Glossary of Water and Wastewater Terms

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5 random terms from our glossary

caulk (KAWK)

To stop up and make watertight the joints of a pipe by filling the joints with a waterproof compound or material.

mandrel (MAN-drill)

(1) A special tool used to push bearings in or to pull sleeves out. (2) A testing device used to measure for excessive deflection in a flexible conduit.

wick effect

The ability of a liquid to rise above an established level to saturate a porous solid. Also called capillary effect.

breakout of chlorine

A point at which chlorine leaves a solution as a gas because the chlorine feed rate is too high. The solution is saturated and cannot dissolve any more chlorine. The maximum strength a chlorine solution can attain is approximately 3,500 mg/L. Beyond this concentration molecular chlorine will break out of solution and cause off-gassing at the point of application. Also called chlorine breakaway.

centrifugal pump (sen-TRIF-uh-gull)

A pump consisting of an impeller fixed on a rotating shaft that is enclosed in a casing, and having an inlet and discharge connection. As the rotating impeller whirls the liquid around, centrifugal force builds up enough pressure to force the water through the discharge outlet.