Below are terms and acronyms frequently encountered in BWA operations.
Use CTRL-F in your browser to search for a specific term.
AA
Atomic absorption.
AOC
Assimilable organic carbon. This is a concern in distribution systems — a high concentration of AOC may result in re-growth of microorganisms in the distribution system. A parallel measurement to BDOC.
AOP
Advanced oxidation process
ASTM
American Society for Testing Materials
AWWA
American Water Works Association
AWWARF
American Water Works Association Research Foundation
BAT
Best available technology.
BCAA
Bromo-chioro-acetic acid.
BDL
Below detection limit. If a contaminant is measured in a concentration lower than the method can be accurately used, it is considered BDL. Often, values reported as BDL are reported as zero. See MDL.
BDOC
Biodegradable organic carbon. This is a concern in distribution systems — a high concentration of BDOC may result in re-growth of microorganisms in the distribution system. A parallel measurement to AOC.
BF
Baffling factor. The BF is used to account for potential short circuiting when calculating the effective contact time for calculating CT.
BOD
Biological oxygen demand. Usually used in waste water applications. This is a measure of how much oxygen will be used up by the biological components present in water.
CCP
Composite correction program. This is the EPA evaluation and adjustment program which includes the CPE and CTA processes.
CCPP
Calcium carbonate precipitation potential. This describes the extent to which a water may tend to form calcium carbonate scale on surfaces such as pipes.
CDBAA
Chlorodibromoacetic acid
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
COD
Chemical oxygen demand. Usually used in waste water applications. This is a measure of how much oxygen will be used up by the chemical components present in water.
CPE
Comprehensive plant evaluation. This is the extensive evaluation process designed to determine what specific factors are limiting a plant’s ability to achieve optimized performance. The CPE is part of the EPA’s composite correction program (CCP).
CT
Contact time (Disinfectant concentration times contact time). This is the value which describes the effectiveness of a given level of disinfectant in a given unit process.
CTA
Comprehensive technical assistance. An intensive period of technical assistance to a plant, in which technical skills are transferred to the plant operators. CTA is part of the EPA’s composite correction program (CCP).
CWS
Community water system
DAF
Dissolved air flotation
DBP
Disinfection by-product
DBP 1R
Stage 1 Disinfection By-Product Rule
DBPFP
Disinfection by-product formation potential. The tendency ofa natural water to form disinfection by-products.
DBPP
Disinfection by-product precursor. Molecules present in natural water that will tend to form disinfection by-products when the water is disinfected. EPA is using total organic carbon (TOC) and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) as surrogates for DBPP.
DBPR
Disinfection By-Product Rule
DCAA
Dichloroacetic acid
DI
Deionized
DOC
Dissolved organic carbon. This is a group parameter which measures the total amount of carbon present in organic molecules in the water in a dissolved form. Basically, it is done on the same machine as total organic carbon (TOC) but the sample is filtered before analysis.
DOX
Dissolved organic halogen. This is a group parameter which measures the total amount of organic carbon which has halogen molecules attached to it present in the water in a dissolved form. The halogens of interest are bromine and chlorine. Iodine and fluorine are generally not of interest in this context.
EBCT
Empty bed contact time
EC
Enhanced coagulation
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
ES
Enhanced softening
ESWTR
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
FACA
Federal Advisory Committee Act
FP
Formation potential (as in: DBPFP)
G
Velocity gradient G is used to calculate the energy transferred to water in a mixing process.
GAC
Granular activated carbon. GAC is a form of carbon that has been “activated” using heat so that each grain contains many pores. The surface area of a gram of GAC is the size of a football field. Because of this high surface area, the number of sites upon which contaminants can adsorb is much greater than for other filter media such as sand.
GC
Gas chromatograph
HAA
Haloacetic acid (a DBP) There are nine different HAAs.
HAA5
Haloacetic acid – group of5. The Stage 1 Disinfection By-Product Rule includes a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for the sum of five HAAs. These are monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), dichioroacetic acid (DCAA), trichioroacetic acid (TCAA), monobromoacetic acid (MBAA), and dibromoacetic acid (DBAA).
HAAFP
Haloacetic acid formation potential. The theoretical maximum amount of HAA a water can form.
HDT
Hydraulic detention time.
HLR
Hydraulic loading rate for filters (see SLR).