NM Water/Wastewater Operator key terms

A water treatment step in which a chemical is rapidly mixed into raw water so tiny particles clump together and can be removed more easily.

Gentle, slow mixing after coagulation that encourages small clumps to grow into larger, heavier floc particles that settle or filter out.

A treatment process where water sits in a basin long enough for suspended solids and floc to settle to the bottom as sludge.

Passing water through a porous material such as sand or membranes to remove remaining particles, turbidity, and some microorganisms before disinfection.

A treatment step that kills or inactivates harmful microorganisms in water, usually by adding chlorine or another disinfectant and providing enough contact time.

A measure of how cloudy water is because of suspended particles; higher turbidity can shelter microorganisms and interfere with disinfection.

The amount of chlorine still present in treated water after contact time; it shows disinfection occurred and helps protect water from contamination in the pipes.

A bench-scale test using several beakers of raw water to compare chemical doses and mixing conditions so operators can choose effective coagulation and flocculation settings.

A disinfection calculation that multiplies disinfectant concentration by contact time; treatment requirements use it to confirm that harmful microorganisms are adequately inactivated.

Reversing flow through a filter bed to wash captured particles out, restoring the filter's ability to remove solids; operators schedule it based on head loss or effluent quality.

The network of pipes, valves, pumps, tanks, and hydrants that carries finished drinking water from treatment to homes, businesses, and fire protection points.

An area of a distribution system kept within a chosen pressure range by pumps, valves, or tanks so service remains adequate without excessive pressure.

A pump placed within a distribution system to raise water pressure in a specific area, often to serve higher elevations or maintain pressure during high demand.

Any actual or potential link between drinking water piping and a source of contamination, such as a hose submerged in a chemical tank or a poorly protected plumbing fixture.

A valve or assembly that stops water from flowing backward into the drinking water supply, protecting it from contamination caused by cross-connections or pressure loss.

A large buried pipe that forms the main artery of a distribution system, carrying water between treatment, storage, pumps, and smaller service lines.

A pressure surge caused by a sudden change in water flow, such as quickly closing a valve; it can damage pipes, joints, and fittings.

A structure that holds treated water for fire flow, peak demand, and emergency supply while helping stabilize pressure in the distribution system.

Using meters, listening equipment, pressure data, or systematic surveys to find places where treated water escapes from pipes, helping reduce water loss and repair costs.

The raw wastewater that enters a treatment plant or treatment unit; its flow rate and pollutant strength help operators decide how to adjust treatment processes.

The first major wastewater treatment stage, usually involving screens, grit removal, and sedimentation to remove large solids and settleable material before biological treatment.

A biological wastewater treatment process in which a mixture of wastewater and microorganisms is aerated, then settled so the organisms can be returned or wasted.

A tank where wastewater and microorganisms are mixed and supplied with air or oxygen so biological treatment can break down organic matter.

A settling tank after biological treatment where activated sludge solids separate from treated water; returned sludge keeps the biological process going and excess sludge is wasted.

Solids removed or produced during wastewater treatment; it requires thickening, digestion, dewatering, or other handling before final disposal or beneficial use.

A heated, sealed tank where microorganisms break down sludge without oxygen, reducing volatile solids and producing biogas that can be used for energy.

The treated wastewater leaving a treatment plant or process unit; it must meet permit limits before being discharged or reused.

Biochemical oxygen demand, a test measuring the oxygen microorganisms use while breaking down organic matter in wastewater; it indicates organic strength and treatment need.

Total suspended solids, a measure of particles suspended in wastewater or effluent; high TSS can indicate poor settling or filter performance and can harm receiving waters.

A sewer pipe installed with a downward slope so wastewater flows by gravity to a lower point, requiring no pump except where the ground rises.

A facility with pumps and controls that lifts wastewater from a low area into a higher sewer or force main so it can continue toward treatment.

A pipe that carries wastewater under pressure from a pump station to a discharge point, often following terrain that gravity sewers cannot use.

An opening in a sewer line that lets workers inspect, clean, test, or ventilate the sewer and provides access for equipment; covers must be secured.

Groundwater that enters a sewer system through cracks, joints, or broken pipes; it adds clean water to wastewater and increases pumping and treatment costs.

Stormwater or other surface water that enters a sewer through direct connections such as roof drains, sump pumps, or open manholes, adding flow during rain.

A sewer inspection method that blows non-toxic smoke into a line to reveal broken pipes, illegal connections, and sources of stormwater inflow.

A release of untreated wastewater from a sanitary sewer before it reaches treatment, often caused by blockages, infiltration, inflow, or equipment failures; it must be reported.

The pipe that connects a building's plumbing to the public sewer main, usually maintained by the property owner and a common source of blockages or infiltration.