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
fulvic acid
A complex organic compound that can be derived either from soil or water. Aquatic fulvic acids are major precursors of disinfection byproducts.
plug flow
A type of flow that occurs in tanks, basins, or reactors when a slug of water or wastewater moves through a tank without dispersing or mixing with the rest of the water or wastewater flowing through the tank.
discrete I/O (input/output)
A digital signal that senses or sends either ON or OFF signals. For example, a discrete input would sense the position of a switch; a discrete output would turn on a pump or light.
milligrams per liter (mg/L)
A measure of the concentration by weight of a substance per unit volume in water or wastewater. In reporting the results of water and wastewater analysis, mg/L is preferred to the unit parts per million (ppm), to which it is approximately equivalent.
compound
A substance composed of two or more elements whose proportions are constant. For example, table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) is a compound.
