Water Glossary
A
acidity — a characteristic that can make water corrosive and unpleasant; acidity must generally be corrected with neutralization
activated carbon — carbon which has been chemically treated to improve its adsorption properties and filtration capacity
adsorption — the process by which contaminants react with activated carbon and are removed from water
aeration — an oxidation process in which air is injected into water generally to convert an unwanted substance into a solid form that can be filtered
B
brine — the solution a water softener uses to clean its media bed of captured calcium and magnesium in preparation for service
brine drum — the brine preparation and holding tank on a water softener
C
calcite — the media used in a neutralization system to neutralize acidic water
carbon filtration — a common water filtration method which uses activated carbon to adsorb contaminants
chlorine — a common water disinfectant used by municipal water utilities
conditioned water — water free of dissolved calcium and magnesium (hardness minerals); also referred to as soft water
countercurrent regeneration — a type of regeneration in which the flow through a water conditioner is reversed during the cleaning process for greater effectiveness and efficiency
cryptosporidium — probably the most common and certainly the most notorious of a group of microorganisms called cysts; "crypto" was responsible for a major waterborne illness outbreak in Milwaukee in 1993
cysts — any of a group of microorganisms that include entamoeba, giardia and cryptosporidium; when ingested, cysts can cause gastrointestinal illness among others and often have more problematic effects on children, the elderly and people with immune deficiencies
D
demand-initiated regeneration (DIR) — a process in which regeneration is initiated based upon a household’s water use instead of at a preset interval
drinking water — the one percent of a household’s entire water use that is designated for drinking or food preparation; also referred to as food grade water
F
ferric iron — dissolved iron which has been oxidized and transformed into an orange particulate
ferrous iron — dissolved iron; often found in well water
H
hard water — water that contains dissolved calcium and magnesium
hardness — the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in a water sample, typically measured in grains per gallon (gpg)
hydrogen sulfide — an obnoxious gas with a "rotten egg" odor found in some water
I
ion exchange — a water softening process in which hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions
iron — a common element that is absorbed by water as it passes through the ground; iron is often found in well water and can cause rusty orange stains on clothing and household fixtures
L
lead — a tasteless, odorless water contaminant that may be leached from lead-based solder used to join pipes
M
manganese — iron’s close cousin commonly found in well water; manganese can cause black stains on clothing and household fixtures
N
neutralization — the process by which water’s acidity is adjusted to a neutral range; acidic water can be corrosive
O
oxidation — a process in which an oxidizer (commonly air or chlorine) reacts with a dissolved substance to convert it into a solid form that can be filtered
R
recovery rate — a measure of a reverse osmosis system’s efficiency; generally measured as amount of water produced divided by amount of water used; a rate of 25% is usually considered efficient
regeneration — a water conditioner’s cleaning cycle; the cycle prepares the system’s resin bed so it can soften water again
resin — tiny beads used by a water conditioner to soften water; the place where ion exchange occurs inside a water conditioner
reverse osmosis — a filtration method in which water is forced through a semipermeable membrane which rejects contaminants
S
scale — a hard, crusty substance that remains after hard water dries
soap scum — the substance which results from the reaction of the hardness minerals in water with common household soaps; usually evident as a bathtub ring or glass shower door film
soft water — water free of dissolved calcium and magnesium (hardness minerals); also referred to as conditioned water
solder — a substance used to join pipes; lead-based solder was outlawed in the late 1980s
source water — untreated water that is supplied to a home or business; source water is usually best for outdoor applications like watering lawns
T
turbidity — water cloudiness caused by suspended particles
V
volatile organic compounds — organic contaminants including commercial chemicals and pesticides; commonly referred to as VOCs
W
working water — the water used in a home for most general purposes including bathing and laundering