Plain-language definitions

Glossary

Plain-language definitions for common commercial water treatment and facility water systems terms.

Pretreatment

Treatment applied before the main process to protect equipment or improve performance.

Reverse osmosis

A membrane process that separates water into permeate and concentrate streams.

Recovery rate

The proportion of feed water produced as treated product water.

Reject water

The concentrate or waste stream from a membrane or treatment process.

Water softening

Removal or exchange of hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Activated carbon

A porous treatment medium used for certain compounds, tastes, odours and chlorine.

Ultraviolet treatment

Use of UV light in a properly designed system to inactivate microorganisms.

Total dissolved solids

A measure of dissolved substances in water.

Point of use

Treatment serving one fixture or outlet.

Point of entry

Treatment serving water as it enters a building or system.