Glossary of Water and Wastewater Terms

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5 random terms from our glossary

anaerobic digester (AN-air-O-bick)

A wastewater solids treatment device in which the solids and water (about 5 percent solids, 95 percent water) are placed in a large tank where bacteria decompose the solids in the absence of dissolved oxygen (DO).

N (normal)

A normal solution contains 1 gram equivalent weight of reactant (compound) per liter of solution. The equivalent weight of an acid is that weight that contains 1 gram atomic weight of ionizable hydrogen or its chemical equivalent. For example, the equivalent weight of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is 49 (98 divided by 2 because there are two replaceable hydrogen ions). A 1.0 N solution of sulfuric acid would consist of 49 grams of H2SO4 dissolved in enough water to make 1 liter of solution.

retention time

The length of time water, sludge, or solids are retained or held in a clarifier or sedimentation tank. Also see detention time.

apartment complex

One or more residential buildings at a single location. An apartment building may contain several residences with a single connection to the wastewater collection system. A complex can have several buildings with a single connection.

off pounds

The amount of material that is off loaded from a machine with one or more regulated process flows of water. It is not the number of pounds shipped. It is also not the number of pounds loaded into the process.