Water Filtration Terms

A

acidity— a characteristic that can make water corrosive and unpleasant; acidity must generally be corrected with neutralization

activated carbon— carbon which has been chemically treated to improve its adsorption properties and filtration capacity

adsorption— the process by which contaminants react with activated carbon and are removed from water

aeration— an oxidation process in which air is injected into water generally to convert an unwanted substance into a solid form that can be filtered

B

brine— the solution a water softener uses to clean its media bed of captured calcium and magnesium in preparation for service

brine drum— the brine preparation and holding tank on a water softener

C

calcite— the media used in a neutralization system to neutralize acidic water

carbon filtration— a common water filtration method which uses activated carbon to adsorb contaminants

chlorine— a common water disinfectant used by municipal water utilities

conditioned water— water free of dissolved calcium and magnesium (hardness minerals); also referred to as soft water

countercurrent regeneration — a type of regeneration in which the flow through a water conditioner is reversed during the cleaning process for greater effectiveness and efficiency

cryptosporidium— probably the most common and certainly the most notorious of a group of microorganisms called cysts; "crypto" was responsible for a major waterborne illness outbreak in Milwaukee in 1993

cysts— any of a group of microorganisms that include entamoeba, giardia and cryptosporidium; when ingested, cysts can cause gastrointestinal illness among others and often have more problematic effects on children, the elderly and people with immune deficiencies

D

demand-initiated regeneration (DIR) — a process in which regeneration is initiated based upon a household’s water use instead of at a preset interval

drinking water— the one percent of a household’s entire water use that is designated for drinking or food preparation; also referred to as food grade water

F

ferric iron — dissolved iron which has been oxidized and transformed into an orange particulate

ferrous iron — dissolved “clear” iron; often found in well water

H

hard water— water that contains dissolved calcium and magnesium

hardness— the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in a water sample, typically measured in grains per gallon (gpg)

hydrogen sulfide— an obnoxious gas with a "rotten egg" odor found in some water

I

ion exchange— a water softening process in which hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions

iron— a common element that is absorbed by water as it passes through the ground; iron is often found in well water and can cause rusty orange stains on clothing and household fixtures

L

lead— a tasteless, odorless water contaminant that may be leached from lead-based solder used to join pipes

M

manganese— iron’s close cousin commonly found in well water; manganese can cause black stains on clothing and household fixtures

N

neutralization— the process by which water’s acidity is adjusted to a neutral range; acidic water can be corrosive

O

oxidation— a process in which an oxidizer (commonly air or chlorine) reacts with a dissolved substance to convert it into a solid form that can be filtered

R

recovery rate— a measure of a reverse osmosis system’s efficiency; generally measured as amount of water produced divided by amount of water used; a rate of 25% is usually considered efficient

regeneration— a water conditioner’s cleaning cycle; the cycle prepares the system’s resin bed so it can soften water again

resin— tiny beads used by a water conditioner to soften water; the place where ion exchange occurs inside a water conditioner

reverse osmosis— a filtration method in which water is forced through a semi permeable membrane which rejects contaminants

S

scale— a hard, crusty substance that remains after hard water dries

soap scum— the substance which results from the reaction of the hardness minerals in water with common household soaps; usually evident as a bathtub ring or glass shower door film

soft water— water free of dissolved calcium and magnesium (hardness minerals); also referred to as conditioned water

solder— a substance used to join pipes; lead-based solder was outlawed in the late 1980s

source water— untreated water that is supplied to a home or business; source water is usually best for outdoor applications like watering lawns

T

turbidity— water cloudiness caused by suspended particles

V

volatile organic compounds — organic contaminants including commercial chemicals and pesticides; commonly referred to as VOC's

W

working water— the water used in a home for most general purposes including bathing and laundering