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.

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.

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.