic centimeter of water at 4oC. (One pound is 454 grams.)

gram-milliequivalent- The equivalent weight of a substance in grams, divided by one thousand.

gravimetric- Measurement of matter on the basis of weight.

greensand- A natural mineral, primarily composed of complex silicates, which possess ion exchange properties. (See manganese greensand, zeolite.)

hardness - A characteristic of natural water due primarily to the presence of dissolved polyvalent (valence greater than 1) cations, such as calcium (Ca+2) and magnesium (Mg+2). Water hardness is responsible for most scale formation in pipes and water heaters, and forms insoluble "curd" when it reacts with soaps. Hardness is usually expressed in grains per gallon, parts per million, or milligrams per liter, all as calcium carbonate equivalent.

head - A measure of the pressure at a point in a water system, expressed in pounds per square inch, or in the height of a column of water which would produce the pressure. 1 psi equals 2.31 feet of head (water).

head loss - The same as "pressure drop".

high-test hypochlorite - A dry solid, largely calcium hypochlorite, used as a disinfecting agent; has excellent stability as long as kept dry.

home-owned - A slang term sometimes applied to permanently installed household water conditioning equipment, as opposed to rental or portable exchange equipment.

hydration - The chemical combination of water into a substance.

hydraulic - Referring to water or other fluids in motion.

hydraulic classification - A process in which particles of the same specific gravity may be graded according to size by backwashing or other relative upward flow of water, with the smallest particles tending to rise to the top of the bed, and largest particles tending to sink to the bottom, because of variations in weight to sur area ratios.

hydrogen cycle - The cation exchange cycle in which the cation exchanger is regenerated with acid, and cations are removed from the solution treated, in exchange for hydrogen ions.

hydrogen ion concentration - The concentration of hydrogen ions in moles per liter of solution; often expressed as pH. (See pH.)

hydrogen sulfide - This is not a routine test but is determined only upon request and on a separate special sample. It is a poisonous gas and will cause headache and nausea. It smells like "rotten eggs". It causes a black precipitate with many metals.

hydrologic cycle - The water cycle, including precipitation of water from the atmosphere as rain or snow, flow of water over or through the earth, and evaporation or transpiration to water vapor in the atmosphere. Water evaporates from the earth and rises into the atmosphere where it forms clouds. In nature, this is where water is in its purest form. However, it does not stay that way for long. Its stay in the air is short. Water droplets forming in clouds, absorb particles and impurities found floating in the air.

Dust, smoke from industry, carbon dioxide, spores and smog may be absorbed by water droplets. Water is sometimes known as the universal solvent. It has a tendency to dissolve a little bit of everything it touches. For example, if it dissolves sulfur from industrial smokestacks, it can form acid rain. This increases its capacity to dissolve other substances. The water vapor in clouds eventually condenses and falls back to earth as rain, sleet, hail or snow.

After reaching the ground, water continues to dissolve additional matter it contacts. As water runs over the surface, it can become cloudy, even muddy. Then, as water seeps down through the ground, it may dissolve a little bit of the minerals and substances that could be present, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, or radioactivity.

By the time water returns to rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or underground aquifers, it may have accumulated amounts of the elements it has contacted. Along the way bacteria, chemicals, agricultural byproducts, fertilizers, insecticides, and other man made wastes may also have entered the picture and become dissolved in the water. (See transpiration.)

hydrolysis - The reaction of a salt with water to form an acid and a base.

hydropneumatic system - A system utilizing both air and water in its operation, such as the pressure tank used with many well systems, which utilizes an air chamber to maintain pressure on the water when the pump is not operating.

hydrostatic test - A pressure test procedure in which a vessel or system is filled with water, purged of air, sealed, subjected to water pressure, and examined for leaks, distortion and/or mechanical failure.

hydroxide - A chemical compound containing hydroxyl (OH) ion. (See hydroxyl.)

hydroxyl - The OH anion which has a single negative charge, and provides the characteristics common to bases. (See base.)

hypochlorite - The OCL anion; calcium and sodium hypochlorite are commonly used as bleaches and disinfecting agents.

indicator- A material which can be used to show the endpoint of a chemical reaction, usually by a color change, or a chemical concentration by a depth or shade of color.

influent- The stream entering a unit, stream or process, such as the hard water entering an ion exchange water softener.

inorganic matter - Matter which is not derived from living organisms and contains no organically produced carbon; includes rocks, minerals and metals.

installation- The process in which water conditioning equipment is connected into the water system, and a drain line provided where necessary. The term is also used to refer to the complete assembly of piping, valves, drain line, water conditioning unit and related equipment.

intermittent flow - The term usually applied to the interrupted patterns of water usage; also used in reference to specific on-off flow patterns selected to test the performance of water conditioning equipment under standard conditions, which may or may not be similar to actual patterns of use of installed equipment.

ion - An atom or group of atoms which function as a unit, and have a positive (cation) or negative (anion) electrical charge, due to the gain or loss of one or more electrons. (See ionization.)

ion exchange- A reversible process in which ions are released from an insoluble permanent material in exchange for other ions in a surrounding solution; the direction of the exchange depends upon the affinities of the ion exchanger for the ions present, and the concentrations of the ions in the solution. (See base exchange.)

ion exchanger - A permanent, insoluble material which contains ions that will exchange reversibly with other ions in a surrounding solution. Both cation and anion exchangers are used in water conditioning. (See anion, cation, ion.)

ionization - The process in which atoms gain or lose electrons; sometimes used as synonymous with dissociation, the separation of molecules into charged ions in solution.

ionization constant - A constant specific for each partially ionizable chemical compound to express the ratio of the concentration of ions from the compound to the concentration of un-ionized compound.

iron - An element often found in ground water. It is objectionable in water supplies because of the staining caused after oxidation (bleach) and precipitation, tastes, and unsightly colors produced when iron reacts with tannin in beverages such as coffee and tea.

iron bacteria- Microorganisms which are capable of utilizing ferrous iron, either from the water or from steel pipe, in their metabolism, and precipating ferric hydroxide in the sheaths and gelatinous deposits. These organisms tend to collect in pipe lines and tanks during periods of low flow, and to break loose in slugs of turbid water to create staining, taste and odor problems. (See Crenothrix polyspora, Gallionella ferruginea.)

Jackson Turbidity Unit - An obsolete unit of turbidity measurement based on a suspension of a specific type of silica with the turbidity measured in a Jackson Candle Turbidimeter (contract to "Nephelometric Turbidity Unit").

JTU - The abbreviation for "Jackson Turbidity Unit".

kilo - A prefix used to indicate 1000 of the succeeding unit. (Kilo is also sometimes used as an abbreviation for kilogram.)

kilograin(Kgr.) - One thousand grains. (See grain.)

kilogram (Kg.) - One thousand grams. (See gram.)

laminar flow- The flow of fluid in which the flow paths are in smooth, parallel lines, with essentially no mixing and no turbulence.

Langelier's Index - A calculated number used to predict whether or not a water will precipitate, be in equilibrium with, or dissolve calcium carbonate. It is sometimes erroneously assumed that any water which tends to dissolve calcium carbonate is automatically corrosive.

LAS - Abbreviation for "Linear Alkyl Sulfonate".

leakage - The presence of a consistent concentration of ions in the effluent of an ion exchange system due to incomplete removal of the ions; caused by incomplete regeneration, excessive flow rates, low temperatures, the concentration or characteristics of the influent ions, or other factors. (See hardness leakage.)

lime - The common name for calcium oxide (CAO); hydrated lime is calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2.

lime scale- Hard water scale containing a high percentage of calcium carbonate.

limestone - A sedimentary rock, largely calcium carbonate, and usually also containing significant amounts of magnesium carbonate.

linear alkyl sulfonate - A term applied to a family of straight chain chemical compounds, widely used as detergents; sometimes called "soft" detergents because they are more readily degraded to simpler substances by biological action than the previously used alkyl benzene sulfonate. (See detergent, alkyl benzene sulfonate.)

liter - The basic metric unit of volume; 3.785 liters equal 1 U.S. gallon; 1 liter of water weighs 1000 grams.

M alkalinity - Methyl orange alkalinity. (See total alkalinity.)

macroreticular - A term applied to ion exchange resins that have a rigid polymer porous network in which there exists a true pore structure even after drying. The pores are larger than atomic distances and are not a part of the gel structure.

magnesium - One of the elements in the earth's crust, the compounds of which when dissolved in water make the water hard. The presence of magnesium in water is a factor contributing to the formation of scale and insoluble soap curds.

manganese - An element sometimes found dissolved in ground water, usually with dissolved iron but in lower concentration; causes black stains and other problems similar to iron. It can be removed by a water softener or it can be precipitated by chlorine at a pH of 9.5 or above.

manganese greensand - Greensand which has been processed to incorporate in its pores and on its surface the higher oxides of manganese. The product has a mild oxidizing power, and is often used in the oxidation and precipitation of iron, manganese and/or hydrogen sulfide, and their removal from water (see greensand, manganese zeolite).

manganese zeolite - Synthetic gel zeolite which has been processed in the same manner as manganese greensand, and used for similar purposes.

MBAS - Abbreviation for "Methylene Blue active Substance".

MCL - Abbreviation for "Maximum Contaminant Level"; the maximum allowable concentration of a contaminant in water as established in the U.S. EPA Drinking Water Regulations.

mechanical filter - A filter primarily designed for the removal of suspended solid particles, as opposed to filters with additional capabilities.

media - The plural form of "medium".

medium - A material used in a filter bed to form a barrier to the passage of certain suspended solids or dissolved molecules.

Methylene Blue Active Substances - Chemical compounds which react with methylene blue to form a blue compound which can be used to estimate the concentration by measurement of the depth of color. Substances measured include ABS and LAS types of detergents, thus the term is commonly used as an expression of detergent concentration. (See detergent.)

mg/L - The abbreviation for milligrams per liter.

micrometer - Formally known as micron. A linear measure equal to one millionth of a meter or .00003937 inch. The symbol for the micrometer is "um".

micron - See micrometer.

micron rating - The term applied to a filter medium to indicate the particle size above which all suspended solids will be removed throughout the rated capacity. As used in industry standards, this is an "absolute" not "nominal" rating.

mil - One thousandth of an inch.

milli - The prefix used with units of measure to indicate one thousandth of the unit. Example: a milliliter is one thousandth of a liter.

milligram per liter (mg/L) - A unit concentration of matter used in reporting the results of water and waste water analyses. In dilute water solutions, it is practically equal to the part per million, but varies from the ppm in concentrated solutions such as brine. As most analyses are performed on measured volumes of water, the mg/l is a more accurate expression of the concentration, and is the preferred unit of measure.

millimicron - (archaic) See "nanometer".

mineral - A term applied to inorganic substances such as rocks and similar matter found in the earth strata, as opposed to organic substances such as plant and animal matter. Minerals normally have definite chemical composition and crystal structure. The term is also applied to matter derived from minerals, such as the inorganic ions found in water. The term has been applied to ion exchangers, stemming from the early use of natural zeolite. The term is inappropriate to the modern organic ion exchange resins.

mineral acidity- Acidity due to the presence of inorganic acids such hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric acids, as opposed to acidity due to carbonic acid or organic acids.

mole - 6.02 x 1023 atoms of an element or 6.02 x 1023 molecules of a chemical compound. The weight of one mole of an element is equal to its atomic weight in grams; the weight of one mole of a compound is equal to its molecular weight in grams.

Molecule - The simplest combination of atoms that will form a specific chemical compound; the smallest particle of a substance which will still retain the essential composition and properties of that substance, and which can be broken down only into atoms and simpler substances.

most probable number (MPN) - The term used to indicate the number of microorganisms which, according to statistical theory, would be most likely to produce the results observed in certain bacteriological tests; usually expressed as a number per 100 ml of water.

MPN - The abbreviation for "most probable number".

nanometer- Abbreviated "nm", a unit of length equal to one thousandth of a micrometer. Often used to express the wavelength of ultraviolet light and the colors of visible light in colorimetric analytical procedures.

negative charge - The electrical charge on an electrode or ion in solution, due to the presence of an excess of electrons. (See electron, anion.)

negative head - A condition of negative pressure or partial vacuum.

negative pressure - A pressure below that of the surrounding atomspheric pressure at a specific point; a partial vacuum.

nephelometric turbidity unit - An arbitrary unit of measuring the turbidity in water by the light scattering effect of fine suspended particles in a light beam (contrast to "Jackson Turbidity Unit").

neutral - In electrical systems, the term used to indicate neither an excess nor a lack of electrons; a condition of balance between positive and negative charges. In chemistry, the term used to indicate a balance between acids and bases; the neutral point on the pH scale is 7.0, indicating the presence of equal numbers of free hydrogen (acidic) and hydroxide (basic) ions.

neutralization - The addition of either an acid or a base to a solution as required to produce a neutral solution. The use of alkaline or basic materials to neutralize the acidity of some waters is a common practice in water conditioning.

neutralizer - A common designation for alkaline materials such as calcite (calcium carbonate) or magnesia (magnesium oxide) used in the neutralization of acid waters.

noncarbonate hardness - Water hardness due to the presence of compounds such as calcium and magnesium chlorides, sulfates or nitrates; the excess of total hardness over total alkalinity.

normal solution - A solution containing a gram equivalent weight of a substance in one liter of solution. (See equivalent weight.)

NTU - Abbreviation for "Nephelometric Turbidity Unit".

odors - Are self-descriptive. Odors are sometimes transmitted to the sample by the shipping container when it is not a standard Culligan sample bottle.

operating pressure - The range of pressure, usually expressed in pounds per square inch, over which a water conditioning device or water system is designed to function.

organic matter- Substances of or derived from plant or animal matter. Organic matter is characterized by its carbon-hydrogen structure.

osmosis - A process of diffusion of a solvent such as water through a semipermeable membranae which will transmit the solvent but impede most dissolved substances. The normal flow of solvent is from the dilute solution to the concentrated solution in an attempt to bring the solutions on both sides of the membranae to equilibrium. (See equilibrium, reverse osmosis.)

oxidation - A chemical process in which electrons are removed from an atom, ion, or compound; causing the substance's valence to increase. The addition of oxygen is a specific form of oxidation; combustion is an extremely rapid form of oxidation, while the rusting of iron is a slow form. Whenever oxidation occurs, an offsetting reduction reaction must occur. (See reduction.)

ozone - An unstable form of oxygen (O3), which can be generated by an electrical discharge through air or regular oxygen. It is a strong oxidizing agent and has been used in water conditioning as a disinfectant.

P alkalinity - Phenolphthalein alkalinity of a water as determined by titration with standard acid solution to the phenolphthalein endpoint (pH approx. 8.3). Includes carbonate and hydroxide alkalinity. (See total alkalinity.)

particle size - As used in industry standards, the size of a particle suspended in water as determined by its smallest dimension, usually expressed in micrometers.

parts per million (ppm) - A common basis for reporting the results of water and waste water analyses, indicating the number of parts by weight of a dissolved or suspended constituent, per million parts by weight of water or other solvent. In dilute water solutions, one part per million is practically equal to one milligram per liter, which is the preferred unit. 17.12 ppm equals one grain per U.S. gallon.

pathogen - An organism which may cause disease.

P.E. - The abbreviation for "portable exchange".

percentage values - These are needed to calculate specific resin capacities for this water supply. They are also to calculate DI water quality.

permanent hardness - Water hardness due to the presence of the chlorides and sulfates of calcium and magnesium, which will not precipitate by boiling. This term is largely replaced by "noncarbonate hardness". (See noncarbonate hardness.)

permanganate- Generally refers to potassium permanganate, a chemical compound used in water treatment. (See potassium permanganate.)

pH - The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale ranges from zero to 14 with 7 as the neutral point, indicating the presence of equal concentrations of free hydrogen and hydroxide ions. pH values below 7.0 indicate acidity, with 0 most acid; pH values above 7 indicate basicity, with 14 most basic, or alkaline.

phreatophyte- A plant which takes its water from the zone of saturation or the capillary fringe of ground water. Excessive growths of phreatophytes are undesirable in some areas since they may consume large quantities of scarce water.

physical stability - A measure of the ability of an ion exchanger or filter medium to resist breakdown by physical forces such as friction, high temperatures and crushing to which it may be subjected in use.

pK - The reciprocal of the logarithm of the ionization constant of a chemical compound.

pOH - The negative logarithm of the hydroxyl ion concentration. The pOH is related to pH by the expression: pH + pOH = 14. (See pH.)

population equivalent - A unit of measure used to express the strength of waste water from any source by comparison to the strength and volume of normal household waste water. The figure of 0.17 pound of BOD per capita per day is often used as a base figure for calculations.

pollution - "Pollution is an impairment of quality such that it interferes with the intended usages." (House Report 2021.)

porosity- A measure of the volume of internal pores, or voids, in ion exchangers and filter media; sometimes expressed as a ratio to the total volume of the medium. (See