Absorption - ANSWER taking in substance into body of another
Acid - ANSWER A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.
Lowers PH
Corrosive
Activated sludge - ANSWER produced in raw or settled wastewater by the growth of bac-
teria, in the presence of dissolved oxygen.
Activated sludge process - ANSWER A biological wastewater treatment process which
speeds up the decomposition of wastes in the wastewater being treated. Activated Sludge is
added to wastewater and the mixture (mixed liquor) is aerated and agitated. After some
time in the aeration tank, the activated sludge is allowed to settle out by sedimentation and
is disposed of (wasted) or reused (returned to the aeration tank) as needed, the remaining
wastewater then undergoes more treatment.
Adsorption - ANSWER The process of binding or sticking to a surface.
Advanced waste treatment - ANSWER Any process of water renovation that upgrades
treated wastewater to meet specific reuse requirements.
Aeration - ANSWER the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dis-
solved in a liquid or substance.
Aerobes - ANSWER Bacteria that require oxygen to grow
1
,Aerobic bacteria - ANSWER bacteria that use oxygen for cellular respiration
Air lift - ANSWER type of pump, air injected at the bottom to lift water to the top, like
percolator coffee pot
Algae - ANSWER microscopic plants. Live in or on water or on structures near water,
make o2 during day, use o2 at night, affect PH and DO
Aliquot - ANSWER A portion of a well-mixed sample removed for testing
Alkalinity - ANSWER ability of water to buffer acids
Anaerobic - ANSWER Process that does not require oxygen
Anaerobic bacteria - ANSWER bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive
Anaerobic digestion - ANSWER is the decomposition of waste under anaerobic conditions
to produce biogas and a compost-like residue
Anoxic - ANSWER oxygen deficient less than .5 ppm
Bacteria - ANSWER (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-
shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission
Baffle - ANSWER board used to direct flow, uniform velocities, absorb energy, divert,
guide, agitate liquids
Base - ANSWER a compound that produces hydroxide ions in solution. Raises PH
2
, Biomass - ANSWER the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
Biosolids - ANSWER A primarily organic solid product produced by wastewater treatment
processes that can be beneficially recycled. The word biosolids is replacing the word sludge
when referring to treated waste.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - ANSWER A measure of the amount of dissolved ox-
ygen required to break down the organic material in a given volume of water through aero-
bic biological activity
Blank - ANSWER sample being tested is not added
Buffer - ANSWER A solution that minimizes changes in ph when extraneous acids or ba-
ses are added to the solution.
Bulking - ANSWER a condition arising when sludge floats rather than settles in secondary
sewage treatment. Can be caused by filamentous bacteria
Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD) - ANSWER only the BOD required to
remove carbon. Based
Cavitation - ANSWER formation and collapse of gas bubbles due to low pressure. Can
cause pitting. Makes noise.
Centrifuge - ANSWER device to separate substances by spinning them at high speed
Chlorination - ANSWER disinfection of water by the addition of small amounts of chlorine
or a chlorine compound
3
Acid - ANSWER A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.
Lowers PH
Corrosive
Activated sludge - ANSWER produced in raw or settled wastewater by the growth of bac-
teria, in the presence of dissolved oxygen.
Activated sludge process - ANSWER A biological wastewater treatment process which
speeds up the decomposition of wastes in the wastewater being treated. Activated Sludge is
added to wastewater and the mixture (mixed liquor) is aerated and agitated. After some
time in the aeration tank, the activated sludge is allowed to settle out by sedimentation and
is disposed of (wasted) or reused (returned to the aeration tank) as needed, the remaining
wastewater then undergoes more treatment.
Adsorption - ANSWER The process of binding or sticking to a surface.
Advanced waste treatment - ANSWER Any process of water renovation that upgrades
treated wastewater to meet specific reuse requirements.
Aeration - ANSWER the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dis-
solved in a liquid or substance.
Aerobes - ANSWER Bacteria that require oxygen to grow
1
,Aerobic bacteria - ANSWER bacteria that use oxygen for cellular respiration
Air lift - ANSWER type of pump, air injected at the bottom to lift water to the top, like
percolator coffee pot
Algae - ANSWER microscopic plants. Live in or on water or on structures near water,
make o2 during day, use o2 at night, affect PH and DO
Aliquot - ANSWER A portion of a well-mixed sample removed for testing
Alkalinity - ANSWER ability of water to buffer acids
Anaerobic - ANSWER Process that does not require oxygen
Anaerobic bacteria - ANSWER bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive
Anaerobic digestion - ANSWER is the decomposition of waste under anaerobic conditions
to produce biogas and a compost-like residue
Anoxic - ANSWER oxygen deficient less than .5 ppm
Bacteria - ANSWER (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-
shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission
Baffle - ANSWER board used to direct flow, uniform velocities, absorb energy, divert,
guide, agitate liquids
Base - ANSWER a compound that produces hydroxide ions in solution. Raises PH
2
, Biomass - ANSWER the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
Biosolids - ANSWER A primarily organic solid product produced by wastewater treatment
processes that can be beneficially recycled. The word biosolids is replacing the word sludge
when referring to treated waste.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - ANSWER A measure of the amount of dissolved ox-
ygen required to break down the organic material in a given volume of water through aero-
bic biological activity
Blank - ANSWER sample being tested is not added
Buffer - ANSWER A solution that minimizes changes in ph when extraneous acids or ba-
ses are added to the solution.
Bulking - ANSWER a condition arising when sludge floats rather than settles in secondary
sewage treatment. Can be caused by filamentous bacteria
Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD) - ANSWER only the BOD required to
remove carbon. Based
Cavitation - ANSWER formation and collapse of gas bubbles due to low pressure. Can
cause pitting. Makes noise.
Centrifuge - ANSWER device to separate substances by spinning them at high speed
Chlorination - ANSWER disinfection of water by the addition of small amounts of chlorine
or a chlorine compound
3
