Water Glossary: C

calcium carbonate	A powder occurring in nature in various forms, as calcite, chalk, and limestone, which is used in polishes and the manufacture of lime and cement
capillarity	The process by which water rises through rock, sediment or soil caused by the cohesion between water molecules and an adhesion between water and other materials that "pulls" the water upward.
carcinogen	A substance that tends to produce cancer
centrifuge	A mechanical device that uses centrifugal or rotational forces separate substances of different densities, such as solids from liquids or liquids from other liquids.
cesspool	A covered hole or pit for receiving sewage.
CFS	cubic Feet Per Second.
chemical	(1) Related to the science of chemistry; (2) a substance characterized by a definite chemical molecular composition
chloramination	the treatment of a substance, such as drinking water, with chlorine and ammonia (chloramines) in order to kill disease-causing organisms.
chloride (Cl-)	One of the major anions commonly found in water and wastewater. Its presence is often determined by ion chromatographic or volumetric analysis. Consumers who drink water with concentrations of chloride exceeding a secondary maximum contaminant level of 250 milligrams per liter may notice a salty taste.*
chlorination	The treatment of a substance, such as drinking water, with chlorine in order to kill disease-causing organisms.
chlorine (Cl)	A chemical element used as a disinfectant in drinking water and wastewater treatment processes.
chromium	A naturally occurring element found in air, soil, water, and food.
chromium VI	Aka "chrome 6." One of the most common species of chromium, chromium VI is known to cause cancer through exposure to airborne chromium compounds in industrial settings. The evidence of its carcinogenicity by ingestion is not compelling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that chromium VI was not carcinogenic by ingestion.
clarity	Clearness of liquid, as measured by a variety of methods.*
Clean Water Act	Water pollution control laws based upon the Federal Pollution Control Act of 1972 with amendments passed in 1977, 1981, and 1987; main objective is to restore and maintain the "chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters."
coagulation	The process, such as in treatment of drinking water, by which dirt and other suspended particles become chemically "stuck together" so they can be removed from water.
coliform bacteria	Bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, commonly found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. In sanitary bacteriology, these organisms are defined as all aerobic and facultative anaerobic, gram-negative, nonspore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria that ferment lactose with gas and acid formation within 48 hours at 95° Fahrenheit (35° Celsius).*
color	A physical characteristic describing the appearance of water (different from turbidity, which is the cloudiness of water). Color is frequently caused by fulvic and humic acids.*
condensation	Water vapor changing back into liquid.
condensation surfaces	Small particles of matter, such as dust and salt suspended in the atmosphere, which aid the condensation of water vapor in forming clouds.
conductivity	A measure of the ability of the water to conduct electrical current. It is used as a measure of the dissolved solids in the water.
cone of depression	The cone-shaped area formed when the spaces in the rock or soil are emptied as water is withdrawn from a well
confined aquifer	An aquifer that is bound above and below by dense layers of rock and contains water under pressure.
conjunctive Use	Storing imported water in a local aquifer, in conjunction with groundwater, for later retrieval and use.
conservation	Act of using the resources only when needed for the purpose of protecting from waste or loss of resources
contaminant	An impurity that causes air, soil, or water to be harmful to human health or the environment
corrosivity	An indication of the corrosiveness of water. The corrosiveness of water is described by the water's pH, alkalinity, hardness, temperature, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen concentration, and Langelier saturation index.*
cryptosporidium	A group of widespread intestinal coccidian protozoan parasites about 5 micrometers in diameter, causing diarrhea and capable of infecting humans, birds, fish, and snakes. It is responsible for waterborne disease outbreaks.
CT	The product of disinfectant concentration (in milligrams per liter) determined before or at the first customer and the corresponding disinfectant contact time (in minutes). It is also called the CT value. Units are milligram minutes per liter.
cubic foot	A frequent water industry term of measurement, as in cubic feet per second. One cubic foot (cf) equals 7.48 gallons. A cubic foot per second is 450 gallons per minute.
cyst	The infectious stage for Giardia, 7 to 10 micrometers long and refractile to light when viewed with a brightfield microscope.*
Previous \| Next