WATER QUALITY BASICS
Term describing substances present in water and their effects on people and the environment.
What is water quality?
This physical parameter refers to the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles.
What is turbidity?
Chemical parameter indicating water’s ability to support aquatic life.
What is dissolved oxygen?
Materials fully mixed at the molecular or ionic level.
What are dissolved substances?
Living organisms in water that can cause health risks and fouling.
What are biological organisms?
Water quality depends on this factor, according to the slides.
What is intended use?
This physical parameter affects biological activity and reaction rates in water systems.
What is temperature?
Chemical parameter measuring oxygen used by microbes to break down organics.
What is biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)?
Collective measure of all dissolved materials in water.
What is total dissolved solids (TDS)?
Biological growth depends on nutrients, temperature, and this.
What is oxygen availability?
Three main types of parameters used to measure water quality.
What are physical, chemical, and biological parameters?
Physical qualities important for public acceptance of drinking water.
What are color, taste, and odor?
Chemical test that measures total organic matter, including nonbiodegradable
What is chemical oxygen demand (COD)?
Particles that do not dissolve and remain carried by flow.
What is suspended matter?
Large aquatic organisms attaching to system surfaces.
What is macrofouling?
Day 1 topic that explains composition and properties of substances.
What is basic chemistry?
This physical water quality measure is commonly evaluated before chemical testing.
What is physical appearance?
Parameter measured over five days at 20°C.
What is BOD₅?
Six impurity categories include soluble matter, insoluble matter, and this carbon-based group.
What are organic contaminants?
Indirect measure used to represent organic matter in water instead of identifying individual compounds.
What is total organic carbon (TOC)?
Concept stating mass is not created or destroyed in a system.
What is mass balance?
This physical condition can reduce disinfection effectiveness by shielding microorganisms.
What is high turbidity?
Chemical parameter commonly expressed as mg/L CaCO₃ that indicates mineral content causing scale formation.
What is hardness?
Electrical measurement often used as an indicator of TDS.
What is conductivity?
System problem caused by organisms, deposits, or debris that reduces heat transfer and flow.
What is fouling?