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
defluoridation (DEE-floor-uh-DAY-shun)
The removal of excess fluoride in drinking water to prevent the mottling (brown stains) of teeth.
demineralization (DEE-min-er-al-uh-ZAY-shun)
A treatment process that removes dissolved minerals (salts) from water.
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
A worldwide initiative to promote standard criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health, physical, and environmental hazards. It uses harmonized pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, and the signal words “danger” and “warning” to communicate hazard information on product labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) in a logical and comprehensive way. The primary goals of the GHS are to enhance the protection of human health and the environment by providing an internationally comprehensible system for hazard communication, to provide a recognized framework for those countries without an existing system, to reduce the need for testing and evaluation of chemicals, and to facilitate international trade in chemicals with hazards that have been properly assessed and identified on an international basis. Also see safety data sheet.
raw water
Water in its natural state, before any treatment, especially as it enters the first treatment process of a water treatment plant.
radical
A group of atoms that is capable of remaining unchanged during a series of chemical reactions. Such combinations (radicals) exist in the molecules of many organic compounds; sulfate (SO42–) is an inorganic radical.
