Glossary of Water and Wastewater Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z5 random terms from our glossary
handhole trap
A device made of pipe fittings used to prevent sewer gases escaping from the branch or lateral wastewater collection pipes from entering a building wastewater pipes.
SSO (sanitary sewer overflow)
Wastewater that flows out of a collection pipeline (or lift station) as a result of flows exceeding the hydraulic capacity of the system or stoppages in the pipes, or a discharge of wastewater from a location that is not authorized by an NPDES permit. A sanitary sewer overflow may be the result of a pipeline blockage, hydraulic overloading of pipelines or pump stations, equipment malfunctions, or damage to conveyance systems. SSOs exceeding hydraulic capacity usually occur during periods of heavy precipitation or high levels of runoff from snow melt or other runoff sources.
thermal stratification (strat-uh-fuh-KAY-shun)
The formation of layers of different temperatures in a lake or reservoir. Also see stratification.
anaerobic (AN-air-O-bick)
A condition in which atmospheric or dissolved oxygen (DO) is not present in the aquatic (water) environment.
primacy
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), primacy is the responsibility for ensuring that a law is implemented, and the authority to enforce a law and related regulations (40 CFR 142.2). A primacy agency has the primary responsibility for administrating and enforcing regulations.