Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning O

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oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)

The electrical potential required to transfer electrons from a compound or element (the reductant or reducing agent) to another compound or element (the oxidant or oxidizing agent); used as a qualitative measure of the state of oxidation in water and wastewater treatment systems. ORP is measured in millivolts, with negative values indicating a tendency to reduce compounds or elements and positive values indicating a tendency to oxidize compounds or elements.