Glossary
|
absorption |
The taking in of a gas or liquid. Many substances absorb water and reform, e.g. flour and water into paste |
|
aquifer |
A layer of permeable rock under the ground which can hold water in cracks and pores |
|
archimedes |
Greek scientist who developed the principle that a floating object displaces it own weight when put in liquid |
|
atom |
The smallest particle of an element, made up of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. A water molecule is made up of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms |
| backflow | The flow of liquid or contaminant back into the water supply. This can be caused by a drop in pressure in the mains or by back pressure. |
|
bacteria |
Microscopic organisms which help in treating and purifying sewage |
|
biosolids |
Treated and dried sewage sludge |
|
boiling point |
The temperature at which a liquid becomes a gas. The boiling point of water is 100oC when it becomes steam |
|
borehole |
A deep well from which underground water can be pumped |
|
buoyancy |
The ability of something to float |
|
chlorine |
A gas which is added to domestic water supplies to kill bacteria |
|
condensation |
The process by which a gas turns to a liquid, e.g. steam condenses into water droplets |
| connection | Wastewater - where our wastewater pipe is outside your property the connection is deemed to be at the property boundary. Where our wastewater pipe is within your property the conection is the junction on our line. Water - the connection is the edge of the meter box on the property side or where the meter is above ground where the pipe goes underground. |
|
dam |
A barrier built across a river or stream to hold back water and create a lake or reservoir |
|
density |
How much something weighs for its size or the mass of a substance. Water has a density of 1kg per litre |
|
detergent |
A substance used for cleaning made from the byproducts of oil and coal |
|
disinfection |
A process by which harmful bacteria are killed off |
|
dissolve |
The way in which a solid is made into a liquid. Water can dissolve more substance that any other liquid |
|
evaporation |
The reverse of condensation, it’s the process by which a liquid becomes a gas. When water is heated it will begin to evaporate as water vapour |
|
filtration |
The removal of particles from a liquid by passing it through different materials |
|
gas |
A substance in which molecules have lots of space between then and move freely |
|
geyser |
A natural fountain of hot water which spurts from underground, often found near volcanoes |
|
groundwater |
Water naturally stored underground in aquifers. The source of much of the world’s water supply |
| gully trap | a gully trap is a raised drain with a grill which recieves wastewater from pipes inside the building. |
|
hail |
Lumps of ice that form in storm clouds |
|
humidity |
The amount of moisture in the atmosphere |
|
hydroelectricity |
Electricity generated from the energy of moving water |
|
impermeable |
A substance which does not allow water to pass through |
|
irrigation |
The digging of ditches and streams to water land which is naturally dry |
|
liquid |
A substance in which molecules have some movement. They move less freely than in gas but more freely than in solids |
|
meanders |
The twists and turns of a river, usually found on the flat land at the bottom of a valley |
|
megalitre |
1,000 cubic metres or 1 million litres of a liquid |
|
melting point |
The temperature at which a solid becomes liquid, e.g. ice turns into water at 0oC |
| meter | the meter used for measuring the volume of water supplied by us to your property. This includes any backflow prevention device that forms part of, or is attached to, the meter. Manukau Water Limited own all the meters which are attached to your water supply network |
|
meterology |
The scientific study of weather |
|
microbe |
The general name for any organism so small it can only be seen through a microscope |
|
molecule |
See atom |
|
organism |
The general name for any plant or animal. A micro-organism is a very small living creature or plant which lives in water and is unclassified |
|
ozone |
A reactive form of oxygen used with chlorine to destroy harmful bacteria |
|
permeable |
Rock which allows water to pass through cracks and joints |
|
pollution |
The fouling or contamination of a natural environment such as water by harmful waste products |
|
porous |
Rock which allows water to pass through its pores |
|
pothole |
Pits / deep holes formed in the bed of a river by the swirling action of water and stones |
|
precipitation |
Water falling to Earth as rain, snow or hail |
|
reservoir |
An artificial lake used for storing water |
|
saline |
A solution of salt and water |
|
service reservoir |
An underground reservoir used for storing treated water |
|
sewage |
Liquid water containing food, human waste, detergents etc |
|
sewerage |
The network of pipes and pumps that carries the dirty water for treatment |
|
sludge |
The solids which settle out of wastewater when sewage is treated |
|
solid |
A substance in which the molecules are pressed tightly together |
|
solution |
The mixture of one substance inside another. The substance which dissolves is the solute and substance which causes the dissolving is the solvent |
|
spring |
A natural flow of water from underground to the earth’s surface |
|
steam |
Tiny droplets of water in the air caused by water reaching boiling point |
| stormwater | means rain. This includes rain which has run off the land and hard, “impervious“ surfaces like roads, roofs and car parks |
|
temperature |
A measurement usually in degrees Celsius, (oC) which shows how hot or cold something is. The boiling point of water is 100oC and the freezing point is 0oC |
| trade wastes | means any liquid, with or without matters in suspension or in solution therein, which are being or may be discharged in the course of any trade or industrial process or operation or in the course of any activity or process or operation of a like nature or from business premises such as abattoirs or saleyards; but does not include: (a) condensing water; or (b) surface water which is discharged direct to a surface drain. |
|
turbine |
A machine with many blades used to create electricity. Rushing water is used to turn blades, which in turn rotate the shaft of an electric generator |
|
upthrust |
The force pushing against an object which is suspended in liquid or gas and which causes it to float |
|
volume |
The amount of space taken up by a substance or object |
| wastewater | wastewater - other than stormwater or trade wastes. (Trade wastes are as defined in the Auckland Regional Councils Trade Waste Bylaw 1991) |
| wastewater network | all pipes, pumping stations and other assets which we use to provide wastewater services to our customers |
|
wastewater treatment plant |
Where wastewater is filtered and cleaned before it is returned to rivers or the sea |
| water | water suitable for drinking and ordinary domestic use, but does not include water requiring enhanced treatment for horticulture, industrial or other specialised applications |
| water supply network | all pipes, pumping stations, meters, valves and other assets which are used by Manukau Water Limited to supply waste to our customers |
|
water treatment plant |
Where water is cleaned and disinfected before use |
|
water cycle |
A never ending cycle by which water passes from the oceans to the clouds back to the Earth and into the oceans again |
|
water proofing/repellent |
A substance which will not dissolve in water and can be painted onto a fabric so water will not pass through its fibres |
|
water vapour |
Invisible water droplets in the air. The amount of water vapour held by the air reduces as the temperature drops |