_O & M MANUAL - WEST LANE MOBILE HOME PARK

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GLOSSARY OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED TERMS IN WATER AND SEWAGE POLLUTION CONTROL Activated Sludge — Sludge withdrawn from the secondary Coagulation—The agglomeration of colloidal or suspended clarifier in the activated sludge process, consisting of micro- matter brought about by the addition of some chemical to organisms, non-living organic matter, and inorganic the liquid, by contact,or by other means. materials. Coliform Organisms — A group of bacteria recognized as indicators of fecal pollution(see also escherichia coliform}. Activated Sludge Process — A common method of disposing of pollutants in wastewaters. In the process, large Combined Sewer — Carries both sanitary sewage and quantities of air are bubbled through wastewaters that storm water run-off. contain dissolved organic substances in open aeration tanks. Bacteria and other types of microorganisms present Diffused Air—Method of aeration. in the system need oxygen to live, grown, and multiply in order to consume the dissolved organic "food" or pollutants Digestion — The biochemical decomposition of organic in the waste. After several hours in a large holding tank, the matter that results in the formation of mineral and simpler water is separated from the sludge of bacteria and organic compounds. discharged from the system. Most of the activated sludge is returned to the treatment process, while the remainder id Dissolved Air Flotation — Method of removing oil and disposed of by one of several acceptable methods. suspended solids. Aeration — The process of method of bringing about Dissolved Solids—Solids physically suspended in sewage intimate contact between air and a liquid. that cannot be removed by proper laboratory filtering. Aeration Tank—A chamber for injecting air into water. Effluent — The liquid that comes out of a treatment plant after completion of any treatment process. Aerobic Bacteria— Bacteria that require free (elementary) oxygen for growth. Escherichia Coliform—A species of bacteria found in large numbers in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. Anaerobic Bacteria — Bacteria that grow in the absence of free oxygen and derive oxygen from breaking down complex Floc — The agglomeration of smaller particles in a substances. gelatinous mass that can be more easily removed from the liquid than the individual small particles. Biological Oxidation—The process by which bacteria and other types of microorganisms consume dissolved oxygen Flocculation—The coming together of coalescing of minute and organic substances in waste water, using the energy particles in a liquid. released to convert organic carbon into carbon dioxide and cellular material. Grit—Heavy, inorganic matter, such as sand or pebbles. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) — a quantitative Infection — Introduction of presence of pathogenic measure of the oxygen needed by bacteria and organisms in potable water supply. This is determined in microorganisms for the biological oxidation of organic two ways: wastes in a unit volume of waste water. BOD is generally measured in milligrams per liter (mg/1) of oxygen consumed 1. Bacterial count — number of bacteria developed under over a five-day period. Although complete biological controlled conditions after 25 hours incubation period. decomposition of organic waste requires about 20 days, the In unpolluted waters count is frequently less than 10 five-day BOD is about two-thirds of the total oxygen required per milliliter. and, therefore, is a practical measure of waste 2. Coliform Index — Escherichia Coli is an organism concentration. In waste treatment language, BOD is most normally found in intestinal tract of man and animals frequently stated as the percentage removed during but rare elsewhere. Indicators of this organism family treatment,or remaining after treatment. most reliable as index of pollution, purification efficiency and potability of water. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) — A quantitative measure of the amount of oxygen required to oxidize all Inorganic Material — Material that will not respond to organic compounds in a unit volume on waste water— non- biological action (sand, cinders, stone). Non-volatile fraction biodegradable as well as the BOD. The COD level can be of solids. determined more readily than BOD, but this measurement does not indicate how much of the waste can be Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) - A decomposed by biological oxidation. suspended growth system that provides additional biomass within a wastewater treatment system to meet more Chlorination—The application of chlorine to water, sewage, stringent effluent parameters or increased loadings. or industrial wastes, generally for the purpose of disinfection, but frequently for accomplishing other biological Mechanical Aeration—Method of aeration. or chemical results.