Know your Water Terms (Glossary)

Words used every day in the Bottled Water Business.

Alkaline (Water) This has a pH of 8.5 and greater and taste bitter or different from your bottled water.

This can also change the taste of anything you use it in, like coffee or tea.Is It Safe?

Unless you have a kidney disease, alkaline water doesn't pose any serious health risks.

The high pH could make your skin dry and itchy or cause an upset stomach, but that's about all. Just because it's safe, though, doesn't mean it does anything for you.

Apple Juice – 3; Orange Juice - 3.5; Coffee - 5.5; Milk - 6.2;Drinking Water 6.5 to 8.

Alkaline ph 8 to 12 Examples :- Baking Soda - 8.5; Soapy water – 10; Bleach 12

Read more about Alkaline Water here == >>

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-alkaline-water#2

https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/how-to-easily-make-alkaline-water-at-home/

Algae:-

Algae is part of a diverse group of aquatic organisms that has the ability to conduct photosynthesis. Examples of Algae are seaweeds, pond scum or the algal blooms in lakes and slime in “still” water environments. The term "algae" covers many different organisms capable of producing oxygen through photosynthesis (the process of harvesting light energy from the sun to generate carbohydrates).

Aquifer:-

An aquifer is a layer of porous substrate that contains and transmits groundwater. When water can flow directly between the surface and the saturated zone of an aquifer, the aquifer is unconfined. The deeper parts of unconfined aquifers are usually more saturated since gravity causes water to flow downward.

Anti scalant:-

An Anti scalant is a chemical used to prevent the scaling & fouling of the RO membranes. Scale may consist of mineral fouling such as calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, silica, calcium fluoride, and strontium sulfate. The Antiscalant dosing is done before reaching the RO membranes to break up sulfate precipitates, calcium carbonate, and other mineral fouling

Backwash:-

The pumping of water backwards through the filters media to clear any built up of sediments.

Backwashing is a form of preventive maintenance to extend the life of the filters.

Contamination:-

Contamination is the presence of impurity, or some other undesirable element that spoils, corrupts, infects, makes unfit, or makes inferior a material, physical body, natural environment. Water can be contaminated in several ways. It can contain microorganisms like bacteria and parasites that get in the water from human or animal feces. It can contain chemicals from industrial waste or from spraying crops. Nitrates used in fertilizers can enter the water with runoff from the land. Various minerals such as lead or mercury can enter the water supply, sometimes from natural deposits underground, or more often from improper disposal.

Groundwater contamination occurs when man-made products such as gasoline, oil, road salts and chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to become unsafe and unfit for human use.

Materials from the land's surface can move through the soil and end up in the groundwater. For example, pesticides and fertilizers can find their way into groundwater supplies over time. Road salt, toxic substances from mining sites, and used motor oil also may seep into groundwater. In addition, it is possible for untreated waste from septic tanks and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks and leaky landfills to contaminate groundwater.

NSF (National Science Foundation) The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare. NSF is vital because it supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.

Coliform:-

Coliform bacteria are a group of 16 species of bacteria used to indicate water quality. These species are broken down into three groups: Total coliform, Fecal coliform, and E. coli.

Read more about Coliform Bacteria here :-

https://www.culligannation.com/coliform-bacteria/

Coliform : Coliform is a bacteria that is present in nature and occurs in all human and animal waste. Coliform bacteria in drinking water can indicate a possible presence of harmful, disease-causing organisms. These organisms are called pathogens and can be viruses, protozoa or bacteria. Common examples of these pathogens are dysentery and hepatitis.

Coliform is considered a water quality indicator because it can be associated with the sources of pathogens. To test for all the pathogens would be extremely expensive, so Coliform is used as a simple broad test that is economical. Specific testing for independent pathogens is generally done only when an outbreak of a waterborne disease occurs. Animal feces, raw surface water, soil and decaying plants normally contain varying amounts of coliform.These bacteria can migrate into well water and cause the water to become biologically polluted. Water that is found to contain coliform is considered unsafe to drink and must be treated.

Total Coliform:- Total Coliform Bacteria is commonly found in the soil or vegetation and typically harmless. If only total coliform is found in the drinking water, the source is generally environmental and fecal contamination is not very likely. Total Coliforms: Water containing Total Coliforms may be unsafe to drink Total Coliforms are a group of bacteria commonly found in animal waste, sewage, soil and vegetation. They are also found in the intestines of animals and humans. Total Coliforms are not likely to cause illness, but their presence indicates that your water supply may have been contaminated by more harmful microorganisms.

Chlorine is a chemical that is used to disinfect water. In addition to disinfection, chlorine can be effectively used to oxidize iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide to facilitate their removal, to reduce color in water, and to aid in such treatment processes as sedimentation and filtration.

Read more about Chlorination of water here== >>

https://www.purewaterproducts.com/articles/types-of-chlorine-used-in-water-treatment

G A C (Granulated Activated Carbon)

G A C (Granulated Activated Carbon) is natural media (granules) used to catalytically reduce/remove chlorine from water by taking away the reactive oxygen.

Ground Water

Ground Water is the water present beneath Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. Groundwater is recharged from the surface; it may discharge from the surface naturally at springs and seeps, and can form oases or wetlands. Groundwater is also often withdrawn for agricultural, municipal, and industrial use by constructing and operating extraction wells.

H A C C P: -

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point ~ This is an internationally recognized system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food. A HACCP System requires that potential hazards are identified and controlled at specific points in the process. Hazards can be grouped into three categories; Biological, Chemical and Physical Hazards. Any company involved in manufacturing, processing or handling of food products can use HACCP to minimize or eliminate food safety hazards in their product.

Hazard:-

A hazard is any object, situation, or behavior that has the potential to cause injury, ill health, or damage to property or the environment. Health and safety hazards exist in every workplace. It is something that is dangerous and likely to cause injury, a health problem or damage. Hazards could be Physical, Biological, Chemical, Ergonomic,

Hardness (Water – Hardness)

Hardness (Water – Hardness) This is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water.

Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, largely calcium and magnesium.

Hardness is caused by compounds of calcium and magnesium, and by a variety of

other metals. General guidelines for classification of waters are: 0 to 60 mg/L

(milligrams per liter) as calcium carbonate is classified as soft; 61 to 120 mg/L as

moderately hard; 121 to 180 mg/L as hard; and more than 180 mg/L as very hard.

Water systems using groundwater as a source are concerned with water hardness, since as water moves through soil and rock it dissolves small amounts of naturally-occurring minerals and carries them into

the groundwater supply. Water is a great solvent for calcium and magnesium, so if the minerals are present in the soil around a water-supply well, hard water may be delivered to homes.

Read more about Water Hardness here == >>

https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/hardness-water?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

Micron Filters:-

This is a Water Filter used to remove debris from water. 40 to 90 Microns = Diameter of a Human Hair.

https://www.commercialfiltrationsupply.com/education/a-better-understanding-of-micron-ratings.html

Manganese:-

Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral that is present in soils and rocks.

It is a beneficial mineral found abundantly in many common grains and

vegetables. It is essential to human nutrition, but in water it is generally regarded

as unhealthy for humans in concentrations of as little as 0.5 parts per million.

In general, manganese is difficult to remove from water because removal depends on its state of oxidation, the pH of the water, the presence of other minerals, and the TDS (total dissolved solids) of the water being treated. Another complication is that manganese often appears along with iron and hydrogen sulfide.

Evidence of manganese is often first seen in dishwashers because detergents raise the pH of the water high enough (>8) to allow manganese to precipitate (come out of solution and take on a solid, visible form). Another place to look for manganese is in toilet tanks, where it often appears as a floating film on the surface of the water. Shining a flashlight on the surface of the water makes the manganese film more obvious.

Learn more about Manganese here == >>

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325636#summary

https://www.purewaterproducts.com/articles/treating-manganese-in-well-water

Membranes:-

Membranes are made of polymer (a substance which has a molecular structure built up chiefly or completely from a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g. many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins.) They act as a barrier to separate contaminants from water, or they remove the particles contaminating the water.

https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-is-a-filter-membrane-and-how-does-it-work

Permeate:-

Water that has been processes through a R O membrane, and to drink.

Pollutant:-

A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. A pollutant may cause long- or short-term damage by changing the growth rate of plant or animal species, or by interfering with human amenities, comfort, health, or property values. Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will not persist in the environment in the long term.

PH (Potential Hydrogen)

PH (Potential Hydrogen) The pH of water is a “value”/measure that is applied to the composition of drinking water that determines if the water is “soft or hard / Acidic or Alkaline. The normal range for pH in

surface water systems is 6.5 to 8.5, and the pH range for groundwater systems is between 6 and 8.5. Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of the water to resist a change in pH that would tend to make the water more acidic. It’s necessary to use the measurement of alkalinity and pH to determine the corrosiveness of the water.

R O (Reverse Osmosis):-

This is a water purification process that uses a partially permeable membrane to remove ions, unwanted molecules and larger particles from drinking water. In reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to the membranes where about 99.9% of all contaminants because your water supply can have fluoride, chlorine, bacteria, iron, harmful dissolved chemicals, heavy metals, or sediment are removed. Filtering your water with an RO system and water softener is a great way to get rid of the unhealthy matter in water supply.

Sanitize:-

This is a process of using a liquid, gel, or foam generally used to decrease infectious agents on the hands. It also a means to clean something by removing the dirt or destroying the germs on it.

Sodium: -

Sodium is a mineral found in most of the foods we eat. The largest source of dietary sodium comes from sodium chloride or table salt. Intake of sodium tends to increase the retention of water.

Health effects of sodium

Sodium is a compound of many foodstuffs, for instance of common salt. It is necessary for humans to maintain the balance of the physical fluids system. Sodium is also required for nerve and muscle functioning. Too much sodium can damage our kidneys and increases the chances of high blood pressure.
The amount of sodium a person consumes each day varies from individual to individual and from culture to culture; some people get as little as 2 g/day, some as much as 20 grams. Sodium is essential, but controversely surrounds the amount required.

Contact of sodium with water, including perspiration causes the formation of sodium hydroxide fumes, which are highly irritating to skin, eyes, nose and throat. This may cause sneezing and coughing. Very severe exposures may result in difficult breathing, coughing and chemical bronchitis. Contact to the skin may cause itching, tingling, thermal and caustic burns and permanent damage. Contact with eyes may result in permanent damage and loss of sight.

Salinity

Salinity The term salinity refers to the amount of dissolved salts that are present in water. Salts are compounds like sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate, and

sodium bicarbonate which dissolve into ions.

Spring:-

Spring is the point of natural groundwater discharge to a soil surface, river, or lake.

Surface Water

Surface Water is water located on top of the Earth's surface such as rivers, creeks, and wetlands. This may also be referred to as blue water. The vast majority is produced by precipitation and water runoff from nearby areas. As the climate warms in the spring, snowmelt runs off towards nearby streams and rivers contributing towards a large portion of our drinking water.

TDS (Total Dissolved Solid)

TDS (Total Dissolved Solid ) (TDS) is a water quality parameter defining the concentration of dissolved organic and inorganic chemicals in water. After suspended solids are filtered from water and water is evaporated, dissolved solids are the remaining residue.

Dissolved solids commonly found in water are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride and silica. Total dissolved solid concentrations depend on the geologic material water passes through in the saturated and unsaturated zone, and the quality of the infiltrating water. Total dissolved solid contents range from less that 100 ppm in the Small streams to greater than 1,000 ppm

Read more on Water Terminology at the following Links:-

https://www.water-research.net/index.php/glossary

https://nuwater.com/water-purification-terms/

https://www.wef.org/resources/for-the-public/public-information/glossary/

https://www.worldatlas.com/h2oterms.htm

https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/glossary.htm

Link to Water Science School

https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/surface-water

Turbidity:-

Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in the

air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality.

Turbidity: Turdidity is a measure of the cloudiness or opaqueness of the water and is measured in nephelometric turbidity units (ntu). The turbidity is influenced by the amount and nature of suspended organic and inorganic material in water. Typically, the higher the concentration of the suspended material the greater the turbidity. The value of 1 ntu is recommend for drinking water, since higher turbidities could cause aesthetic problems or inhibit the ability of a system to disinfect the water. The source of turbidity could be fine sand, silt, and clay (i.e., soil separates); organic material, particles of iron and manganese or other metal oxides, rust from corroding piping, or carbonate precipitates. Turbidity measurements are typically not made on surface water sources - see Total suspended solids.

Water Softener:-

A Water Softener is a solution (non harmful chemical) that is used in the water

purification process to breakdown and remove of calcium, magnesium, and certain

other metals in hard water. The resulting soft water requires less soap for the

same cleaning effort, as soap is not wasted bonding with calcium ions. Soft

water also extends the lifetime of plumbing by reducing or

eliminating scale build-up in pipes and fittings. Water softening is usually

achieved using lime softening or ion-exchange resins but is increasingly being

accomplished using Nano filtration or reverse osmosis membranes.

Water Table:-

This is an underground boundary between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. The water table separates the groundwater zone that lies below it from the capillary fringe, or zone of aeration, that lies above it. The water table fluctuates both with the seasons and from year to year because it is affected by climatic variations and by the amount of precipitation used by vegetation. It also is affected by withdrawing excessive amounts of water from wells or by recharging them artificially.

Water borne Bacteria:-

Waterborne diseases are conditions caused by pathogenic (infectious agent such as a virus) micro-organisms that are transmitted in water. These diseases can be spread while bathing, washing, drinking water, or by eating food exposed to contaminated water. While diarrhea and vomiting are the most commonly reported symptoms of waterborne illness, other symptoms can include skin, ear, respiratory, or eye problems.

Watersheds

Watersheds are regional basins drained by or contributing water to a particular point, stream, river, lake or ocean. Watersheds range in size from a few acres to large areas of the country.

Words used every day in the Bottled Water Business.

Alkaline (Water) This has a pH of 8.5 and greater and taste bitter or different from your bottled water. This can also change the taste of anything you use it in, like coffee or tea.Is It Safe?

Unless you have a kidney disease, alkaline water doesn't pose any serious health risks. The high pH could make your skin dry and itchy or cause an upset stomach, but that's about all. Just because it's safe, though, doesn't mean it does anything for you.