Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning A

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

aerobic bacteria (air-O-bick back-TEER-e-uh)

Bacteria that will live and reproduce only in an environment containing oxygen that is available for their respiration (breathing), namely atmospheric oxygen or oxygen dissolved in water. Oxygen combined chemically, such as in water molecules (H₂O), cannot be used for respiration by aerobic bacteria.