Water Terms & Glossary

Commonly Used Water Terms M - R

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M
MAGNESIUM One of the elements making up the earth's crust. Magnesium compounds, when dissolved in water, make the water hard. The presence of magnesium in water is a factor contributing to the formation of scale and insoluble soap curds.
MANGANESE An element sometimes found dissolved in ground water, usually with dissolved iron but in lower concentrations; causes black stains and other problems similar to iron.
MANGANESE GREENSAND Greensand which has been processed to incorporate in its pores and on its surface the higher oxides of manganese. The product has a mild oxidizing power and is often used in the oxidation and precipitation of iron, manganese and/or hydrogen sulfide and in their removal from water.
MEDIA The selected materials in a filter that form the barrier to the passage of certain suspended solids or dissolved molecules.
MEDIUM Singular form of media.
MG/L The abbreviation for milligrams per liter.
MICRON A linear measure equal to one millionth of a meter.
MICRON RATING The term applied to a filter to indicate the particle size of suspended solids that will be removed. As used in industry standards. this is an "absolute" not "nominal" rating.
MILLIGRAM PER LITER (mg/I) A unit concentration of matter used in reporting the results of water and waste water analyses. In diluted water solutions. it is practically equal to the part per million, but varies from the ppm in concentrated solutions such as brine. As most analyses are performed on measured volumes of water, the mg/l is a more accurate expression of the concentration. and is the preferred unit of measure.
MILLIMICRON A unit of length equal to one thousandth of a micron, often used to express the wavelength of colors of visible light in colorimetric analytical procedures. The symbol for the millimicron is "mu."
MINERAL A term applied to inorganic substances (such as rocks and similar matter) found in the earth strata, as opposed to organic substances such as Plant and animal matter. Minerals normally have definite chemical composition and crystal structure. 'The term is also applied to matter derived from minerals. such as the inorganic ions found in water. The term has been incorrectly applied to ion exchangers, even though most of the modern materials are organic ion exchange resins.
MOLE The molecular weight of a chemical compound expressed in grams.
MOLECULE The simplest combination of atoms that will form a specific chemical compound; the smallest particle of a substance which will still retain the essential composition and properties of that substance, and which can be broken down only into atoms and simpler substances.
MOST PROBABLE NUMBER (MPN) The term used to indicate the number of organisms which, according to statistical theory, would be most likely to produce the results observed in certain bacteriological tests; usually expressed as a number in 100 ml of water.
N
NEGATIVE CHARGE The electrical charge on an electrode or ion in solution due to the presence of an excess of electrons.
NEUTRAL In electrical systems. the term used to indicate neither an excess nor a lack of electrons; a condition of balance between positive and negative charges. In chemistry. the term used to indicate a balance between acids and bases; the neutral point on the pH scale is 7.0. indicating the presence of equal numbers of free hydrogen (acidic) and hydroxide (basic) ions.
NEUTRALIZATION In general the addition of either an acid or a base to a solution as required to produce a neutral solution. The use of alkaline or basic materials to neutralize the acidity of some waters is a common practice in water conditioning.
NONCARBONATE HARDNESS Water hardness due to the presence of compounds such as calcium and magnesium chlorides, sulfates or nitrates; the excess of total hardness over total alkalinity.
O
OPERATING PRESSURE The range of pressure, usually expressed in pounds per square inch. over which a water conditioning device or water system is designed to function.
OSMOSIS A process of diffusion of a solvent (such as water) through a semi-permeable membrane which will transmit the solvent but impede most dissolved substances. The normal flow of solvent is from the dilute solution to the concentrated solution.
OXIDATION A chemical process in which electrons are removed from an atom. ion or compound. The addition of oxygen is a specific form of oxidation. Combustion is an extremely rapid form of oxidation, while the rusting of iron is a slow form.
P
PARTICLE SIZE As used in industry standards, the size of a particle suspended in wat.er as determined by its smallest dimension. usually expressed in microns.
PARTS PER MILLION (ppm) A common basis for reporting the results of water and waste water analyses, indicating the number of parts by weight of a dissolved or suspended constituent. per million parts by weight of water or other solvent. In dilute water solutions. one part per million is practically equal to one milligram per liter. which is the preferred unit.
PATHOGEN An organism which may cause disease.
PERMANENT HARDNESS Water hardness due to the presence of the chlorides and sulfates of calcium and magnesium, which will not be precipitated by boiling. This term is largely replaced by IInoncarbonate hardness. 01 pH: The reciprocal of the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale is from zero to 14. and 7.0 is the neutral point. indicating the presence of equal concentrations of free hydrogen and hydroxide ions. pH values below 7.0 indicate increasing acidity. and pH values above 7.0 indicate increasing base concentrations.
PH The reciprocal of the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale is from zero to 13, and 7.0 is the neutral point, indicating the presence of equal concentrations of free hydrogen and hydroxide ions, pH values below 7.0 indicate increasing acidity, and pH values above 7.0 indicate increasing base concentrations.
PORTABLE EXCHANGE A term applied to water softeners and filters which are designed for connection to a water system with special fittings, and disconnection and transport to a central station or plant for regeneration or servicing.
POSITIVE CHARGE The electrical charge on an electrode or ion in solution due to the removal of electrons.
PPM The abbreviation for part per million.
PRECIPITATE To cause a dissolved substance to form a solid particle which can be removed by settling or filtering, such as in the removal of dissolved iron by oxidation, precipitation, and filtration. The term is also used to refer to the solid formed. and to the condensation of water in the atmosphere to form rain or snow.
PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL The difference in pressure between two points in a system due to differences in elevation and/or pressure drop due to flow.
PRESSURE DROP A decrease in water pressure during flow due to internal friction between molecules of water, and external friction due to irregularities or roughness in surfaces past which the water flows.
R
RATED CAPACITY The basis for calculating the number of gallons delivered by a water softener between regenerations. or amount of time between servicing of a filter. as determined under specific test conditions.
RATED PRESSURE DROP The pressure drop of a freshly regenerated and/ or backwashed water softener or filter at the rated service flow. with clean water at a temperature of 60 F. as determined under standard test conditions.
RATED SERVICE FLOW The manufacturer's specified maximum flow rate at which a water softener will deliver soft water. or a filter will deliver quality water (as specified for its type) as determined under standard test conditions. A manufacturer may also specify a minimum flow rate or a range of service flows.
RATED SOFTENER CAPACITY A water softener capacity rating based on grains of hardness removed while producing soft water between successive regenerations. and related to the pounds of salt required for each regeneration as determined under standard test conditions.
RAW WATER Untreated water or any water before it reaches a specific water treatment device or process.
RED WATER Water which has a reddish or brownish appearance due to the presence of precipitated iron and/or iron bacteria.
REDUCTION A chemical process in which electrons are added to an at < gn. ion or compound.
REGENERANT A solution of chemical compound used to restore the capacity of an ion exchange system. Sodium chloride brine is used as a regenerant for ion exchange water softeners; acids and bases are used as regenerants for the cation and anion resins used in demineralization.
REGENERATION In general, includes the backwash, brine, and fresh water rinse steps necessary to prepare a water softener exchange bed for service after exhaustion. Specifically, the term may be applied to the "brine" step in which the sodium chloride solution is passed through the exchanger bed. The term may also be used for similar operations relating to demineralizers and certain filters.
REGENERATION LEVEL The quantity of regenerant used in regeneration of an ion exchange unit or system, usually expressed in pounds per regeneration and/ or pounds per regeneration per cubic foot of ion exchange.
RESIDUAL The amount of a specific material remaining in the water following a water treatment process. May refer to material remaining as a result of incomplete removal (see Leakage) or to material meant to remain in the treated water (see Residual Chlorine).
RESIDUAL CHLORINE The amount of chlorine found in the water after treatment.
RESIN Synthetic organic ion exchange material, such as the high capacity cation exchange resin widely used in water softeners.
REVERSE DEIONIZATION The use of the anion exchange resin ahead of the cation exchange resin (the reverse of the usual order) in a deionization system.
REVERSE OSMOSIS A process for the removal of dissolved ions from water. in which pressure is used to force the water through a semi-permeable membrane. which will transmit the water but reject most other dissolved materials.

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Water Terms & Glossary

Commonly Used Water Terms M - R

MAGNESIUM

MANGANESE

MANGANESE GREENSAND

MEDIA

MEDIUM

MG/L

MICRON

MICRON RATING

MILLIGRAM PER LITER (mg/I)

MILLIMICRON

MINERAL

MOLE

MOLECULE

MOST PROBABLE NUMBER (MPN)

NEGATIVE CHARGE

NEUTRAL

NEUTRALIZATION

NONCARBONATE HARDNESS

OPERATING PRESSURE

OSMOSIS

OXIDATION

PARTICLE SIZE

PARTS PER MILLION (ppm)

PATHOGEN

PERMANENT HARDNESS

PH

PORTABLE EXCHANGE

POSITIVE CHARGE

PPM

PRECIPITATE

PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL

PRESSURE DROP

RATED CAPACITY

RATED PRESSURE DROP

RATED SERVICE FLOW

RATED SOFTENER CAPACITY

RAW WATER

RED WATER

REDUCTION

REGENERANT

REGENERATION

REGENERATION LEVEL

RESIDUAL

RESIDUAL CHLORINE

RESIN

REVERSE DEIONIZATION

REVERSE OSMOSIS