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

alkalinity (al-kuh-lin-it-tee)

The capacity of water or wastewater to neutralize acids caused by the carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide, and occasionally borate, silicate, and phosphate in the water or wastewater. Alkalinity is a measure of how much acid must be added to a liquid to lower the pH to 4.5, expressed in milligrams per liter of equivalent calcium carbonate.