Glossary

Activated Carbon: A porous material used to adsorb impurities and contaminants from water.
Adsorption: The process of molecules or colloids physically adhering to the surfaces of solids.
Aeration: The process of adding air to a water supply to remove dissolved gases, such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide.
Alkalinity: A measure of a water’s ability to neutralize acids.
Anion Exchange: A process that removes negatively charged ions (anions) from water using an ion-exchange resin.
Aquifer: An underground layer of porous rock that stores and transmits groundwater.

Biofiltration: A water treatment process that uses microorganisms to remove contaminants from water.
Boiler Feedwater: Water that is treated and purified before being used in a boiler to generate steam.
Brine: A solution of water with a high concentration of dissolved salts.
Backwashing: The process of reversing the flow of water through a filter to clean and flush out accumulated debris.

Cation Exchange: A process that removes positively charged ions (cations) from water using an ion-exchange resin.
Clarification: The process of removing suspended solids from water by settling or filtration.
Coagulation: The process of destabilizing and clumping together particles in water for easier removal.
Conductivity: The ability of water to pass an electrical current is determined by the presence of dissolved salts and other organic chemicals – the conductivity increases as the salinity increases. Measured in microsiemens/centimetre, (µS/cm).

Desalination: The removal of salt and other minerals from seawater to produce fresh water.
Demineralization: The process of removing minerals from water, typically using ion exchange or reverse osmosis.
Disinfection: The process of killing or inactivating microorganisms in water to make it safe for consumption.
Dissolved Solids: Solids that are dissolved in water, such as salts and minerals

Effluent: Water that has been discharged from a treatment process

Filtration: The physical or chemical process of separating particles from water by passing it through a porous medium.
Flux: The rate at which water passes through a membrane

Groundwater: Water that is found underground in aquifers.

Hard Water: Water that contains high concentrations of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium.

Impurities: Substances that are not desired in water and can affect its quality.
Ion Exchange: A method of water softening that involves exchanging ions, typically calcium and magnesium, with sodium or potassium ions.

MBR (Membrane Bioreactor): A wastewater treatment system that combines a membrane filtration process with a biological treatment process.
Membrane Filtration: A process that uses membranes to separate particles and impurities from water.
Microfiltration: A filtration process that removes particles larger than 0.1 microns in size.

Nanofiltration: A filtration process that removes particles larger than 0.001 microns in size.
Neutralisation: The process of adjusting the pH of water to a neutral level (pH 7).

Odour Control: The process of removing or masking undesirable odours from water.
Osmosis: The movement of water molecules from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane.
Oxidation: The chemical process of adding oxygen or other oxidizing agents to water to remove impurities.

pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water, with a pH of 7 considered neutral.
Pre-treatment: The initial treatment of water before it enters a more advanced treatment process.
Process Water: Water that is used in industrial processes, such as manufacturing or cooling.
Purification: The process of removing impurities from water to make it safe for drinking or other uses.

Reverse Osmosis: A filtration process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from water.

Sedimentation: Allowing particles to settle out of water by gravity, making it easier to remove impurities.
Soft Water: Water that has low concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions.
Softening: The process of removing calcium and magnesium salts from water to reduce its hardness.

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): Comprise the inorganic salts dissolved in water, (e.g., calcium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, sulfates and chlorides), as well as small amounts of organic matter. Usually measured in ppm, (parts per million).
Turbidity: The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles.

Ultrafiltration: A type of membrane filtration that uses fine pores to separate particles from water.
UV Disinfection: The use of ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate microorganisms in water.

Water Quality: The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water that determine its suitability for specific uses.
Water Softener: A device or system that reduces the hardness of water by removing calcium and magnesium ions.
Water Treatment Plant: A facility that treats water to make it safe for drinking or other uses.

Zeta Potential: The electrostatic potential between particles in water, influencing their tendency to attract or repel each other.