Resources

Appropriate treatment technology – the treatment technology required to address emerging constituents and pathogens in reclaimed water as part of a water recycling project.

Augmentation - the process of adding reclaimed water into a reservoir, lake, river, wetland and/or groundwater for the intentional purpose of beneficial reuse (does not include effluent disposal).

Beneficial reuse – the intentional use of reclaimed water for purposes that contribute to the water needs of the economy and/or environment of a community (does not include effluent disposal).

Biosolids – nutrient-rich organic material made from the stabilized sewage sludge of a wastewater treatment facility.

Direct potable reuse – the planned placement of highly treated potable recycled water directly into a drinking water treatment facility.

Disposal – the permitted discharge of treated wastewater to injection wells, surface water outfalls, subsurface drain systems and other facilities to safely release effluents into the environment.

Domestic wastewater- used water from washing food, dishes, clothes and bodies and for toilet flushing.

Effluent - treated wastewater that flows out of a treatment plant or industrial outfall into the environment.

Emerging constituents – any organic or inorganic chemicals, metals, salts, nutrients, extremely low concentrations of trace chemical constituents, such as pharmaceuticals, non-prescription drugs, personal care products, household chemicals, food additives, flame retardants, plasticizers or biocides.

Groundwater augmentation – the planned delivery or discharge of recycled water to groundwaters for the development of, or to supplement, public drinking water supply and is otherwise known as “indirect potable reuse” (does not include effluent disposal).

Groundwater recharge – water entering the aquifer; occurs naturally as part of the water cycle and/or is enhanced by using constructed facilities to add water into a groundwater basin.

Indirect potable reuse – the planned delivery or discharge of recycled water to surface and/or groundwater for the development of, or to supplement, public drinking water supply (does not include effluent disposal).

Industrial pretreatment program – some industrial wastewater requires pretreatment before it can be discharged into the wastewater system, while other industrial and commercial wastewaters are explicitly excluded from discharging to the wastewater system.

Industrial wastewater and commercial wastewater – liquid waste generated by industries, small businesses and commercial enterprises that can be discharged to a sewer upon approval of a regulating authority.

MGD – the abbreviation for million gallons per day which is used to describe the volumes of water treated and discharged from a treatment plant.

Nonpotable water – water that is not of drinking quality but may be used for other purposes.

Potable reuse – the use of highly treated recycled water that meets or exceeds federal and state drinking water standards for a municipal drinking water source.

Potable water – water that meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards.

Preliminary treatment – the first step in treating wastewater and usually uses physical barriers to remove objects. This process may occur in several stages, with the water flowing through bar screens that remove large objects to protect the mechanical systems used to pump the water through the rest of the treatment process.

Primary treatment – a process where solid matter is removed. The remaining liquid may be subjected to further treatment.

Raw water – surface or groundwater that has not gone through an approved water treatment process.

Raw water augmentation – the planned placement of recycled water directly into a drinking water treatment facility and is otherwise known as “direct potable reuse.”

Reclaimed water – highly treated wastewater that can be used for irrigation, industrial uses or other non-drinking water purposes.

Recycled water – water that has received advanced treatment for potable reuse projects.

Secondary treatment – a process where dissolved and suspended biological matter is removed to a nonpotable level so that the water may be disinfected and discharged into recharge basins or used for irrigation at controlled locations.

Sewage sludge – the residual, semi-solid material that is produced as part of primary and secondary treatment. Sewage sludge is further treated by aerobic or anaerobic digestion and dewatered at a wastewater treatment plant or resource recovery facility to produce biosolids and other byproducts.

Source control – controlling the release of harmful chemicals into the wastewater collection system.

Surface water augmentation – the planned delivery or discharge of recycled water to surface waters for the development of, or to supplement, public water supply, and is otherwise known as “indirect potable reuse.”

Tertiary treatment or advanced water treatment – processes that treat water for uses such as irrigation or for water blended with other environmental systems such as a river, reservoir or groundwater prior to reuse. It can also include treatment processes to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in order to allow discharge into a highly sensitive or fragile ecosystem.

Urban water cycle – the man-made process that cleans and distributes water from the environment for people to use and then sends clean water back into the environment.

Water cycle – the natural process of water circulating among the earth's oceans, atmosphere and land. Fueled by energy from the sun, the water cycle involves condensation that returns water to earth as precipitation (rain and snow), before it either percolates into the ground or returns to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration.

Water recycling project – the deliberate application of recycled water, in compliance with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and water management district rules for public drinking water supply purposes, and consists of groundwater augmentation, raw water augmentation and surface water augmentation (does not include effluent disposal).