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
sewer jack
A device placed in manholes that supports a yoke or pulley that keeps wires or cables from rubbing against the inlet or outlet of a wastewater collection pipe.
distributor
The rotating mechanism that distributes the wastewater evenly over the surface of a trickling filter or other process unit. Also see fixed-spray nozzle.
population equivalent
A means of expressing the strength of organic material in wastewater. In a domestic wastewater system, microorganisms use up about 0.2 pound (90 grams) of oxygen per day for each person using the system (as measured by the standard BOD test). May also be expressed as flow (100 gallons/person/day or 378 liters/person/day) or suspended solids (0.2 lb SS/person/day or 90 grams SS/person/day).
population equivalent [persons] = flow rate [m gal/d] x BOD [mg/L] x 8.34 [b/gal] / 0.2 [b/person . d] BOD
or
population equivalent [person] = flow rate [m3/d] x BOD [mg/L] x 10 [L/m3] / 90,000 [mg/person . d] BOD
endocrine effects (EN-doe-krin)
An altering of the organs in the human body responsible for secreting hormones into the bloodstream. Endocrine glands include the thyroid gland, the pancreas, and the adrenal glands.
reject (REE-ject)
For a pressure-driven membrane process, the portion of feed solution that does not pass through the membrane. Also see retentate.
