Hydraulics and hydrology vocabulary

A horizon See profile.

abnormal erosion Erosion rates above the geologic norm, due to activities of man or his
agents. Sometimes referred to as accelerated erosion.
abrupt wave A translatory wave or an increase in depth of water in an open channel, caused
by a sudden change in conditions of flow.
absorption (1) he ta!ing up of one substance into the body of another. (") Selective
concentration of dissolved solids from solution by diffusion into the interior of a solid
material. See also adsorption.
acceptable outlet hat point where storm water runoff can be released into a water#course or
drainage way of ade$uate capacity without causing scour or erosion.
accuracy he absolute nearness to the truth. %n physical measurements it is the degree of
agreement between the $uantity measured and the actual $uantity. &ot to be confused with
precision, which denotes the reproducibility of the measurement.
activated sludge Sludge withdrawn from a secondary clarifier following the activated sludge
process' it consists mostly of biomass, with some inorganic settleable solids. (eturn sludge is
recycled to the head of the process' waste (e)cess) sludge is removed for conditioning.
adaptive grid he grid is changed so as to become suitable to a new situation.
adsorption (1) he adherence of a gas, li$uid or dissolved material on the surface of a solid.
(") An increase in concentration of gas or solute at the interface of a two#phase system.
Should not be confused with absorption ($.v.).
adult he age of se)ual maturity.
advanced (waste) treatment he modern preferred term for what used to be called tertiary
treatment. *rocess or method for supplementary treatment of wastewater beyond the $uality
achieved by the conventional secondary or biological stage. erm normally implies the
removal of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, and of a high percentage of suspended
solids.
advection (1) ransfer by horizontal motion. (") %n meteorology, predominantly horizontal
atmospheric motions resulting in horizontal transport and mi)ing of atmospheric properties.
aerobic conditions Environment which allows bacteria or organisms which use molecular
o)ygen to thrive.
aggradation he geological process of building up a surface by deposition.
aggrading river. A river which is building up its valley bottom by deposition of material.
aggregate erm for the stone or roc! gravel needed for fill in an infiltration +,*, such as a
trench or porous pavement.
algae *hotosynthetic microscopic plants which in e)cess can contribute taste and odor to
potable water and deplete dissolved o)ygen on decomposition.
algicide Any substance or chemical applied to !ill or control algae.
alluvium A general term for all detrital material deposited by a stream where it emerges from
an upland onto a plain.
alternate depths he depths, one subcritical and the other supercritical, having the same
specific energy.
ammonia nitrogen -oncentration of nitrogen in water in the form of ammonia or ammonium
ion (reported in mg.l).
anaerobic digestion he degradation of organic matter brought about through the action of
microorganisms in the absence of elemental o)ygen.
anchor ice Submerged ice found attached to the bed, irrespective of the nature of its
formation.
anemometer An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of wind' a wind gage.
angle of repose he angle with the horizontal which the sloping face of a ban! of loose
material assumes.
annual flood he ma)imum "/#hr average rate of flow occurring in a stream during any
period of 1" consecutive months. %t is the usual practice to consider the 1"#month period as
e)tending from 0ctober 1 of one year to September 12 of the following year.
antecedent moisture he degree of wetness of the soil at the beginning of a runoff period,
fre$uently e)pressed as an inde) determined by summation of weighted daily rainfalls for a
period preceding the runoff in $uestion.
antecedent precipitation (ainfall that occurred prior to the particular rainstorm under
consideration.
antecedent#precipitation inde). An inde) of moisture stored within a drainage basin before a
storm.
antecedent rainfall he rainfall occurring within a specifically defined time period prior to the
first rainfall in the storm of interest.
anti#seep collar A plate, attached to the barrel running through an emban!ment of a pond, that
prevents seepage of water around the pipe.
anti#vorte) device A device, usually a vertical or horizontal plate, placed at the entrance of a
pipe to prevent the formation of a vorte) in the water at the pipe entrance.
application factor he ratio of the ma)imum concentration having no negative effect on the
test organisms, to the 34hour 5-62 concentration.
apron A layer of concrete, stone, timber, or other permanent material placed at the entrance of
a hydraulic structure (such as a culvert or a chute) in the channel bed to protect the structure
against scour.
a$uatic biota 0rganisms that rely on water for at least a portion of their life cycle.
a$ueduct. A conduit, usually of considerable size, used to convey water. he conduit may
consist of one or more of the following7 canal, pipeline, flume, tunnel, siphon, so#called
inverted siphon, or raised channel for carrying water.
a$uifer A geologic formation or structure that transmits water in sufficient $uantity to supply
the needs for a water development. he term water#bearing is sometimes used synonymously
with a$uifer when a stratum furnishes water for a specific use. A$uifers are usually saturated
sands, gravel, fractures, or cavernous and vesicular roc!.
area of concern A seriously degraded land and water subarea of the 8reat la!es which has
been identified for corrective action by the %nternational 9oint -ommission.
artificial aeration A la!e management techni$ue used in water bodies with low concentrations
of dissolved o)ygen to increase dissolved o)ygen levels and to improve fish and fish food
organism productivity and to reduce ano)ic odours.
artificial rainfall :ater artificially applied in the form of rain, usually by a rainfall simulator
for e)perimental purposes.
artificial recharge (eplenishment of the groundwater supply by means of spreading basins,
recharge wells, irrigation, or induced infiltration of surface water.
aspect he direction that a slope faces, measured at right angles to the contour. %t is a
physiographic feature.
assimilative capacity he ability of a water body to transform and.or incorporate substances
(e.g. nutrients) by the ecosystem, such that the water $uality does not degrade below a
predetermined level' for desired level of water $uality in any river or la!e, the definable
dilution,dispersion or assimilation (self#purification) capacity for receiving waste discharges'
the natural purification potential of a stream' its ability to receive wastewater and to)ic
materials without deleterious effects on the a$uatic environment or on humans who consume
the water.
atmometer An instrument for measuring evaporation' also called atmidometer or
evaporimeter. ;our main classes of atmometers may be distinguished7 (a) large evaporation
tan!s sun! in the ground or floating on protected waters, (b) small open#evaporation pans, (c)
porous porcelain bodies, used mainly by plant physiologists in studying evaporation from
plants, and (d) atmometers with wet paper surfaces.
Atterberg limits Atterberg limits are measures of the water content of soils at the boundaries
of solid, plastic and li$uid states.hey comprise7
li$uid limit (55) he li$uid limit is the moisture content at which a soil passes from the li$uid
to the plastic state.
plastic limit (*5) he plastic limit is the moisture content at which a soil passes from the
plastic to the solid state.
plasticity inde) (*%) he plasticity inde) is the numerical difference between the li$uid limit
and the plastic limit.
augmentation *articularly in reference to streamflow, an addition to the rate of flow during
time periods of low flow rates.
Austin riangle Sediment control device consisting of a long triangular pipe frame, enclosed
in heavy gage fencing material, and wrapped in filter fabric.
automatic gate A gate that operates without human assistance when prescribed conditions are
reached.
available habitat he amount of habitat suitable for a particular life stage and species of
organism.
average annual flood. A flood discharge e$ual to the mean of the discharges of all of the
ma)imum annual floods during the period of record.
average daily flow (1) he total $uantity of li$uid tributary to a point divided by the number
of days of flow measurement. (") %n water and watewater applications, the total flow past a
point over a period of time divided by the number of days in that period of time.
average depth See hydraulic depth.
+. coli. A member of the coliform group. &ow classified as E. coli. See also coliform group
bacteria.
+ horizon See profile.
bac!flow (1) A flow condition, induced by a differential in pressure, that causes the flow of
water or other li$uid into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source or
sources other than its intended source. (") he bac!ing up water through a conduit or channel
in the direction opposite to normal flow.
bac!ground load &aturally occurring levels of pollutants in a stream prior to watershed
development.
bac!water. (1) he increased depth of water upstream from a dam or obstruction in a stream
channel due to the e)istence of such obstruction, and the raising by it of the water level a
considerable distance upstream. (") he body of relatively still water in coves or covering
low#lying areas and having access to the main body of water. (1) A water reserve obtained at
high tide and discharged at low tide. See also bac!water curve.
bac!water curve (1) he longitudinal shape of the water surface in a stream or open conduit
where such water surface is raised or lowered from its normal level by a natural or artificial
constriction' the profile of the li$uid surface upstream when its surface slope is less than the
bed slope. (") Sometimes, in a generic sense, all computed water#surface profiles, usually in
cases where the water is flowing at depths greater than the critical. %n uniform channels, the
curve is concave upward, the velocities decrease in a downstream direction, and the flow is
nonuniform.
bacteria A group of universally distributed, rigid, essentially unicellular microscopic
organisms lac!ing chlorophyll. hey perform a variety of biological treatment processes
including biological o)idation, sludge digestion, nitrification, and denitrification. he
following terms modify bacteria7 aerobic, anaerobic, chemosynthetic, coli#aerogenes ($.v.),
coliform group ($.v.), faculative anaerobic iron manganese, nitro#parasitic, pathogenic ($.v.),
photosynthetic ($.v.), saprophytic ($.v.), sulfate#reducing, sulfur.
bacteriological count A means for $uantifying numbers of organisms. See most probable
number, indicated number, plate count.
baffle pier An obstruction set in the path of high#velocity water to dissipate energy and
prevent scour.
baffles <eflector vanes, guides, grids, gratings or similar devices constructed or placed in a
flowing water, wastewater, or slurry systems as a chec! or to effect a more uniform
distribution of velocities' adsorb energy' divert, guide, or agitate the li$uids' chec! eddies'
and deflect or regulate flow.
balanced hyetograph A hyetograph with the highest value in the centre and lower values
distributed in a normal bell shaped pattern either side of the pea! value.
balancing reservoir A holding basin in which variations in flow and composition of a li$uid
are averaged. Such basins are used to provide a flow of reasonably uniform volume and
composition to a treatment plant. Also called e$ualizing basin ($.v.).
ban!. (1) he continuous margin along a river or stream where all upland vegetation ceases.
(") he elevation of land which confines waters of a stream to their natural channel in their
normal course of flow. (1) he rising land bordering a river, la!e, or sea. (/) %n hydrology, a
suba$ueous area, detached from the shore, which does not usually constitute a menace to
surface navigation, but over which the water is relatively shallow. Also, an area, connected
with the shore, which is composed of material other than roc!, is a menace to surface
navigation, and may be uncovered at low tide. (6) %n geology, a steep slope. (4) A ridge or
mound of earth or of something similarly shaped, such as a cloud ban!, a snow ban!.
ban! protection. (iprap, paving, brush, concrete, or other material placed to prevent erosion
on a stream, reservoir, or la!e shore' usually e)tends to and beyond the thalweg of the
channel.
ban! storage :ater absorbed and stored in the voids of the soil cover of the bed and ban!s of
a stream, la!e, or reservoir and returned in whole or in part as the surface of the water body
falls.
ban!full discharge A flow condition where streamflow completely fills the stream channel up
to the top of the ban!. %n undisturbed watersheds, the discharge condition occurs on average
every 1.6 to " years and controls the shape and form of natural channels.
barrel (1) he undersurface of an arch. (") he water cylinder of a pump. (1) he wall of a
pipe. (/) he concrete or corrugated metal pipe that passes runoff from the riser through the
emban!ment, and finally discharges to the pond=s outfall.
base flow Sustained or dry#weather runoff. %t includes water draining from natural storage in
groundwater bodies, la!es or swamps, and delayed subsurface runoff.
base runoff. Sustained or dry weather flow. %n most streams base runoff is composed largely
of groundwater runoff.
basin (1) A natural or artificially created space or structure, surface or underground, which
has a shape and character of confining material that enable it to hold water. he term is
sometimes used for a receptacle midway in size between a reservoir and a tan!. (") A large
slip or doc! partially surrounded by $uays. %ts water level is sub>ect to fluctuations with the
water level of the main body of water with which it connects. (1) he surface area within a
given drainage system. (/) A small area in an irrigated field or plot surrounded by low earth
ridges and designed to hold irrigation water. (6) An area upstream from a subsurface or
surface obstruction to the flow of water. (4) A shallow tan! or depression through which
li$uids may be passed or in which they are detained for treatment or storage. he following
terms modify basin7 artesian, catch ($.v.), catchment ($.v.), clear#water, closed, coagulation,
continental, contour, debris, desilting ($.v.), drainage ($.v.), e$ualizing ($.v.), flood,
groundwater, influence, listing, mi)ing, receiving ($.v.), recharge ($.v.), retarding ($.v.), river,
sedimentation ($.v.), settling, silt, stilling ($.v.), subsiding, subsurface water, tidal, wet.
bathymetric water depth he depth of water related to a fi)ed datum.
batter he uniform sideslope of walls, ban!s, or cuttings. %n describing batter grade, 171 or 1
in 1 means a slope of 1 metre vertical in a horizontal distance of 1 metres.
batter treatment he vegetation cover and erosion support system applied to a batter.
bed (1) he bottom of a watercourse or any body of water. (") A seam or deposit later in
origin than the roc! below, a regular member of the series of formations and not an intrusion.
bed load Sediment that moves by sliding, rolling or s!ipping on or very near the stream bed'
sediment that is moved by tractive or gravitational forces, or both, but at velocities less than
that of ad>acent flow.
bed material he material whose particle sizes are found in measurable $uantities in that part
of the bed affected by transport.
bed material load ransported material which is derived from the bed of the channel, and
which includes both suspended load and bed load, but e)cludes wash load.
bed profile he shape of the bed in a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction of a river or
channel.
bed slope, bottom slope s he difference in elevation of the bed per unit distance along its bed
measured in the direction of flow.
bedload he sediment that moves by sliding, rolling or bounding on or very near the
streambed' sediment moved mainly by tractive or gravitational forces or both but at velocities
less than the surrounding flow.
bedroc! Solid roc! below a soil profile from which parent material is derived by weathering.
+elanger=s critical velocity hat velocity in an open channel for which the velocity head
e$uals one half the mean depth' the velocity in a channel at which the energy content of the
fluid is a minimum' the velocity of a gravity wave.
bell#and#spigot >oint A form of >oint used on pipes which have an enlarged diameter or bell at
one end, and a spigot at the other which fits into and is laid in the bell. he >oint is then made
tight by lead, cement, rubber ?0? ring, or other >ointing compounds or materials.
bellmouth An e)panding rounded entrance to a pipe or orifice.
beneficial organisms 0rganisms inhabiting the ecosystem that are not !nown to threaten
ecosystem integrity or otherwise have any harmful impacts on the ecosystem or the beneficial
uses of ecosystem resources.
beneficial uses hose activities that are dependent on the chemical, physical and biological
integrity of the ecosystem.
benefits he advantages, tangible or intangible, gained by the installation or construction of a
system or wor!s for one or more given purposes. +enefits may also be used as a measure of
>ustification of pro>ects proposed for construction at public e)pense.
benthal demand he demand on dissolved o)ygen of water overlying benthal deposits that
results from the upward diffusion of decomposition products of the deposits.
benthal deposit Accumulation on the bed of a watercourse of deposits containing organic
matter arising from natural erosion or discharges of wastewaters. Also called sludge ban!.
benthic (elating to the bottom or bottom environment of a body of water.
benthic organisms 0rganisms living in or on bottom substrate in a$uatic habitats.
benthos he aggregate of organisms living on or at the bottom of a body of water.
berm A ledge formed at the bottom of an earth slope or at some level intermediate between
the bottom and the top.
+ernoulli=s law A physical law of hydraulics that states that under conditions of uniform
steady flow of water in a conduit or stream channel, the sum of the velocity head, pressure
head, and head due to elevation at any given point along such conduit or channel is e$ual to
the sum of these heads at any other point along such conduit or channel plus or minus the
losses in head between the two points due to friction (plus if the latter point is upstream,
minus if downstream).
best management practice (+,*) Structural devices that temporarily store or treat urban
stormwater runoff to reduce flooding, remove pollutants, and provide other amenities.
bioaccumulation he upta!e and retention of a chemical in the tissues of an organism as a
result of upta!e from all routes of e)posure (e.g. adsorption, consumption).
bioassay A determination of a concentration or dose of a given material necessary to affect a
test organism under stated conditions.
biochemical o)ygen demand (+0<) he $uantity of o)ygen consumed during the
biochemical o)idation of organic matter over a specified period of time, at a specified
temperature, and under specified conditions. %t is not related to the o)ygen re$uirements in
chemical combustion, being determined entirely by the availability of the material as a
biological food and by the amount of o)ygen utilized by the microorganisms during
o)idation. See also -0<. he following terms modify biochemical o)ygen demand7 first#
stage ($.v.), immediate ($.v.), second#stage, standard, ultimate.
biodegradable -apable of being bro!en down (degraded) by common soil organisms.
biodegradation he destruction of organic materials by microorganisms, soils, natural bodies
of water or wastewater treatment systems.
biological diversity.biodiversity he full range of variety and variability within and among
living organisms and the natural associations in which they occur.
biological filter A bed of sand, gravel, bro!en stone, or other medium through which
wastewater flows or tric!les that depends on biological action for its effectiveness.
biological o)idation he process by which living organisms in the presence of o)ygen convert
organic matter into a more stable or a mineral form.
biological wastewater treatment ;orms of wastewater treatment in which bacterial or
biochemical action is intensified to stabilize, and o)idize the unstable organic matter present.
%ntermittent sand filters, tric!ling filters, and activated sludge processes and sludge digestion
are e)amples.
bioretention ,ethod to manage stormwater runoff using native plants and soil conditioning.
biota he combined fauna and flora of any geographical area or geological period.
blac!nose shiner notropis heterolepis
bluntnose minnow pimephales notatus
+0< (1) Abbreviation for biochemical o)ygen demand ($.v.). (") A standard test used in
assessing wastewater strength.
+0< load he +0< content, usually e)pressed in pounds per unit of time, of wastewater
passing into a waste treatment system or to a body of water.
bog A small, open marsh filled with decayed organic matter which is spongy and incapable of
supporting an appreciable weight.
border strip. A grassed or thic!ly vegetated strip located at the edge of a field, along outlet
channels, or at ends of rows to chec! or prevent erosion.
borings (1) Subsurface investigations performed by drilling down to the desired depth,
removing samples of the material penetrated so that it can be e)amined at the surface,
recording the elevation at which changes in material are found, obtaining samples in a
disturbed or undisturbed condition from the various strata, and preparing a log or chart of the
boring data. +orings may be classified as follows7 (a) soil auger boring (b) churn drilling (c)
rotary drilling and (d) core boring. (") @oles made by boring. (1) ,aterial removed by boring.
(/) -ylindrical samples of a soil profile used to determine infiltration capacity.
borrow pit An e)cavation, outside the limits of a road, filled emban!ment or other formation,
from which fill is obtained.
bottom slope See bed slope
bo) culvert A culvert with a rectangular cross#section.
branch (1) A special form of vitrified sewer tile and cast#iron pipe used for ma!ing
connections to a sewer or water main. he various types are called, , A, #A, double A, and
B branches, according to their respective shapes. (") Any part of a piping system other than a
main or stac!.
branch sewer A sewer that receives wastewater from a relatively small area and discharges
into a main sewer serving more than one branch#sewer area.
broad area treatment A vegetative techni$ue to stabilize a broad area of disturbance using
topsoil and a suitable seeding mi).
broad crested weir (1) A weir of such crest length in the direction of flow that critical flow
occurs on the crest of the weir. (") A weir having a substantial width of crest in the direction
parallel to the direction of flow of water over it. his type of weir supports the nappe for an
appreciable length and produces no bottom contraction of the nappe. Also called wide#crested
weir ($.v.).
+tu Cuantity of heat re$uired to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree
;ahrenheit. Abbreviation for +ritish thermal unit. E$ual to 2.36 !9.
buffer A substance that stabilizes the p@ value of solutions.
buffer solution A solution containing two or more substances which, in combination, resist
any mar!ed change in p@ following addition of moderate amounts of either strong acid or
base.
buffer zone A zone of e)isting vegetation ad>acent to wetlands, stream or other areas of
significant natural resource that can be used to spread flows and trap sediment.
build#up he accumulation of pollutant mass on an urban watershed, usually through
atmospheric deposition or automobile lea!ages.
building drain %n plumbing, that part of the lowest horizontal piping within a building that
conducts water, wastewater, or storm water to a building sewer.
building pro>ects *ro>ects involving primarily a building rather than civil engineering wor!s.
building sewer %n plumbing, the e)tension from the building drain to the public sewer or other
place of disposal. Also called house connection ($.v.).
building storm sewer he e)tension from the building storm drain to the public storm sewer,
combined sewer or other place of disposal.
bul! density (of deposited sediment) he total dry mass of a unit volume (including pores) of
undisturbed deposit.
bul!head A wall made from wood, steel, concrete, etc. for protection of a pipe from water
flow.
buried channel A former stream channel that has been filled with alluvial or glacial deposits
and later covered by other material so that there is little surface indication of its e)istence or
location.
bypass An arrangement of pipes, conduits, gates, and valves by which the flow may be passed
around a hydraulic structure appurtenance, or treatment process' a controlled diversion.
bypass channel (1) A channel constructed to carry flood water in e)cess of the $uantity that
can be safely carried in the stream. Sometimes called flood#relief channel, floodway. (") A
channel built to divert the ordinary flow from a particular reach of the main channel for any
reason. See also diversion channel.
byte A se$uence of ad>acent binary digits operated on by a computer as a unit.
bywash A term used to denote a spillway generally around the end of a dam emban!ment
relying on vegetation for stability.
- horizon See profile
calibration. (1) he determination, chec!ing, or rectifying of the graduation of any instrument
giving $uantitative measurements. (") he process of ta!ing measurements or of ma!ing
observations to establish the relationship between two $uantities. (1) he optimization of
parameters, such that computed best fits the observed response. See also rating.
calorie. he amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water at 16o- by
1o-.
canal An artificial open channel or waterway constructed for one or more of the following
purposes7 (a) transporting water, (b) connecting two or more bodies of water, and (c) serving
as a waterway for watercraft.
carbon adsorption. he use of either granular or powdered carbon to remove organic
compounds from wastewater or effluents. 0rganic molecules in solution are drawn to the
highly porous surface of the carbon by inter#molecular attraction forces.
carbonaceous o)ygen demand. A $uantitative measure of the amount of dissolved o)ygen
re$uired for the biological o)idation of carbon#containing compounds in a sample. Same as
biochemical o)ygen demand. See also total organic carbon, total o)ygen demand.
carcinogen A material that induces e)cessive or abnormal cellular growth cancer in an
organism. See also mutagen, teratogen.
carcinogenic -ancer#causing.
carrying capacity he ma)imum rate of flow that a conduit, channel, or other hydraulic
structure is capable of passing.
catch#basin A chamber or well, usually built at the curbline of a street, which admits surface
water for discharge into a stormwater drain. See also curb inlet.
catch drain A diversion channel constructed above a road or batter to intercept surface water.
catchment hat area determined by topographic features within which falling rain will
contribute to runoff to a particular point under consideration. he area tributary to a la!e,
stream, sewer or drain. See also drainage area, drainage basin, river basin, catchment area,
watershed.
catchment area (1) he inta!e area of an a$uifer, and all areas that contribute surface water to
the inta!e area. (") %n tropical island zones, a hard#surfaced area on which rain is collected
and then conducted to a reservoir. (1) he area tributary to a la!e, stream, sewer, or drain.
Also called catchment basin. See also drainage area, inta!e area, watershed.
catchment basin See catchment area.
-auchy=s number A numerical $uantity used as an inde) to characterize the type of flow in a
hydraulic structure in which elastic forces, in con>unction with the resisting force of inertia,
influence the motion of the li$uid. %t is the ratio of inertia forces to elastic forces. %t is e$ual to
a characteristic velocity of the system, which may be the mean, surface, or ma)imum
velocity, divided by the !inematic elasticity of the li$uid' all e)pressed in consistent units in
order that the combinations will be dimensionless. he number is useful in the study of water
hammer.
celerity he velocity of propagation of a wave through a fluid medium relative to the
undisturbed velocity of the fluid through which the disturbance is propagated. Also called
wave velocity.
celsius scale he international name for the centigrade scale of temperature, on which the
freezing point and boiling point are 2o- and 122o- respectively, at a barometric pressure of
1.211)126*a (D42 mm @g).
cell An increment of stream width of a stream channel weighted for its relative importance by
length of a given area.
centigrade A thermometer temperature scale in which 2 degrees mar!s the freezing point and
122 degrees the boiling point of water at D42 mm of mercury barometric pressure. Also called
-elsius scale. o convert temperature on this scale to ;ahrenheit, multiply by 3.6 and add 1".
centrifugal pump A pump consisting of an impeller fi)ed on a rotating shaft and enclosed in a
casing, and having an inlet and a discharge connection. he rotating impeller creates pressure
in the li$uid by the velocity derived from centrifugal force.
centrifuge A mechanical device in which centrifugal force is used to separate solids from
li$uids and.or to separate li$uids of different densities.
cfs. See cubic foot per second.
chamber Any space enclosed by walls, or a compartment' often prefi)ed by a descriptive
word indicating its function, such as grit chamber, screen chamber, discharge chamber,
flushing chamber.
channel (1) A perceptible natural or artificial waterway which periodically or continuously
contains moving water or which forms a connecting lin! between two bodies of water. %t has a
definite bed and ban!s which confine the water. (") he deep portion of a river or waterway
where the main current flows. (1) he part of a body of water deep enough to be used for
navigation through an area otherwise too shallow for navigation. (/) %nformally, a more or
less linear conduit of substantial size in cavernous limestones or lava rac!s. See also buried
channel, bypass channel, open channel.
channel erosion he widening, deepening, and headward cutting of small channels and water#
ways, due to erosion caused by moderate to large floods.
channel improvement he improvement of the flow characteristics of a channel by clearing,
e)cavation, realignment, shaping, lining, or other means, in order to increase its water
carrying capacity.
channel stabilization *revention of erosion and stabilization of velocity distribution in a
channel using revetments, structural lining, vegetation or other measures.
channel storage :ater temporarily stored in channels while en route to an outlet. %n general,
the volume of li$uid contained in an open channel (depending on the stage of water surface in
the channel) at a given instant of time. %n specific terms, the volume contained in a defined
reach at a given instant and represented by the mean depth of flow in the reach.
chec! dam A small dam constructed in a gully or other small watercourse to decrease the
streamflow velocity (by reducing the channel gradient), minimize channel scour, and promote
deposition of sediment.
chemical e$uilibrium he condition that e)ists when there is no net transfer of mass and.or
energy between the components of a system. his is the condition in a reversible chemical
reaction when the rate of the forward reaction e$uals the rate of the reverse reaction.
chemical materials Substances obtained by or used in processes in industry and agriculture'
including heavy metals, salts, petroleum products and radio#active wastes.
chemical o)ygen demand (-0<) A $uantitative measure of the amount of o)ygen re$uired
for the chemical o)idation of carbonaceous (organic) material in wastewater using inorganic
dichromate or permanganate salts as o)idants in a two hour test.
chemical treatment he dosage of runoff with gypsum, (and possibly lime or alum) in order to
clarify turbid water before release into the downstream drainage system or water course.
-hezy formula. A basic hydraulic formula developed by -hezy in 1DD6 for determining the
flow of water in open channels. See ,anning formula, ,anning roughness coefficient.
chloramine compounds -ompounds resulting from the use of chlorine as a disinfectant.
chlorine. An element ordinarily e)isting as a greenish#yellow gas about ".6 times as heavy as
air. At atmospheric pressure and a temperature of #12.1o;, the gas becomes an amber li$uid
about 1.6 times as heavy as water. he chemical symbol of chlorine is -l, its atomic weight is
16./6D, and its molecular weight is D2.31/.
chlorine residual. he amount of chlorine in all forms remaining in water after treatment to
insure disinfection for a period of time.
chromatography. he generic name of a group of separation processes that depend on the
redistribution of the molecules of a mi)ture between a gas or li$uid phase in contact with one
or more bul! phases. he several types of chromatography are7 adsorption, column, gas ($.v.),
gel li$uid, paper ($.v.) and thin#layer ($.v.) chromatography.
chute (1) An inclined conduit or structure used for conveying water, other li$uids, or granular
material at high velocity to lower levels. See drop, spillway chute. (") An inclined drop or
fall. (1) he narrow, usually shorter, channel around an island in a river. (/) A short, straight
channel which bypasses a long bend in a river, formed by the river brea!ing through a narrow
land area between two ad>acent bends. (6) A steep#sloped open channel used to convey water
to a lower level without erosion.
-ipolletti weir. A contracted weir of trapezoidal shape, in which the sides of the notch are
given a slope of one horizontal to four vertical to compensate as much as possible for the
effect of end contractions.
clarifier Any large circular or rectangular sedimentation tan! used to remove settleable solids
in water or wastewater. A special type of clarifiers, called upflow clarifiers, use flotation
rather than sedimentation to remove solids.
clay (1) Soil consisting of inorganic material the grains of which have diameters smaller than
2.22" mm. (") A mi)ture of earthy matter formed by the decay of certain minerals. he
composition of clay varies widely and dictates its use. -lay is sometimes used in water
treatment to aid coagulation and to remove taste and odors. (1) he chemically active mineral
part of the soil, generally consisting of particles less than 2.22" mm in e$uivalent diameter.
,any of the important physical and chemical properties of a soil depend on the type and
$uantity of clay it contains.
clay lens A naturally occurring, localized area of clay that acts as an impermeable layer to
runoff infiltration.
cleanout Any structure or device which is designed to provide access for the purpose of
removing deposited or accumulated materials.
clima) he theoretical ultimate stage of plant succession under a given set of environmental
conditions' a stabilized condition of the dominant vegetation of a region.
cloud A mass of small droplets of water in the atmosphere which are not of sufficient size to
fall to the earth and so remain suspended in the air, usually at a considerable distance above
the surface of the earth. :hen the mass is in contact with or close to the earth=s surface, it is
called fog.
coagulant A simple electrolyte, usually an inorganic salt containing a multivalent cation of
iron, aluminum, or calcium, for e)ample, ;e-l1, ;e-l", Al"(S0/)1 -a0. Also, an inorganic
acid or base which induces coagulation of suspended solids. See also flocculants.
coarse#grained filter A general term used to distinguish a filter of gravel, bro!en stone, slag,
or other coarse material, as used in a tric!ling filter, as opposed to a sand filter.
coarse sand Sediment particles having diameters between 2.622 and 1.222 mm.
coarse screen A relative term, applicable to mesh or bar screen in which the openings are
greater than one inch in least dimension, e)cept in the case of rac!s.
cocci Sphere#shaped bacteria.
-0< See chemical o)ygen demand.
coefficient A numerical $uantity, determined by e)perimental or analytical methods,
interposed in a formula which e)presses the relationship between two or more variables to
include the effect of special conditions or to correct a theoretical relationship to one found by
e)periment or actual practice.
cofferdam A temporary structure built around a site to allow the removal of water and to
permit free access to the area within. %t may ta!e various forms such as an earth emban!ment,
a single row of steel or timber sheet piling, or a double row of sheet piling with the space
between filled with impermeable material.
cohesion he force of molecular attraction between the particles of any substance, which
tends to hold them together.
cold front he surface of separation between two ad>acent air masses of different
characteristics, usually temperature and humidity, and normally associated with a belt of
cloud and precipitation in which colder air replaces warmer air. See also frontal surface.
cold water fishery A fresh water, mi)ed fish population, including some salmonids.
coli#aerogenes bacteria A group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of man or
animal, but also occasionally found elsewhere. See also coliform#group bacteria.
coliform#group bacteria A group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of man or
animal, but also occasionally found elsewhere. %t includes all aerobic and facultative
anaerobic, 8ram#negative, non#spore#forming rod#shaped bacteria that ferment lactose with
production of gas. Also included are all bacteria that produce a dar!, purplish#green metallic
sheen by the membrane filter techni$ue used for coliform identification. he two groups are
not always identical, but they are generally of e$ual sanitary significance.
collection main %n collection systems, a sewer to which branch and submain sewers are
tributary. Also called a trun! sewer ($.v.). %n plumbing, the public sewer to which a building
service is connected.
collection system %n wastewater, a system of conduits, generally underground pipes, which
receives and conveys sanitary wastewater and.or storm water. %n water supply, a system of
conduits or canals used to capture a water supply and convey it to a common point.
colloidal matter ;inely divided solids which will not settle but may be removed by
coagulation or biochemical action or membrane filtration. See colloids.
colloids ;inely divided solids which will not settle but may be removed by coagulation or
biochemical action or membrane filtration' they are intermediate between true solutions and
suspensions. %n soil physics, discrete mineral particles less than two micrometers in diameter.
;inely divided dispersions of one material, called the dispersed phase, with another, called the
dispersion medium. %n general, particles of colloidal dimensions are appro)imately 12 to
12,222 Angstroms in size. -ollodial particles are distinguished from ordinary molecules by
their inability to diffuse through membranes that allow ordinary molecules and ions to pass
freely.
colluvium Sedimentary soil material, moved largely by gravity, deposited on or at the base of
a slope.
colony. A discrete clump of microorganisms on a surface as opposed to dispersed growth
throughout a li$uid culture medium.
color. Any dissolved solids that impart a visible hue to water.
combined sewer A sewer intended to receive storm or surface runoff and wastewater (sewage
and industrial) allowed by sewer by#laws.
combined sewer overflow ;low from a combined sewer, in e)cess of the sewer capacity, that
is discharged into a receiving water.
comminuted solids. Solids which have been divided into fine particles.
comminutor. A shredding or grinding device that reduces the size of gross suspended
materials in wastewater, without removing them from the li$uid.
common sewer. A sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have e$ual rights.
compaction he process of reducing the volume of a material by inducing the closer pac!ing
of its particles by rolling, tamping or other mechanical means.
comple)ation. he inactivation of an ion by addition of a reagent that combines with it and, in
effect, prevents it from participating in other reactions. Also called se$uestration.
compost A mi)ture of vegetable refuse, manure or other organic matter which has gone
through a decaying process.
compound pipe. (1) A pipeline made up of two or more pipes of different diameters. (") wo
or more pipes of the same or different diameters connected in parallel pipelines to form a
loop.
compound weir A weir containing two or more sections, which may be of different types
and.or dimensions.
concentration. (1) he amount of a given substance dissolved in a discrete unit volume of
solution or applied to a unit weight of solid. (") he process of increasing the dissolved solids
per unit volume of solution, usually by evaporation of the li$uid. (1) he process of increasing
the suspended solids per unit volume of sludge as by sedimentation, dewatering.
concentration time. (1) he period of time re$uired for storm runoff to flow from the most
remote point of a catchment or drainage area to the outlet or point under consideration. %t is
not a constant, but varies with depth of flow and condition of channel. (") he time at which
the rate of runoff e$uals the rate of rainfall of a storm of uniform intensity.
conductivity. A measure of the power of a solution to conduct an electric current, e$uivalent
to the reciprocal of the resistance of the solution. E)pressed in m#siemens.m (mmho.cm) at
"6o-. his term is preferred to ?conductance?.
conduit Any artificial or natural duct, either open or closed, intended for the conveyance of
fluids.
confined a$uifer. An a$uifer which is surrounded by formations of less permeable or
impermeable material.
confined groundwater. 8roundwater confined by overlying and underlying roc!s or other
material of low permeability and lac!ing free hydraulic connection with overlying
groundwater e)cept at the inta!e. -onfined groundwater moves under a hydraulic gradient
due to difference in head between inta!e and discharge areas of the confined water body.
confluence. A >unction or flowing together of streams' the place where streams meet.
con>ugate depths. he depths before and after a hydraulic >ump. Also called se$uent depths.
conservation of energy. he principle that the total amount of energy in an isolated system
remains unchanged while internal changes of any !ind occur' in hydraulics, that the energy of
water at any point in a waterway is e$uivalent to the energy at any other point plus or minus
friction losses.
conservative pollutant A pollutant that retains one form in the receiving water (e.g. chloride,
sodium, phosphorous, etc.).
consolidometer <evice for measuring swell potential and pressure of e)pansive soils. A soil
sample 12 to "2 mm thic! is contained within a metal ring 62 to 122 mm in diameter. he top
and bottom are enclosed by porous plates through which water can be added to the sample.
constriction %n a waterway, an obstruction that confines the flow to a narrower section or to a
smaller area, thus throttling the flow. &atural gorges, bridge piers, weirs, and orifices are
e)amples of constrictions. Sometimes used synonymously with contraction.
construction practice he method of pro>ect construction which will have a bearing on soil
erosion, or water flow and $uality.
consultant he designer or agent appointed by a local agency or a private developer to
underta!e the design and supervision of a pro>ect.
contact tan! A tan! used in water or wastewater treatment to promote contact between
treatment chemicals or other materials and the body of the li$uid treated.
contact time he time that the material processed is e)posed to another substance (such as
activated sludge, activated carbon) for completion of the desired reaction. See also detention
time.
contamination. he introduction into water of microorganisms, chemicals, wastes, or
wastewater in a concentration that ma!es the water unfit for its intended use.
continuity e$uation. A a)iom stating that the rate of flow past one section of a conduit is e$ual
to the rate of flow past another section of the same conduit plus or minus any additions or
subtractions between the two sections. See also storage e$uation.
continuous simulation he simulation of watershed response to an historic or synthetic
rainfall time series, that includes both wet and dry processes
contour (1) An imaginary line on the surface of the earth connecting points of the same
elevation. (") A line drawn on a map connecting points of the same elevation.
contour ploughing *loughing along the contour.
contracted weir. A rectangular notched weir with a crest width narrower than the channel
across which it is installed and with vertical sides, e)tending above the upstream water level,
which produce a contraction in the stream of water as it leaves the notch.
contraction. (1) he e)tend to which the cross#sectional area of a >et, nappe, or stream is
decreased after passing an orifice, weir, or notch. (") he reduction in cross#sectional area of
a conduit along its longitudinal a)is. See also constriction.
contraction coefficient. A coefficient in a formula for calculating the discharge of a weir,
orifice, or other constriction in a waterway, introduced to correct the result for the reduction
of the cross#sectional area of the fluid after it passes the constriction as compared to the
nominal area of the constriction. %t is the ratio of the smallest cross cross#sectional of the fluid
after passing the constriction to the nominal area of the constriction.
contractor he constructor of wor!s or buildings who has a contract with a local agency or
private developer.
control' section control (1) A section or reach of an open conduit or stream channel where
artificial or natural conditions such as the presence of a dam or a stretch of rapids ma!e the
water level above it a stable inde) of the discharge. -ontrols may be complete or partial.
-omplete control e)ists where the elevation of the water surface above the control is entirely
independent of fluctuations of water level downstream from it. *artial control e)ists where
downstream fluctuations have some effect on the upstream water level. (") he cross#section
in a waterway which is the bottlenec! for a given flow and which determines the energy head
re$uired to produce the flow. %n the case of open channels, it is the point where the flow is at
critical depth' hydraulic conditions above this point are wholly dependent on the
characteristics of the control section and are entirely independent of hydraulic conditions
below the point. %n the case of closed conduits, it is the point where the hydrostatic pressure in
the conduit and cross#sectional area of flow are definitely fi)ed, e)cept where the flow is
limited at some other point by a hydrostatic pressure e$ual to the greatest vacuum that can be
maintained unbro!en at that point. (1) %n research, something under study, either untreated or
given a standard treatment, which is used as a standard for comparison in chec!ing the results
of other treatments. (/) he physical properties of a cross section or a reach of a natural or
artificial channel, which govern the relation between stage and discharge at a location in the
channel.
control section (of a weir or flume) he section at which the discharge is uni$uely related to
the depth of flow.
control structure A hydraulic device through which fluid may flow and the rate of flow can be
measured'can be used synonymously with outlet structure.
convection. (1) %n physics, mass motions within a fluid, resulting in transport and mi)ing of
the properties of that fluid, caused by the force of gravity and by differences in density due to
nonuniform temperature. (") %n meteorology, atmospheric motions that are predominantly
vertical, resulting in vertical transport and mi)ing of atmospheric properties. Sometimes
caused when large masses of air are heated by contact with a warm land surface.
convection current. %n settling basins and la!es, ascending and descending (vertical)
movements of water caused by differences of temperature and the force of gravity when the
density of an upper stratum becomes greater than that of the underlying stratum.
convective precipitation. *recipitation resulting from vertical movement of moisture#laden air
which on rising, cools and precipitates its moisture.
conventional treatment :ell#!nown or well#established water or wastewater treatment
processes, e)cluding advanced or tertiary treatment' it generally consists of primary and
secondary.
conveyance loss he loss of water from a conduit due to lea!age, seepage, evaporation, or
evapotranspiration.
conveyance, E' conveyance factor A measure of the carrying capacity of a channel defined in
terms of the discharge, C and the bed slope, s7
-oriolis effect he deflection force of the earth=s rotation. ,oving bodies are deflected to the
right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
correlation coefficient A measure of the goodness of fit of a data series to a linear regression
e$uation. A correlation coefficient of 1.2 indicates a perfect fit.
corrosion he gradual deterioration or destruction of a substance or material by chemical
action, fre$uently induced by electrochemical processes. he action proceeds inward from the
surface.
cost#effective *roviding the optimum effect at the most reasonable cost.
cover Areas of shelter in a stream channel that provide a$uatic organisms protection from
predators and.or a place in which to rest and conserve energy due to a reduction in force of
the current or visual isolation.
cover crop A crop grown primarily for the purpose of protecting soil prior to establishment of
permanent vegetative cover.
cree!. (1) A small stream of water which serves as the natural drainage course for a drainage
basin of small size. he term is a relative one as to size' some cree!s in a humid region would
be called rivers if they occurred in an arid region. (") A small tidal channel through a coastal
marsh. (1) he short arm of a stream.
creep (of soil) Slow, and more or less continuous downhill movement of soil and. or roc!.
his movement produces deformation but is not large enough to produce shear failure as in
landslip. Also applied to similar movement of sand grains.
-renothri). A genus of bacteria characterized by unbranched attached filaments having a
gelatinous sheath in which iron is deposited. hese organisms precipitate iron which deposits
in pipes and thus reduces carrying capacity, produce color in water, and after their death
impart disagreeable taste to water.
crest. (1) he top of a dam, di!e, spillway, or weir, to which water must rise before passing
over the structure. (") he summit or highest point of a wave. (1) he highest elevation
reached by flood waters flowing in a channel.
crest control. A control method in which a device on the crest of the spillway of a dam is used
to raise or lower the crest with variations in flow of the stream. he device may consist of
flashboards, a radial drum, a tilting gate, or a bear#trap crest.
crest gate A gate installed on the crest of the spillway of a dam, which is operated to vary the
discharge over the spillway.
crib dam A timber dam consisting of a series of cribs or rectangular cells made of s$uare or
round timbers driftbolted together, and having an upstream facing and dec! covered with
heavy plan!s to provide watertightness. he cells may be filled with bro!en roc!s, boulders,
or other ballast to provide stability.
crib weir A low diversion weir built of log cribs filled with roc!.
criterion, water $uality See water $uality criteria.
critical area of site Sediment#producing, highly erodible or severely eroded areas.
critical depth (1) he depth of water flowing in an open channel or partially filled conduit
corresponding to one of the recognized critical velocities' the depth of a cross section at which
the flow is critical. See also critical velocity. (")
<epth of flow in a channel of specified dimens#ions at uniform critical flow.
critical flow (1) A condition of flow in which the mean velocity is at one of the critical values,
ordinarily at +elanger=s critical depth and velocity. Also used in reference to (eynolds= critical
velocities which define the point at which the flow changes from streamline or nonturbulent
flow. (") he ma)imum discharge of a conduit which has a free outlet and has the water
ponded at the inlet. (1) ;low in which the specific energy is a minimum for a given discharge.
Fnder this condition the ;roude number will be e$ual to unity and small surface disturbances
cannot travel upstream.
critical slope he channel slope that is e)actly e$ual to the loss of head per foot resulting from
flow at a depth that will give uniform flow at critical depth' the minimum slope of a conduit
which will produce critical flow.
critical velocity (1) he velocity below which li$uid turbulence is not great enough to prevent
polarization. here are several such critical velocities, +elanger=s and (eynolds=. (") hat
velocity which will sustain critical depth in a given channel.
cross connection (1) A physical connection through which a supply of potable water could be
contaminated or polluted. (") A connection between a supervised potable water supply and an
unsupervised supply of un!nown potability.
cross correlation he tendency of a $uantity to be dependent on values of other
simultaneously measured $uantities. Significant cross correlation could be said to e)ist
between event rainfall and runoff volume since there e)ists a tendency for simultaneous
observations of both $uantities to be either high or low.
cross section of a stream A vertical plane through a stream, normal to the direction of flow,
bounded by the wetted perimeter and the free surface.
crushed stone Aggregate consisting of angular particles produced by mechanically crushing
roc!.
crustacea A$uatic arthropods having a body covered with a hard shell or crust, such as
lobsters, shrimps, crabs, barnacles.
cryology. he science of the physical aspects of snow, ice, hail, sleet, and other forms of
water produced by temperatures below zero degrees -elsius.
cubic foot per second (cfs). A unit of measure of the rate of li$uid flow past a given point
e$ual to one cubic foot in one second, for measurement of water, wastewater, or gas.
*reviously called a second foot. 0ne cfs e$uals /.D13)12#/m 1.s .
culm A stem, such as that of a grass, consisting of hollow sections interrupted by solid nodes.
culture. Any organic growth that has been developed intentionally by provision of suitable
nutrients and environment.
culture media. Substances used to support the growth of microorganisms in analytical
procedures.
culvert (1) A closed conduit for the free passage of surface drainage water under a highway,
railroad, canal or other emban!ment. (") %n highway usage, a bridge waterway structure
having a span of less than "2 ft (4.1 m). (1) 0ne or more ad>acent pipes or enclosed conduits
for carrying a watercourse beneath a road or other earthwor!s.
cumulative +rought about or increased in strength by successive additions.
cumulative rainfall to date -umulative rainfall usually since the beginning of the current
water year (0ctober 1).
cumulative volume curve' mass discharge curve A curve in which the cumulative volume of
flow or flow mass is plotted against time.
cunette. A longitudinal trough or channel built as an integral part of a large flat bottomed
conduit for concentrating the low flows to develop self cleansing velocities.
curb inlet. An inta!e structure to allow storm water to enter a storm sewer from a roadway
gutter. %t is configured to the shape of the curb and gutter to provide for easy installation and
efficient operation. See also catch basin.
current. (1) he flowing of water or other fluid. (") hat portion of a stream of water which is
moving with a velocity much greater than the average or in which the progress of the water is
principally concentrated.
current meter. A device for determining the velocity of moving water.
current#meter rating. he operation of developing for a given current meter the relationship
between the revolutions of its wheel or screw per unit of time (usually a minute) and the
velocity at which the meter travels through still water. :ith such a relationship established in
graphical, algebraic, or tabular form, the velocity of water passing the meter when it is held in
a stationary position can be determined.
curve number A number representing the comple) properties of the type of soil and ground
cover or land use for determining precipitation e)cess and losses resulting from rainfall event.
(Fsed in the Soil -onservation Service rainfall.runoff model' can vary between 1 and 122).
curvilinear coordinate Each pair of the three surfaces in space, which intersect in curves called
curvilinear coordinates.
cut *ortion of land surface from which earth has been removed by e)cavation' the depth
below original ground surface to e)cavated surface.
cut and fill *rocess of earthmoving by e)cavating part of an area and using the e)cavated
material for ad>acent emban!ments or fill areas.
cutoff trench A trench e)cavated below the normal base of a dam or other structure and filled
with relatively impervious material to reduce percolation under the structure.
cutoff wall (1) A thin wall or footing constructed downward from, under or around the
headwall and lip wall of a dam to provide resistance to seepage. (") An impervious barrier for
preventing seepage or movement of water under or past a structure.
cyclone (seeder) A hand turned or tractor drawn seeder that broadcasts seed onto the seedbed
by a rotary motion slinging the seed outward from the seeder.
cyclone separator A conical unit used for separating particles by centrifugal force.
cylinder gate A gate, installed in a dam to control the flow from a reservoir, consisting of a
steel cylinder, open at the top and bottom, having a balanced water pressure on the inside and
outside surfaces. he cylinder forms a seat over the opening and closes it when seated.
daily flood pea! he ma)imum mean daily discharge occurring in a stream during a given
flood event.
dam A barrier constructed across a watercourse for the purpose of (a) creating a reservoir, (b)
diverting water into a conduit or channel, (c) creating a head which can be used to genberate
power, (d) preventing gully erosion, (e) retaining soil, sediment or other debris, and.or (f)
improving river navigability. <ams are classed as fi)ed and movable and may be of such
types as arch, earth ($.v.), gravity or roc! fill ($.v.) or combinations of these.
dam toe. he downstream edge at the base of a dam.
<arcy#:eisbach roughness coefficient. he roughness coefficient in the <arcy#:eisbach
formula. %t is dimensionless.
data (ecords of observations and measurements of physical facts, occurrences, and
conditions, reduced to written, graphical, or tabular form.
days since last storm &umber of days between the current storm and a storm of a given cutoff
magnitude (e.g. 2.1 inches).
dead storage (1) Storage below the lowest outlet levels of a reservoir or infiltration +,*, not
available for use.
dead water. (1) Standing or still water. (") :ater in a boiler, settling tan!, or similar
e$uipment which fails to circulate to the e)tent re$uired for proper functioning of the
e$uipment.
deaeration he removal of o)ygen from water to lessen its corroding power.
debris 8enerally solid wastes from natural and man#made sources deposited indiscriminately
on land and water. See also detritus, >etsam, litter.
deciduous *lants that shed their leaves annually (as opposed to evergreen).
decomposition of wastewater (1) he brea!down of organic matter in wastewater by bacterial
action, either aerobic or anaerobic. (") -hemical or biological transformation of organic or
inorganic materials contained in wastewater.
deep percolation (1) he moisture or water that passes below the root zone of plants' it
represents that part of the water absorbed that e)ceeds the field capacity of the soil within the
depth of root development. (") he movement of groundwater to deeply buried permeable
roc!s.
deep seepage hat portion of the runoff which escapes from a reservoir through the
underlying earth or roc! strata, below any possible intercepting cutoff constructed at the dam.
degradation (1) %n geology, a process by which wind and water wear down and carry away
parts of the surface of the earth, reducing their general elevation. (") he brea!down of
substances by biological action.
denitrification he anaerobic biological reduction of nitrate nitrogen to nitrogen gas. Also
total removal of nitrogen from a system. A biological process in which nitrate (&01), a
compound of nitrogen often found in sewage or water, is turned into nitrogen gas, which can
dissipate into the atmosphere. See also nitrification.
density stratification he formation of identifiable layers of different densities in bodies of
water.
deo)ygenation he depletion of the dissolved o)ygen in a li$uid either under natural
conditions associated with the biochemical o)idation of organic matter present or by addition
of chemical reducing agents.
deo)ygenation constant. A constant that e)presses the rate of the biochemical o)idation of
organic matter under aerobic conditions. %ts value depends on the time unit involved (usually
one day) and varies with temperature and other test conditions.
depletion (1) he continued withdrawal of water from a stream or from a surface or
groundwater reservoir or basin at a rate greater than the rate of replenishment. (") he
e)haustion of natural resources, usually in connection with commercial e)ploitation and
usually recorded in monetary terms.
deposition (1) he act or process of settling solid material from a fluid suspension. (") he
geologic process involving the accumulation of roc!material or other debris transported by
such agencies as flowing water, waves, winds, glaciers' also the mass movement of the
material itself, resulting from settling due to the slac!ening movement of the transporting
agency. Alluvial fans, debris cones, deltas, offshore bars, dunes, glacial moraines, and mud#
flow debris are the results of such deposition. (1) he accumulation of material dropped
because of a slac!ening movement of the transporting agent (water or wind).
depressed sewer A section of a sewer constructed lower than ad>acent sections to pass beneath
a valley, watercourse or other obstruction. %t runs full or at pressure greater than atmospheric
because its crown is depressed below the hydraulic grade line. See inverted siphon.
depression storage he volume of water re$uired to fill natural depressions, large or small, to
their overflow levels. Also called poc!et storage.
depth of runoff he total runoff from a drain#age basin divided by its area. ;or convenience in
comparing runoff with precipitation' usually e)pressed in mm or inches of depth over the
drainage area during a given period time.
depth#integrated method A method of sampling suspended sediment in which, by traversing
the depth of the stream at a uniform speed, the sampler ta!es, at every point in the vertical, a
small specimen of the water.sediment mi)ture, each increment of which is proportional to the
local sediment discharge.
depth integrating sampler An instrument which obtains a sample of the sediment.water
mi)ture while it is moved at a uniform rate vertically through a given distance.
design analysis. %n engineering reports, the tabulation and consideration of the physical data,
present re$uirements, and probable future re$uirements pertaining to an engineering pro>ect. %t
should include the main features and principles of the design.
design criteria. (1) Engineering guidelines specifying construction details and materials. (")
0b>ectives, results, or limits which must be met by a facility, structure, or process in
performance of its intended functions.
design flood. (1) he largest flow which a reservoir, channel, or other wor!s can
accommodate without damage or with limited damage. (") he flood adopted for use in
determining the hydraulic proportions of a structure such as the outlet wor!s of a dam, the
height of a dam or levee, or the ma)imum water level in a reservoir. Also called plan flood.
design hyetograph A hyetograph following the rainfall pattern of design storm.
design life he period of time for which a facility is e)pected to perform its intended function.
design storm (1) he storm for which a hydraulic structure such as a bridge, culvert, or dam is
designed. (") he rainfall estimate corresponding to an enveloping depth#duration curve for
the selected fre$uency. (1) A rainfall of specified amount, intensity, duration, pattern over
time, and to which a fre$uency is assigned, used as a design basis.
desilting area An area of grass, shrubs or other vegetation used for inducing deposition of silt
and other debris from flowing water, located above a pond, field or other area needing
protection from sediment accumulation. See filter strip.
desilting basin. A settling basin for removal of silt from river or stormwater flows. See also
sedimentation basin.
desorption. he release or removal of an adsorbed material from the surface of a solid
adsorbent. See also adsorption.
detention he slowing, dampening, or attenuating of flows either entering the sewer system or
within the sewer system, by temporarily holding the water on a surface area, in a storage
basin, or within the sewer itself.
detention basin See retarding basin.
detention reservoir. A reservoir in which water is stored for a relatively brief period of time,
part of it being retained until the stream can safely carry the ordinary flow plus the released
water. Such reservoirs usually have outlets without control gates and are used for flood
regulation. Also called retarding reservoir.
detention tan!. Any vessel used to hold flow to even out surges, allow sedimentation, or
provide time for physical, chemical or biological reactions. See also contact tan!,
sedimentation basin, clarifier, e$ualization.
detention time he period of time that a water or wastewater flow is retained in a basin, tan!,
or reservoir for storage or completion of physical, chemical, or biological reaction. he
amount of time a parcel of water actually is present in a +,*. heoretical detention time for a
runoff event is the average time parcels of water reside in the basin over the period of release
from the +,*. See also contact time, retention time.
detritus (1) he coarse debris carried by wastewater. (") he heavier mineral debris moved by
natural watercourses, usually in bed#load form. See also debris.
dew point he temperature to which air with a given concentration of water vapor must be
cooled to cause condensation of the vapor.
dew point hygrometer A hygrometer for indicating the dew point, from which the relative
humidity can be calculated when the air temperature is !nown.
diaphragm pump A pump in which a fle)ible diaphragm, generally of rubber or e$ually
fle)ible material, is the operating part. %t is fastened at the edges in a vertical cylinder. :hen
the diaphragm is raised suction is e)erted, and when it is depressed the li$uid is forced
through a discharge valve.
diatomaceous earth A fine, siliceous earth consisting mainly of the s!eletal remains of
diatoms (unicellular organisms).
diatomaceous#earth filter A filter used in water treatment, in which a built#up layer of
diatomaceous earth serves as the filtering medium.
diatoms Fnicellular, microscopic algae with a bo)#li!e structure consisting principally of
silica.
differential gage A pressure gage used to measure the difference in pressure between two
points in a pipe or receptacle containing a li$uid.
diffused aeration %n>ection of air under pressure through submerged porous plates, or other
devices to form small air bubbles from which o)ygen is transferred to the li$uid as the
bubbles rise to the water surface.
diffusion (1) he transfer of mass from one fluid phase to another across an interface, as for
e)ample li$uid to solid, gas to li$uid. (") he spatial e$ualization of one material throughout
another.
digested sludge Sludge digested under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions until the volatile
content has been reduced to the point at which the solids are relatively nonputrescible and
inoffensive.
digester A tan! or other vessel for the storage and anaerobic or aerobic decomposition of
organic matter present in sludge. See also anaerobic digestion.
digestion (1) he biological decomposition of organic matter in sludge, resulting in partial
li$uefaction, mineralization, and volume reduction. (") he process carried out in a digester.
he following terms modify digestion7 aerobic ($.v.), anaerobic ($.v.), consecutive, high#rate,
mesophilic ($.v.), multiple#stage sludge, single#stage, sludge ($.v.), stage ($.v.), thermophilic.
digitize he conversion of a spatial feature (e.g., a contour) from a hard copy to a computer
format by use of a hand held instrument.
di!e. (1) An emban!ment constructed to prevent overflow of water from a stream or other
body of water. (") An emban!ment constructed to retain water in a reservoir. he term dam is
usually used for a structure constructed across a watercourse or stream channel, and ?di!e? for
one constructed solely on dry ground. (1) A vertical or steeply inclined wall of igneous roc!
which has been forced into a fissure in a molten condition and there consolidated. <i!es may
obstruct the passage of groundwater.
dilution <isposal of wastewater or treated effluent by discharge to and dispersion in a
receiving water with resulting reduction in concentrations of constituents, while accounting
for bac!ground levels and natural assimilation processes.
dilution factor he ratio of the $uantity of untreated wastewater or partly or completely
treated effluent to the average $uantity of diluting water available at the point of disposal or at
any point under consideration' usually e)pressed in percentage. Also called available dilution.
dilution gaging A method of measuring the flow of water by introducing a constant flow of a
solution of !nown concentration for a sufficient length of time at one section of water conduit
and then determining the resulting dilution of this solution at another downstream section.
-hemical gaging, electrochemical gaging, and radioactive solution gaging are different forms
of dilution gaging.
dilution method A method in which the discharge is deduced from the determination of the
ratio of the concentration of the tracer in>ected to that of the tracer at the sampling cross
section.
dimensionless unit hydrograph A unit graph useful for comparing unit hydrographs of
different drainage areas or those resulting from different storm patterns. %t is derived either
from an observed storm flow hydrograph of a flood event or from a unit hydrograph, or it can
be constructed from a summation graph.
direct o)idation he direct combination of substances with o)idants accomplished without
benefit of living organisms. ;or e)ample, o)idation of substances in wastewater by the direct
application of air or o)idizing agents such as chlorine.
direct runoff he runoff that enters stream channels promptly by flow over the ground surface
or through the ground without entering the main water table, or that portion of the runoff
which is directly associated with causative rainfall or snow melt. See also storm runoff,
surface runoff.
discharge, C he volume of li$uid flowing through a cross section per unit of time.
discharge area he cross#section area of the waterway. Fsed to compute discharge of a
stream, pipe, conduit, or other carrying system.
discharge capacity he ma)imum rate of flow that a conduit, channel, or other hydraulic
structure is capable of passing.
discharge coefficient A coefficient by which the theoretical discharge of a fluid through an
orifice, weir, nozzle, or other passage must be multiplied to obtain the actual discharge.
discharge curve A curve that e)presses the relationship between the discharge of a stream or
open conduit at a given location and the stage or elevation of the li$uid surface at or near that
location. Also called rating curve, discharge rating curve.
discharge (stage) hydrograph A graphical representation of changes in discharge (stage) with
respect to time.
discing -ultivating the soil with a disc#type implement.
discrete sedimentation Sedimentation in which removal of suspended solids is a function only
of terminal settling velocity. See also flocculants.
disinfectant A substance used for disinfection and in which disinfection has been
accomplished.
disinfection (1) he !illing of waterborne faecal and pathogenic bacteria and viruses in
potable water supplies or wastewater effluents with a disinfectant' an operational term that
must be defined within limits, such as achieving an effluent with no more than "22 colonies
faecal coliform per 122 ml. (") he !illing of the larger portion of microorganisms, e)cluding
bacterial spores, in or on a substance with the probability that all pathogenic forms are !illed,
inactivated, or otherwise rendered non#virulent.
disintegration he brea!ing down of a substance into its component parts.
dispersion (1) Scattering and mi)ing. (") he mi)ing of polluted fluids with a large volume of
water in a stream or other body of water. (1) he outward percolation of water from an
artesian basin or a$uifer through confining formations. (/) he repelling action of an electric
potential on fine particles in suspension in water, as in a stream carrying clay. his dispersion
usually is ended by contact with ocean water which causes flocculation and precipitation of
the clay, a common cause of shoaling in harbors. (6) %n a continuous flow treatment unit, the
phenomenon of short circuiting. (4) he brea!ing down of soil aggregates, resulting in a
single grain structure.
displacement pump. A type of pump in which the water is induced to flow from the source of
supply through an inlet pipe and inlet valve and into the pump chamber by a vacuum created
therein by the withdrawal of a piston or piston#li!e device which, on its return, displaces a
certain volume of the water contained in the chamber and forces it to flow through the
discharge valves and discharge pipes.
disposal (elease to the environment.
disposal by dilution A method of disposing of wastewater or treated effluent by discharging it
into a stream or body of water.
dissociation in water he splitting of molecules dissolved in water into positive and negative
ions. ,ore properly termed ionization.
dissolved air flotation A separation process in which air bubbles emerging from a
supersaturated solution become attached to suspended solids in the li$uid undergoing
treatment and float them up to the surface. See also diffused aeration.
dissolved o)ygen (<0) he o)ygen dissolved in water, wastewater, or other li$uid, usually
e)pressed in milligrams per liter, or percent of saturation, available (in solution) for a$uatic
organisms.
dissolved#o)ygen sag curve. A curve that represents the profile of dissolved o)ygen content
along the course of a stream resulting from deo)ygenation associated with biochemical
o)idation of organic matter and reo)ygenation through the absorption of atmospheric o)ygen
and biological photosynthesis. Also called o)ygen sag curve ($.v.).
dissolved solids. Solids in solution that cannot be removed by filtration' for e)ample, &a-l
and other salts that must be determined by evaporation. See also total dissolved solids.
distributaries. (1) %n irrigation, the smaller conduits, ditches, or pipelines ta!ing water out of
laterals for delivery to farms. (") Any system of secondary conduits in an irrigation or
domestic water supply system. (1) Elements of a networ! of connecting stream channels on an
alluvial fan or plain or a delta. Also called braided stream. (/) <iverging streams which do not
return to the main stream, but discharge into another stream or the ocean.
distribution graph. %n hydrology, a unit hydrograph in which the ordinates of flow are
e)pressed as percentages of the volume of the hydrograph. See also unit hydrograph.
distribution reservoir. A reservoir connected with the distribution system of a water supply
pro>ect, used primarily to accommodate fluctuations in demand which occur over short
periods (several hours to several days) and also to provide local storage in case of emergency,
such as a brea! in a main supply line or failure of a pumping plant.
distribution system. (1) A system of conduits (laterals, distributaries, pipes, and their
appurtenances) by which a primary water supply is distributed to consumers. he term applies
particularly to the networ! or pipelines in the streets in a domestic water system and or to
pipes and canals other than the main canal in an irrigation system. (") he networ! used for
distributing electrical power to consumers.
disturbed area An area in which the natural vegetative soil cover has been removed or altered,
and which is therefore susceptible to erosion.
ditch. An artificial open channel or waterway constructed through earth or roc! to convey
water. A ditch is smaller than a canal, although the line of demarcation between the two is
indefinite. Fsually when the bottom width is less than three to four feet and the depth of water
less than one to two feet (about ".1 m), the structure is called a ditch. A ditch usually has
sharper curvature than does a canal, is not constructed to such refinement or uniformity of
grade or cross#section, and is seldom lined with impervious material to prevent seepage.
ditch lining. ,aterial, such as stone, wood, concrete, metal, or bituminous binder, used for
preventing lea!age from, or erosion of, a ditch.
diurnal. (1) 0ccurring during a "/#hr period' diurnal variation. (") 0ccurring during the day
time (as opposed to night time). (1) %n tidal hydraulics, having a period or cycle of
appro)imately one tidal day.
diversion A channel with a supporting ridge on the lower side constructed across the slope to
divert water from areas where it is in e)cess to sites where it can be used or disposed of
safely. <iversions differ from terraces in that they are individually designed.
diversion ban! A channel with an earth ban! on its lower side constructed across the slope to
divert water from areas where it is in e)cess, to sites where it can be used or discharged
safely.
diversion berm An alternative name for a diversion ban! ($.v.).
diversion canal. A canal to divert water from one point to another. %n irrigation practice, a
canal e)tending from the point of diversion at the main canal to the beginning of the
distribution system.
diversion chamber A structure.chamber which contains a device for drawing off all or part of
a flow or for discharging portions of the total flow to various outlets.
diversion channel (1) An artificial channel constructed around a town or other point of high
potential flood damages to divert flood water from the main channel for the critical reach. See
also bypass channel. (") A channel carrying water from a diversion dam.
diversion gate. (1) A gate, with one of many different forms, that may be closed to divert flow
from the channel in which it is located to some other channel.
diversion maintenance hatch (manhole). A maintenance hatch e$uipped with a device for
diverting a portion of the total flow to another sewer or conduit. See also diversion chamber.
diverting weir. (1) Any device or structure over which any e)cess water or wastewater beyond
the capacity of the conduit or container is allowed to flow. See also overflow weir. (") A weir
placed in a combined sewer to divert storm flow from the normal dry weather direction.
<0 (dissolved o)ygen). he amount of o)ygen dissolved in water or other li$uids, usually
e)pressed as mg.l or percent saturation.
domestic. A term used to distinguish municipal (household) water or wastewater services
from commercial and industrial water or wastewater. erm sometimes used to include
commercial component.
domestic consumption. he $uantity, or $uantity per capita, of water supplied in a
municipality or district for domestic uses or purposes during a given period, usually one day.
%t is usually ta!en to include all uses included within the term municipal use of water, and
$uantity wasted, lost, or otherwise unaccounted for.
domestic wastewater. :astewater derived principally from dwellings, business buildings,
institutions, and the li!e. %t may or may not contain groundwater, surface water, or storm
water.
<ortmund tan!. A vertical flow sedimentation tan! with a hopper bottom, used in wastewater
treatment. he wastewater, introduced near the bottom of the tan!, rises and overflows at the
surface' the sludge may be removed from the bottom at fre$uent intervals.
dosage. A specified $uantity of a material applied to a specified $uantity of a second material'
for e)ample, mg.l alum applied as a coagulant in water purification.
dose. (1) he $uantity of substance applied to a unit $uantity of li$uid for treatment purposes.
%t can be e)pressed in terms of either volume or weight, e.g., milligrams per liter, or grams per
cubic meter. (") 8enerally, a $uantity of material applied to obtain a specific effect.
dosing apparatus. Apparatus for regulating the periodic application of wastewater or water to
filters or for intermittent application of measured $uantities of chemicals to water and
wastewater.
double action pump. A reciprocating pump the suction inlet of which admits water to both
sides of the plunger or piston' this arrangement affords a more or less constant discharge.
double mass curve. A plot on arithmetic cross#section paper of the cumulated values of one
variable against the cumulated values of another or against the computed values of the same
variable for a concurrent period of time.
downspout. %n plumbing, the water conductor from the roof to the storm drain or other means
of disposal. Also called leader.
downstream seepage he horizontal movement of runoff through the soil layer, which may
cause damage to nearby building foundations.
<*< method. An analytical method for determining chlorine residual utilizing the reagent
<*< (n#diethyl#e#phenylenediamine). his is the most commonly and officially recognized
test for free chlorine residual.
drag. he resistance offered by a li$uid to the settlement or deposition of a suspended particle.
drag coefficient. A measure of the resistance to sedimentation or flotation of a suspended
particle as influenced by its size, shape, density, and terminal velocity. %t is the ratio of the
force per unit area to the stagnation pressure and is dimensionless. See also friction factor.
drain (noun) (1) A conduit or channel constructed to carry off, by gravity, li$uids other than
wastewater, including surplus underground, storm or surface water. %t may be an open ditch,
lined or unlined, or a buried pipe. (") %n plumbing, any pipe which carries water or wastewater
in a building drainage system. he following terms modify drains7 area, blind, bo), building
($.v.), curtain, fi)ture, ;rench, groundwater, house (sewer) ($.v.), hydrant, intercepting
(sewer) ($.v.), land, roof (leader) ($.v.), sin!, storm ($.v.), stormwater, subsoil, surface#water,
under#drain ($.v.).
drain (verb) (1) o provide channels, such as open ditches or closed drains, so that e)cess
water can be removed by surface flow or internal flow. (") o lose water (from the soil) by
percolation.
drainage (1) %n general, the removal of surface water from a given area either by gravity or by
pumping. -ommonly applied to surface water and groundwater. (") he area from which
water occurring at a given point or location on a stream originates. %n such cases, synonymous
with drainage area ($.v.) and watershed ($.v.). (1) %n a general sense, the flow of all li$uids
under the force of gravity. (/) -hannels, such as open ditches or closed drains, to remove
e)cess water by surface flow or internal flow.
drainage (of soil) o lose water (from the soil) by percolation. As a natural condition of the
soil, soil drainage refers to the fre$uency and duration of periods when the soil is not
saturated. %n well#drained soils the water is removed readily, while in poorly drained soils the
root zone is waterlogged for long periods unless artificially drained.
drainage area. (1) he area of a drainage basin or watershed, e)pressed in hectares, s$uare
!ms., acres, s$uare miles, or other unit of area. (") he area served by a sewer system
receiving storm and surface water, or by a watercourse. (1) All land and water area from
which runoff may run to a common (design) point. Also called catchment area ($.v.),
watershed ($.v.), river basin.
drainage basin. (1) An area from which surface runoff is carried away by a single drainage
system. Also called catchment area ($.v.), watershed ($.v.), drainage area ($.v.). (") he
largest natural drainage area subdivision of a continent. he Fnited States has been divided at
one time or another, for various administrative purposes, into some 1" to 1G drainage basins.
drainage density he relative density of natural drainage channels in a given area. %t is usually
e)pressed in terms of !ms. or miles of natural drainage of stream channel per s$uare !m. or
mile of area, and obtained by dividing the total length of stream channels in the area in !ms or
miles by the area in s$uare !ms or miles.
drainage system (1) A system of conduits and structures for effecting drainage. (") A surface
stream or a body of impounded surface water, together with all surface streams and bodies of
impounded surface water tributary to it. (1) %n plumbing, all piping within public or private
premises which conveys wastewater, rainwater, or other li$uids wastes to a legal point of
disposal' does not include the pipes of a public sewer system.
drain tile *ipes of various materials, in short lengths, laid in covered trenches underground, in
most cases $uite loosely and with open >oints, to collect and carry off e)cess groundwater or
to dispose of wastewater in the ground. Agricultural drain is ordinarily made with plain ends.
drawdown (1) he magnitude of the change in surface elevation of a body of water as a result
of the withdrawal of water. (") he magnitude of the lowering of the water surface in a well,
and of the water table or piezometric surface ad>acent to the well, resulting from the
withdrawal of water from the well by pumping. See also drop. (1) %n a continuous water
surface with accelerating flow, the difference in elevation between downstream and upstream
points. (/) he gradual reduction in water level in a pond +,* due to the combined effect of
infiltration and evaporation.
drawdown curve (1) %n well or groundwater drainage hydraulics, a profile of the piezometric
surface of the water table relating drawdown to distance from pumping well under a given set
of pumping conditions. (") he profile of a li$uid surface in an open channel when its surface
slope e)ceeds the bed slope.
drin!ing water standards Standards that define allowable concentrations of coliforms and
certain chemicals, physical characteristics and radioactivity in drin!ing water. hey are
prescribed by federal, state, or local authorities and also contain sampling, monitoring, and
reporting re$uirements.
drizzle (elatively uniform precipitation consisting e)clusively of minute and numerous drops
of water which seem to float in the air and are usually less that 2.2" in. (2.6 mm) in diameter.
%t is distinguished from light rain by the fact that visibility is poor during a drizzle' it often
occurs simultaneously with fog or mist.
drop (1) A structure in an open conduit or canal installed for the purpose of dropping the
water to a lower level and dissipating its energy. %t may be vertical or inclined' in the latter
case it is usually called a chute. Sometimes called drop spillway. (") he difference in water
surface elevations upstream and downstream of a bridge or other constriction in a stream or
conduit.
drop#down curve he longitudinal shape of the water surface in a stream or open conduit
upstream from a point where a sudden fall occurs, as when flowing water passes over a dam,
weir, or other obstruction. %n uniform channels the curve is conve) upward. he depth at all
points is greater than +elanger=s critical depth and less than normal depth, and velocities
increase downstream, the flow being nonuniform. See also bac!water curve.
drop inlet An overfall structure in which water drops through a vertical riser connected to a
discharge pipe.
drop maintenance hatch (manhole) A maintenance hatch configuration used if an incoming
sewer is considerably higher than the outgoing. A tee or elbow from the incoming sewer
drops the wastewater through a vertical pipe into the maintenance hatch at the outgoing sewer
elevation.
drop structure A structure for dropping water to a lower level and dissipating its surplus
energy. he drop may be vertical or inclined.
drought %n general, an e)tended period of dry weather, or a period of deficient rainfall that
may e)tend over an indefinite number of days, without any $uantitative standard by which to
determine the degree of deficiency needed to constitute a drought. Cualitatively, it may be
defined by its effects as a dry period sufficient in length and severity to cause at least partial
crop failure or to impair the ability to meet a normal water demand.
drought conditions -onditions resulting from a long period without natural rainfall.
drowned flow' submerged flow A flow which is influenced by the water level downstream of
the measuring structure.
drowned weir A weir which, when in use, has the water level on the downstream side at an
elevation e$ual to, or higher than, the weir crest' the rate of discharge is affected by the tail
water. Also called submerged weir ($.v.).
drum gate A movable crest gate in the form of a sector of a circle hinged at the ape). he arc
face effects a water seal with the edge of a recess into which the gate may be lowered. he
gate is raised and held up by the pressure of water admitted to the recess from the headwater.
%t is lowered by closing the inlet port to the recess and draining the water from it.
drum screen A screen in the form of a cylinder or truncated cone which rotates on its a)is.
dry#bulb temperature he temperature of air measured by a conventional thermometer.
dry suspended solids he weight of the suspended matter in a sample after drying for a
specific time at a specified temperature.
dry weather flow (1) he flow of wastewater in a combined sewer during dry weather. Such
flow consists mainly of wastewater, with no storm water included. (") he flow of water in a
stream during dry weather, usually contributed entirely by groundwater. See also base flow ,
minimum flow. (1) -ombination of domestic, industrial and commercial wastes found in
sanitary sewers during dry weather not affected by recent or current rain.
dryfall he deposition of atmospheric pollutants on the land surface.
dual#media filters <eep#bed filters utilizing discrete layers of dissimilar media, such as
anthracite and sand, placed one on top of the other.
duct A tube or channel for the conveyance of a fluid' a conduit.
duple) soil A soil in which there is a sharp change in te)ture between the A and + horizons
(e.g. loam overlying clay).
duration curve A curve that e)presses the relationships of all the units of some item such as
head, flow, load, power, etc., arranged in order of magnitude as the ordinate, to time,
fre$uently e)pressed in percentage, as the abscissa' a graphical representation of the number
of times given $uantities are e$ualed or e)ceeded during a certain period or record. he
duration curve is the integral of the fre$uency curve.
dust ;inely divided solid particles pro>ected into the air by natural forces such as wind,
volcanic eruption, or earth$ua!e, and by mechanical or manmade processes such as crushing,
grinding, milling, drilling, demolition, shoveling, conveying, screening, bagging, and
sweeping. 8enerally, particles are not called dust unless they are smaller than about 122
millimicron. +elow one millimicron in size, particles are classed as fumes or smo!e.
dy!e See di!e.
dynamic head (1) :hen there is flow7 (a) the head at the top of a water#wheel' (b) the height
of the hydraulic grade line above the top of a waterwheel' (c) the head against which a pump
wor!s. (") hat head of fluid which would prod#uce statically the pressure of a moving fluid.
dynamic pressure he pressure e)erted by a li$uid in motion against a surface or body. he
reaction to this pressure changes the direction of the li$uid or reduces its velocity.
dynamic suction head he reading of a gage on the suction line of a pump corrected for the
distance of the pump below the free surface of the body of li$uid which is being pumped'
e)ists only when the pump is below the free surface. he vertical distance from source of
supply, when pumping proceeds at re$uired capacity, to center of pump, minus velocity head
and entrance and friction losses. %nternal pump losses are not subtracted.
dyne. he absolute centimeter#gram#second unit of force, defined as that force which will
impart to a free mass of one gram an acceleration of one centimeter per second per second.
E. coli. Abbreviation of Escherichia coli.
earth Fnconsolidated material of the lithosphere, derived by weathering and erosion. %n
engineering practice, commonly called soil ($.v.) to distinguish it from roc!s. -onsists of
gravel (boulders, cobbles, pebbles, and granules), sand silt, and clay. %ncludes material of both
inorganic and organic origin.
earth dam A dam the main section of which is composed principally of earth, gravel, sand,
silt, and clay. Sometimes called an earth#fill dam.
earth reservoir A reservoir constructed in earth by using e)cavated material to form
emban!ments. Such reservoirs may be unlined or lined with impervious materials.
echo sounding %ndirect measuring of depth by noting of the time interval re$uired for sound
waves to go from a source near the surface to the bottom and bac! again. %n 13"1, an
ultrasonic method depending on high fre$uency vibrations was developed, and this has since
been improved to permit the ma!ing of accurate echo soundings in as little as one fathom of
water. Simultaneously, methods of recording sounds graphically were developed.
ecological processes he flow of energy and nutrients (including water) through an
ecosystem.
ecology he branch of biology dealing with the relationships between organisms and their
environment.
ecosystem he composite balance of all living organisms, and plants and their ambient
environment' air, water, and solid phases' in a defined area, that ma!e a dynamic and
interactive part of the earth' an interacting system which is highly interrelated.
ecosystem approach An approach to perceiving, managing and otherwise living in an
ecosystem that recognizes the need to preserve the ecosystem=s biochemical pathways, upon
which the welfare of all life depends, in the conte)t of multifaceted relationships (biological,
social, economic, etc.) that distinguish that particular ecosystem.
ecosystem#based management Stewardship of our living natural resources to maintain the
functional integrity of large, comple) environmental units called ecosystems. Ecosystem#
based management is an active process that emphasizes the maintenance of biological
diversity, of natural relationships among species, and dynamic processes that ma!e
ecosystems sustainable.
ecosystem integrity he ability of an ecosystem to maintain its organization (i.e. structures,
processes, diversity) when confronted with environmental disturbance and change.
eddy A circular movement occurring in flowing water, caused by currents set up in the water
by obstructions or changes and irregularities in the ban!s or bottom of the channel.
effective porosity he ratio, usually e)pressed in percentage, of the volume of water or other
li$uid which a given volume of li$uid#saturated roc! or soil will yield under any specified
hydraulic conditions, to the total volume of soil or roc!.
effective precipitable water he greatest amount of precipitable water that can be removed
from an atmospheric column by convective action.
effective precipitation (agric.) *recipitation, falling during the growing period of a crop that is
available to meet the crops consumptive water re$uirements. %t does not include deep
percolation below the root zone or surface runoff.
effective rainfall (1) (ain that produces surface runoff. (") %n irrigation practice, that portion
of total precipitation which is retained by the soil so that it is available for use for crop
production.
effective size. he diameter of the particles, spherical in shape, e$ual in size, and arranged in
a given manner, of a hypothetical sample of granular material that would have the same
transmission constant as the actual material under consideration. here are a number of
methods for determining effective size, the most common being that developed by Allen
@azen, which consists of passing the granular material through sieves with varying
dimensions of mesh. %n this method, the effective size is determined from the dimensions of
that mesh which will permit 12H of the sample to pass and will retain the remaining 32H' in
other words, the effective size is that for which 12H of the grains are smaller and 32H larger.
effective storage he volume of water available for a designated purpose. <ead storage is not
effective. %n power reservoirs, only storage above the minimum drawdown level is effective'
in flood control reservoirs, the effective storage is the difference between actual capacity
above outlet elevation and valley storage.
effluent (1) A li$uid which flows out of a process or a confined space. (") :astewater or
other li$uid, partially or completely treated, or in its natural state, flowing out of a reservoir,
basin, treatment plant, or industrial treatment plant, or part thereof. (1) An outflowing branch
of a main stream or la!e.
effluent $uality he physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of wastewater or other
li$uid flowing out of a basin, reservoir, pipe, or treatment plant.
effluent seepage <iffuse discharge of groundwater to ground surfaces or into a surface water
body. See also lea!age.
effluent standard Specification of the allowable concentration or mass of a constituent which
may be discharged.
effluent weir A weir at the outflow end of a sedimentation basin or other hydraulic structure.
egg#shaped sewer. A sewer with a cross#section more or less similar to that of an egg standing
upright on its smaller end. Such a section allows higher velocities to be obtained for small
flows, because of the relatively smaller wetted perimeter, than circular or rectangular sections.
e>ector. A device for moving a fluid or solid by entraining it in a high#velocity stream or air or
water >et.
electrical conductivity. he reciprocal of the resistance in ohms measured between opposite
faces of a centimeter cube of an a$ueous solution at a specified temperature. %t is e)pressed as
microohms per centimeter at a temperature in degrees -elsius.
electrochemical gaging. A method for the measurement of flow of water based on the nearly
linear relationship between the concentration and the electrical conductivity of a salt solution,
which ma!es it possible to determine the degree of dilution by integrating a conductivity#time
graph.
electrodialysis. he selective separation of dissolved solids on the basis of electrical charge,
by diffusion through a semipermeable membrane across which an electrical potential is
imposed.
elevated la!e A la!e which has the water level increased from the addition of a di!e structure.
elutriation. A process of sludge conditioning whereby the sludge is washed with either fresh
water or plant effluent to reduce the demand for conditioning chemicals and to improve
settling or filtering characteristics of the solids. E)cessive al!alinity is removed in this
process.
emergency spillway A dam spillway designed and constructed to discharge flows in e)cess of
the principal spillway design discharge.
emergent plants A$uatic plants that are rooted in the sediment but whose leaves are at or
above the water surface. hese wetland plants often have high habitat value for wildlife and
waterfowl, and can aid in pollutant upta!e.
emission. <ischarge of a li$uid, solid, or gaseous material.
emulsifying agent. An agent capable of modifying the surface tension of emulsion droplets to
prevent coalescence. E)amples are soap and other surface#active agents, certain proteins and
gums, water#soluble cellulose derivative, and polyhydric alcohol esters and ethers.
emulsion A heterogeneous li$uid mi)ture of two or more li$uids not normally dissolved in
one another, but held in suspension one in the other by forceful agitation or by emulsifiers
which modify the surface tension of the droplets to prevent coalescence. See also emulsifying
agent.
end contraction (1) he e)tent of the reduction in the width of the nappe due to a constriction
caused by the ends of the weir notch. (") he walls of a weir notch which does not e)tend
across the entire width of the channel approach.
endogenous respiration Autoo)idation by organisms in biological processes.
energy dissipation he transformation of mechanical energy into heat energy. %n fluids, this is
accomplished by viscous shear. he rate of energy dissipation in flowing fluids varies with
the scale and the degree of the turbulence. +affles, the hydraulic >ump, and other damping
methods are used to dissipate energy.
energy dissipator Barious devices located usually at the outlet of water transmitting devices
such as pipes, spillways or chutes for the purpose of interrupting discharged flows and thereby
dissipating their e)cess energy.
energy gradient he slope of the energy line of a body of flowing water with reference to a
datum plane' the difference in total (energy) head per unit horizontal distance measured in the
direction of flow.
energy#gradient line he line representing the gradient which >oins the elevations of the
energy head. See also energy line.
energy head (conduits) he height of the hydraulic grade line above the center line of a
conduit plus the velocity head of the mean#velocity water in that section. See also total head.
energy head line See total head line.
energy line A line >oining the elevations of the energy heads' a line drawn above the hydraulic
grade line at a distance e$uivalent to the velocity head of the flowing water at each section
along a stream, channel, or conduit.
energy loss' head loss he difference in total (energy) head between two cross sections.
enlargement loss he loss of head in a conduit resulting from eddy losses occasioned by a
sudden change in velocity of water due to enlargement in the cross#sectional area of the
conduit.
enterobacter aerogenes. 0ne of the species of bacteria included in the coliform group. 0ften
of non#faecal origin.
enterococci A group of cocci that normally inhabit the intestines of man or animals.
%ncorrectly used interchangeably with faecal streptococci.
entrainment he carryover of drops of li$uid during a process such as distillation. he
trapping of bubbles in a li$uid produced either mechanically through turbulence or chemically
through a reaction.
entrance head he head re$uired to cause water to flow into a conduit or other structure.
entrance loss he head necessary to overcome resistance to the entrance of water into a
conduit or other structure. his head is lost in eddies and friction at the inlet of the conduit.
entry loss (or inlet loss) he loss of head at the entry to a hydraulic carrier as a result of
gaining velocity and turbulence on entry.
envelope <etermination of the ma)imum e)tent.
environment A general description of the air, water, and land which support the life of an
organism and receive its waste products. See ecosystem.
environmental health he welfare of an individual as influenced by his environment,
including the effects of biohazards, pollution, wor!ing and living conditions, etc.
environmental impact. -hanges in the environment that result from specific actions or
materials.
environmental impact statement. A report detailing a proposed action and possible
alternatives and assessing identifiable direct and indirect beneficial and detrimental impact on
the environment. ;iling of such reports is re$uired by the &ational Environmental *olicy Act
(*5 3/#G1) and by some state legislation. -ommonly abbreviated E%S.
environmental protection agency A federal, state, or local unit of government established to
consolidate programs dealing with air, water, solid waste, and other environmental concerns
within one agency. he authority and scope of activity are determined by the legislation
establishing the agency.
environmental $uality. -haracteristics of the environment that generally indicate its
desirability for human activity.
enzyme. A catalyst produced by living cells. All enzymes are proteins, but not all proteins are
enzymes.
ephemeral stream. (1) A stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation. Such a
stream receives no water from springs and no long continued supply from melting snow or
other surface source. %ts channel is above the water table at all times. (") he term may be
arbitrarily restricted to streams or stretches of streams that do not flow continuously during
periods of as much as one month.
epidemic. A disease that occurs simultaneously in a large fraction of the community.
epilimnion. A turbulent region of comparatively uniform temperature above the thermocline
in a thermally stratified body of water. See also hypolimnion.
e$ualization he averaging (or method for averaging) of variations in flow and composition
of a li$uid.
e$ualizing basin. A holding basin in which variations in flow and composition of a li$uid are
averaged. Such basins are used to provide a flow of reasonably uniform volume and
composition to a treatment unit. Also called balancing reservoir ($.v.).
e$uilibrium. A condition of balance in which the rate of formation, and the rate of
consumption or degradation of various constituents are e$ual. See also chemical e$uilibrium.
e$uilibrium constant. A value which describes the $uantitative relationship between chemical
species in a system at e$uilibrium.
e$uivalent pipes. wo pipes or two systems of pipes in which the losses of head for e$ual
rates of flow are the same. A single pipe is e$uivalent to a system of pipes when the same
loss#of#head condition is satisfied.
erodibility (of soil) he susceptibility of soil material to detachment and transportation by
wind or water.
erosion (1) he wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice or other
geological agents, including such processes as gravitational creep. (") <etachment and
movement of soil or roc! fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity.
<ifferent types of water erosion include7
accelerated erosion Erosion much more rapid than normal, natural or geologic erosion,
primarily as a result of the influence of the activities of man or, in some cases, of other
animals or natural catastrophes that e)pose bare surfaces (e.g. fires).
gully erosion he erosion process whereby water accumulates in narrow channels and, over
short periods, removes the soil from this narrow area to considerable depths, ranging from
122 mm to as much as "2 to 12 metres. See gully.
rill erosion An erosion process in which numerous small channels only several centimetres
deep are formed. See rill.
sheet erosion he gradual uniform removal of the earth=s surface by splash and runoff,
without the formation of rills or gullies. his type of erosion may occur when water flows in a
sheet down a sloping surface and removes material from the surface.
splash erosion he spattering of small soil particles caused by the impact of raindrops on wet
soils. he loosened and spattered particles may or may not be subse$uently removed by
surface runoff.
surface erosion Erosion that occurs specifically at the surface (as against deeper#seated
movement such as landslip).
erosion hazard he relative susceptibility of land to the prevailing agents of erosion. Erosion
hazard is dependent on climatic factors, land# form, soils and land use.
escherichia coli. 0ne of the species of bacteria in the faecal coliform group. %t is found in
large numbers in the gastrointestinal tract and feces of warm#blooded animals and man. %ts
presence is considered indicative of fresh faecal contamination, and it is used as an indicator
organism for the presence of less easily detected pathogenic bacteria. Abbreviated E. coli.
es!er. A long, winding, gravelly ridge deposited by a stream flowing in a channel in the ice of
a glacier or below the glacier.
estuary A partially enclosed body of water in the lower reaches of a river which is freely
connected with the sea, which receives fresh water from upland drainage areas and in which
fresh and salt water may commingle.
eutrophication he progressive enrichment of surface waters, particularly nonflowing bodies
of water such as la!es and ponds, with dissolved nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen
compounds, which accelerate the growth of algae and higher forms of plant life and result in
the utilization of the usable o)ygen content of the waters at the e)pense of other a$uatic life
forms' nutrient enrichment of a la!e or other water body, typically characterized by increased
growth of plan!tonic algae and rooted plants. %t can also be accelerated by wastewater
discharges and polluted runoff. See also oligotrophic.
evaporation. (1) he process by which water becomes a vapor. (") he $uantity of water that
is evaporated' the rate is e)pressed in depth of water, measured as li$uid water, removed from
a specified surface per unit of time, generally in inches or centimeters per day, month, or year.
(1) he concentration of dissolved solids by driving off water through the application of heat.
evaporation rate. he $uantity of water, e)pressed in terms of depth of li$uid water,
evaporated from a given water surface per unit of time. %t is usually e)pressed in inches (or
mm) depth per day, month, or year.
evapotranspiration (emoval of moisture from soil by evaporation together with transpiration
by plants growing in that soil.
event mass *roduct of the event mean concentration and total event runoff volume.
event mean concentration (E,-) he arithmetic mean concentration of an urban pollutant
measured during a storm runoff event. he E,- is calculated by flow#weighting either grab
samples or consecutive composite concentrations collected over the course of an entire storm
event.
e)cess rainfall hat part of the rain of a given storm which falls at intensities e)ceeding the
infiltration capacity and is thus available for direct runoff. See also storm flow.
e)filtration (1) he $uantity of wastewater which lea!s to the surrounding ground through
unintentional openings in a sewer. Also the process whereby this lea!ing occurs. (") he
escape of water from a water main or stormwater from a sewer, into subsurface materials due
to intentional perforations, a brea!, lea!s, etc., in the pipe' also the flow of groundwater into
ditches and channels.
e)it loss he loss of head that occurs when a stream of water passes out of a hydraulic
structure and assumes a lower velocity. Such loss is essentially due to loss of velocity head.
e)panding reach A reach of a channel wherein the flow is decelerating' the velocity head at
the lower cross section is less than the velocity head at the upper cross section.
e)pansive soil (swelling soil) A soil which significantly changes its volume in horizontal and
vertical planes with changes in moisture content. %t typically crac!s when drying out.
e)posure (slope) &orth # Slopes facing in any compass direction cloc!wise between &/6:
and S/6E. South # Slopes facing in any compass direction cloc!wise between S/6E and
&/6:.
faecal coliform Aerobic and facultative, 8ram#negative, nonspore#forming, rod#shaped
bacteria capable of growth at //.6o-, and associated with faecal matter of warm#blooded
animals.
faecal coliform bacteria ,inute living organisms associated with human or animal faeces that
are used as an indirect indicator of the presence of other disease#causing organ#isms.
faecal indicators ;aecal coliform, faecal streptococci, or other bacterial groups originating in
human or other warm#blooded animals, which indicate contamination by matter.
faecal streptococci he subgroup of enterococci that is of particular concern in water and
wastewater. See also enterococci.
faeces E)crement from the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of residue from food digestion and
bacterial action.
fall he difference in elevation of the water surface between the e)tremities of a defined reach
at a given instant of time (e.g. as recorded at a twin gage station).
fall velocity' settling velocity Belocity applied to any rate of fall, as distinguished from
standard fall velocity ($.v.). he limiting velocity reached asymptotically by a particle falling
under the action of gravity in still water. See also settling velocity.
fallout (adioactive debris that resettles to earth after a nuclear e)plosion. ;allout ta!es two
forms. he first, local fallout, consists of the denser particles in>ected into the atmosphere by
the e)plosion. hey descend to earth within "/ hr near the site of the detonation and in an area
e)tending downwind for some distance (often hundreds of miles), depending on
meteorological conditions and the force of the detonation. he other form, worldwide fallout,
consists of lighter particles which ascend into the upper troposphere and stratosphere and are
distributed over a wide area of the earth by atmospheric circulation. hey then are brought to
earth, mainly by rain and snow, over periods ranging from months to years.
fathead minnow pimephales notatus.
fauna he animals living within a given area or environment or during a stated period.
fecal see faecal.
feces see faeces.
fencing A secure fence with loc!able gates. A permanent type would have 1.G m high fencing
on steel posts while a temporary type would have chic!en wire on star pic!ets.
fertilizer analysis he percentage composition, e)pressed in terms of elemental nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium, of a fertilizer (e.g. 1G7G72 fertilizer contains 1G per cent nitrogen
(&), G per cent phosphorus (*) and nil per cent potassium (E)).
field capacity (1) he $uantity of water held in a soil by capillary action after gravitational
water is removed. %t is the moisture content of a soil, e)pressed as a percentage of the oven#
dry weight, after the gravitational or free water has been allowed to drain, usually for two or
three days. (") he field moisture content two or three days after a soa!ing rain. (1) he
moisture content to which each layer of soil must be raised before water can drain through it.
field permeability coefficient he rate of flow of water, in gallons per day, under prevailing
conditions, through each foot of thic!ness of a given a$uifer in a width of one mile, for each
foot per mile of hydraulic gradient. Also called hydraulic conductivity. See also transmission
constant, permeability coefficient.
fill ,aterial (usually e)cavated soilroc!, but may be solid waste, etc.) used to raise the surface
of an area to a desired level.
filter A device or structure for removing solid or colloidal material, usually of a type that
cannot be removed by sedimentation, from water, wastewater, or other li$uid. he li$uid is
passed through a filtering medium, usually a granular material but sometimes finely woven
cloth, unglazed porcelain, or specially prepared paper. here are many types of filters used in
water and wastewater . See also tric!ling filter.
filter blan!et A layer of sand and.or gravel designed to prevent the movement of fine grained
soils.
filter dam A dam or weir built of pervious materials (such as stones or gabions) and located in
minor drainage lines to filter out and store the sediment carried in passing flows.
filter efficiency he operating results from a filter as measured by various criteria such as
percentage reduction in suspended matter, total solids, biochemical o)ygen demand, bacteria,
color.
filter media (1) ,aterial through which water, wastewater, or other li$uid is passed for the
purpose of purification, treatment, or conditioning. (") A cloth or metal material of some
appropriate design used to intercept sludge solids in sludge filtration. (1) *articulate (sand,
gravel, diatomaceous earth) or fibrous (cloth) material placed within a filter to collect
suspended particles.
filter strip A strip of permanent vegetation located above dams, diversions and other
structures to retard the flow of runoff, causing deposition of transported material and thereby
reducing sediment load in the runoff.
filter underdrains A system of underdraining for collecting water that has passed through a
sand filter or biological bed.
filter zone See filter blan!et.
filtrate he li$uid which has passed through a filter.
filtration he process of contacting a dilute li$uid suspension with filter media for the
removal of suspended or colloidal matter, or for the dewatering of concentrated sludge.
filtration rate he rate of application of water or wastewater to a filter, usually e)pressed in
million gallons per acre per day or gallons per minute per s$uare foot.
fine sand Sediment particles having diameters between 2.1"6 and 2."62 mm.
fines (soil) 8enerally refers to the silt and clay size particles in soil.
finescale dace pho)inus neogaeus
first flush he condition, often occurring in storm sewer discharges and combined sewer
overflows, in which an unusually high pollution load is carried in the first portion of the
discharge or overflow.
first stage biochemical o)ygen demand hat part of o)ygen demand associated with
biochemical o)idation of carbonaceous, as distinct from nitrogenous, material. Fsually, the
greater part, if not all, of the carbonaceous material is o)idized before the second stage, or
active o)idation of the nitrogenous material, ta!es place.
fish bioassay E)posure of fish to various levels of a chemical under controlled conditions to
determine safe and to)ic levels of the test chemical.
fish !ill he death of a number of fish in a locality as a result of inade$uate <0, e)cessive
rate of temperature change, or the presence of a chemical at acutely to)ic concentrations.
fish to)icity (1) %mpairment of fish development during one or more life stages as the result of
prolonged e)posure to a to)ic material at sub#lethal levels. (") he immediate death of fish
e)posed to a material at acutely to)ic concentrations.
five#day +0< hat part of o)ygen demand usually associated with biochemical o)idation of
carbonaceous material within 6 days of "2o-. ;irst stage biochemical o)ygen demand.
flap gate A gate that opens and closes by rotation around a hinge or hinges at the top side of
the gate.
flash flood A flood of short duration with a relatively high pea! rate of flow, usually resulting
from a high#intensity rainfall over a small area.
flat#crested weir A weir, the crest of which is horizontal in the direction of flow and of
appreciable length when compared with the depth of water passing over it.
fle)ible downdrain A temporary drain pipe placed from the top of a slope to the bottom of a
slope utilizing a fle)ible pipe.
flight sewer A series of steps in a sewer to brea! up the velocity on a steep grade.
float control A float device, triggered by changing li$uid levels, which activates, deactivates,
or alternates process e$uipment operation.
float gage A device for measuring the elevation of the surface of a li$uid, the actuating
element of which is a buoyant float that rests on the surface of the li$uid and rises or falls with
it, its movement being transmitted to a recording or indicating device. he elevation of the
surface is measured by a chain or tape attached to the float.
float switch An electrical switch operated by a float in a tan! or reservoir and usually
controlling the motor of a pump.
floc -ollections of smaller particles agglomerated into larger, more easily settleable particles
through chemical, physical, or biological treatment. See also flocculation.
flocculants :ater#soluble organic polyelectrolytes, that are used alone or in con>unction with
inorganic coagulants, such as aluminum or iron salts, to agglomerate solids present in water or
wastewater to form large, dense floc particles which settle rapidly.
flocculation %n water and wastewater treatment, the agglomeration of colloidal and finely
divided suspended matter after coagulation by gentle stirring by either mechanical or
hydraulic means. %n biological wastewater treatment where coagulation is not used,
agglomeration may be accomplished biologically.
flocculation agent A coagulating substance which, when added to water, forms a flocculent
precipitate which will entrain suspended matter and e)pedite sedimentation' e)amples are
alum, ferrous sulfate, and lime.
flood fre$uency he fre$uency with which the ma)imum flood may be e)pected to occur at a
site in any average interval of years. ;re$uency analysis defines the ?&#year flood? as being
the flood which will, over a long period of time, be e$ualed or e)ceeded on the average once
every & years. hus the 12#yr flood would be e)pected to occur appro)imately 122 times in a
period of 1,222 yr and of these, 12 would be e)pected to reach the 122yr magnitude.
Sometimes e)pressed in terms of percentage of probability' e.g. a probability of 1H would be
a 122#yr flood' a probability of 12H would be a 12#yr flood.
flood pea! ,a)imum rate of flow, usually e)pressed in cubic feet per second, that occurred
during a flood.
floodplain 5and which ad>oins the channel of a natural stream and which is sub>ect to
overflow flooding. %n hydrologic terms it is the area sub>ect to inundation by floods of a
particular fre$uency (12#year, "2#year floodplain, etc.)
flood polygon A polygon is any closed entity. A flood polygon simply represents the area of
the ground covered with water.
flood probability he probability of a flood of a given size being e$ualed or e)ceeded in a
given period' a probability of 1 percent would be a 122#yr flood' a probability of 12 percent
would be a 12#yr flood.
flora he aggregate of plants growing in and usually peculiar to a particular region or period.
flotable solids See settleable solids.
flow he movement of a stream of water and.or other mobile substance from place to place.
flow discharge total $uantity carried by a stream.
flow regime he amount of water released from a dam.
flood#relief channel A channel constructed to carry flood water in e)cess of the $uantity that
can be carried safely in the stream. Also called bypass channel ($.v.), floodway ($.v.).
flood routing he process of determining progressively the timing and shape of a flood wave
at successive points along a river. See also routing.
flood wave A rise in streamflow to a crest in response to runoff generated by precipitation and
its subse$uent recession after the precipitation ends.
floodway A channel constructed to carry flood water in e)cess of the $uantity that can be
carried safely in the stream. Also called bypass channel ($.v.), flood#relief channel ($.v.).
flow augmentation he release of water stored in a reservoir or other impoundment to
increase the natural flow of a stream.
flow#duration curve A duration curve of streamflow. See also duration curve.
flow e$ualization ransient storage of wastewater for release to a sewer system or treatment
plant at a controlled rate to provide a reasonably uniform flow for treatment.
flow regulator A structure installed in a canal, conduit, or channel to control the flow of water
or wastewater at inta!e or to control the water level in a canal, channel, or treatment unit.
Also see rate#of#flow controller, regulator.
flow#weighting A statistical techni$ue used to ad>ust a series of pollutant concentration
measurements for the effect of flow.
flume (1) An artificial open channel of wood, masonry or metal constructed on a grade, and
sometimes elevated, with a clearly specified shape and dimensions which may be used for
measurement of flow. Sometimes called a$ueduct. See also chute, Benturi flume, *arshall
flume. (") A ravine or gorge with a stream running through it. (1) o transport in a flume, as
is done with logs.
fluorescent dyes Substances (as used in tidal hydraulics investigations) used for measuring
feeble current and determining the path of movement of currents and sediment. hey must be
stable, have a color differing stri!ingly from that of the water, be harmless and cheap, and
have the property of emitting radiation as the result of absorption from some other source.
forebay An e)tra storage area provided near an inlet of a +,* to trap incoming sediments
before they accumulate in a pond +,*.
force main A pressure pipe >oining the pump discharge at a water or wastewater pumping
station with a point of gravity flow.
forested areas %ncludes those regions of the basin where the dominant activity is directed
towards the continued lifecycle of trees both deciduous and coniferous.
foundation drain A pipe or series of pipes that collects water drained from the foundation or
footing of structures and discharges these waters into sanitary, combined or storm sewers or to
other points of disposal, for the purpose of draining unwanted waters away from such
structures.
frazil ice ;ine spicules, plates or discoids of ice suspended in water, generally formed by the
supercooling of water too turbulent for the formation of sheet ice. he same phenomenon,
when found in salt water, is called lolly ice. ;razil (derived from the ;rench word for cinders,
which it resembles) forms in supercooled water when the air temperature is far below
freezing. %n some cases the number of spicules per cubic foot is very large, and the ice
resembles a mass of snow. ;razil ice may e)tend to the bottom of a stream and dam its flow,
thus causing property damage or stopping water wheels.
free available chlorine he amount of chlorine available as dissolved gas, hypochlorous acid,
or hyperchlorite ion, that is not combined with an amine or other organic compound.
free available residual chlorine hat portion of the total residual chlorine remaining in water
or wastewater at the end of a specified contact period which will react chemically and
biologically as hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite ion.
free flow A flow which is not influenced by the level of water downstream of the measuring
device.
free residual chlorination he application of chlorine or chlorine compounds to water or
wastewater to produce a free available chlorine residual directly or through the destruction of
ammonia or certain organic nitrogenous compounds.
free surface he boundary surface of a li$uid which is in contact with the atmosphere.
free weir A weir that is not submerged' a weir in which the tail water is below the crest or
where the flow is not in any way affected by tail water.
freeboard (hydraulics) he vertical distance between the ma)imum water surface elevation
anticipated in design and the top of retaining ban!s or structures. ;reeboard is provided to
prevent overtopping due to surcharge.
fre$uency (1) he time rate of vibration or the number of complete cycles per unit time. (")
he number of occurrences of a certain phenomenon in a given time. (1) he number of
occasions on which the same numerical measure of a particular $uantity has occurred between
definite limits.
fre$uency analysis A method of describing hydrologic data such as rainfall depths, flood
flows and low flows using statistical techni$ues to fit historical se$uences of fre$uency
distribution.
fre$uency distribution he distribution of probabilities associated with specific values that a
random variable may assume' an arrangement or distribution of $uantities pertaining to a
single element in order of their magnitude and fre$uency of occurrence.
friction coefficient A coefficient used to calculate the energy gradient caused by friction.
friction factor A measure of the resistance to flow of fluid in a conduit as influenced by wall
roughness.
friction head he head lost by water flowing in a stream or conduit as the result of the
disturbances set up by the contact between the moving water and its containing conduit and
by intermolecular friction. %n laminar flow, the head lost is appro)imately proportional to the
first power of the velocity' in turbulent flow to a higher power, appro)imately the s$uare of
the velocity. :hile, strictly spea!ing, head losses such as those due to bends, e)pansions,
obstructions, and impact are not included in this term, the usual practice is to include all such
head losses under this term.
friction loss he head lost by water flowing in a stream or conduit as the result of the
disturbances set up by the contact between the moving water and its containing conduit and
by
intermolecular friction. See also friction head.
friction weir A weir that is not submerged. See also free weir.
front A meteorological term for a line or narrow belt mar!ing the intersection of a frontal
surface with the surface of the earth.
frontal precipitation *recipitation occurring at the frontal surface.
frontal surface he surface of separation between two ad>acent air masses of different
charateristics, usually temperature and humidity, normally associated with a belt of clouds
and precipitation. here are three types7 warm front, at which warm air replaces colder air as
the front moves' cold front, at which colder air replaces warmer air' occlusion, which is
formed when a cold front overta!es a warm front and which appears as either a cold or a
warm front at the surface of the earth.
frost#heave he upward movement of soil surface due to the e)pansion of ice stored between
particles in the first few feet of the soil profile. ,ay cause surface fracturing of asphalt or
concrete.
;roude=s number, ;r A numerical $uantity used as an inde) to characterize the type of flow in
a hydraulic structure that has the force of gravity (as the only force producing motion) acting
in con>unction with the resisting force of inertia. %t is e$ual to the s$uare of a characteristic
velocity (the mean, surface, or ma)imum velocity) of the system, divided by the product of a
characteristic linear dimension, such as diameter or depth, and the gravity constant or
acceleration due to gravity # all e)pressed in consistent units so that the combinations will be
dimensionless. he number is used in open#channel flow studies or in cases in which the free
surface plays an essential role in influencing motion. A dimensionless number e)pressing the
ratio of inertia forces to gravity forces. ;or open channels, the ;roude number is calculated7
where is the hydraulic depth of the cross section m, is the mean velocity of flow (m.s), and g
is the acceleration due to gravity (m.s").
fry A recently hatched fish.
;F (formazin turbidity unit) A standard unit of turbidity based upon a !nown chemical
reaction that produces insoluble particulates of uniform size. he ;F has largely replaced
the 9F. See also 9F.
full pool *ertains to an impoundment that is at normal water level.
fungicide A substance capable of destroying harmful fungi such as molds and mildew.
gabion mattress A thin gabion, usually 2.1D # 2."6 m thic!, used to line channels for erosion
control.
gage height See stage.
gaging station An installation at a measuring site where water level and.or discharge records
are regularly obtained.
game species An animal that is caught.collected for recreation.
gas chromatography A method of separating a mi)ture of compounds into its constituents so
they can be identified. he sample is vaporized into a gas#filled column, fractionated by being
swept over a solid adsorbent, selectively eluted, and identified.
gate A movable watertight barrier for the control of a li$uid in a waterway.
8-#,S An analytical techni$ue involving the use of both gas chromotography and mass
spectrometry, the former to separate a comple) mi)ture into its components and the latter to
deduce the atomic and molecular weights of those components. %t is particularly useful in
identifying organic compounds.
geofabric A woven or nonwoven fabric consisting only of continuous chain polymeric
filaments or yarns of polyester or polypropylene.
geographic information system An information system that combines tabular information with
graphic data for efficient collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data.
geometric mean he antilog of the mean of the log transformed data.
geometric mean particle diameter, g hat diameter, whose logarithm is the mean of the
logarithms of the individual particle diameters' or, when rec!oned in terms of the probability
of the mass of the sample, pi, and the algebraic mid#value, <i, of the class interval of the
particle diameters, the geometric mean diameter is given by the formula7
glacial deposit A mass of roc!, soil, and earth deposited by a melting glacier. Such material
was originally pic!ed up and carried along its path by the glacier, and usually varies in te)ture
from very fine roc! flour to large boulders.
goal An aim or ob>ective towards which to strive' it may represent an ideal condition that is
difficult, if not impossible to attain economically.
grade (1) he slope of a road, channel or the natural ground. (") he finished surface of a
canal bed, road bed, top of emban!ment or bottom of e)cavation.
grade stabilization structure A structure used to stabilize the grade of a water#course,
preventing head cutting or lowering of channel grade by erosion in sections where flow
velocities e)ceed allowable limits.
grading Shaping or smoothing an earth, gravel or other surface by means of a grade or similar
implement.
grain size See particle size.
grain size distribution See particle size distribution.
grassed waterway (1) A natural or constructed watercourse, usually broad and shallow,
covered with erosion resistant grasses, and designed to convey surface water which is
discharged into it. (") A vegetated natural waterway used to conduct the accumulated runoff
from cultivated land or fields in a strip#crop system.
grating A screen consisting of parallel bars, two sets being transverse to each other in the
same plane.
gravel A mi)ture of coarse mineral particles larger than sand but less than D6 mm in
e$uivalent diameter.
gravel envelope 8ravel (sometimes mi)ed with sand) placed around a subsoil drain to
facilitate the entry of water into the drain while retaining solid particles.
gravel outlet 8ravel placed to function as a filter#type outlet for runoff stored behind a
perimeter ban! or other structure which ponds sediment#laden runoff. he gravel outlet
sometimes incorporates a core of hay bales.
grease and oil %n wastewater, a group of substances including fats, wa)es, free fatty acids,
calcium and magnesium soaps, mineral oils, and certain other nonfatty materials. :ater#
insoluble organic compounds of plant and animal origins, or industrial wastes, that can be
removed by natural flotation s!imming.
8reen *lan he government of -anada=s framewor! for sustainable development.
grit he heavy suspended mineral matter present in water or wastewater, such as sand, gravel,
cinders. %t is removed in a pretreatment unit called a grit chamber to avoid abrasion and
wearing of subse$uent treatment devices.
grit chamber A detention chamber or an enlargement of a sewer designed to reduce the
velocity of flow of the li$uid to permit the separation of mineral from organic solids by
differential sedimentation.
ground cover *lants which are low growing and provide a cover which protects the soil, and
usually some beautification of the area occupied.
groundwater Subsurface water occupying the saturation zone from which wells and springs
are fed. %n a strict sense the term applies only to water below the water table. Also called
phreatic ($.v.) water, plerotic water.
groundwater divide A line representing the underground division on a water table or other
piezometric surface on either side of which the surface slopes downward. %t is analogous to a
drainage divide between two drainage basins on a land surface.
groundwater recharge (eplenishment of groundwater naturally by precipitation or runoff or
artificially by spreading or in>ection.
groundwater runoff hat portion of the runoff which has infiltrated the groundwater system,
and has later been discharged into a stream channel as spring or seepage water. 8roundwater
runoff is the principal source of base or dry#weather flow of streams unregulated by surface
storage, and such flow is sometimes called groundwater flow.
groundwater table (1) he upper surface of a body of unconfined groundwater. (") he
elevation or depth below the ground surface of such a water surface. %n a confined a$uifer, it
is defined by the static levels in wells that draw from the a$uifer.
guideline Any suggestion, rule, etc., that guides or directs.
gully A small, elongated, usually eroded depression in the land surface, usually dry e)cept
after a rainstorm' a channel or miniature valley, formed by concentrated runoff, through
which water commonly flows only during and immediately after heavy rains or during the
melting of snow. he distinction between ravine, gully and rill is one of size, a gully being
smaller than a ravine, larger than a rill. A gully is sufficiently deep that it would not be
obliterated by normal ploughing operations, whereas a rill is of lesser depth and would be
smoothed by ordinary ploughing operations.
8umbel %%% 0ne of the e)treme value fre$uency distributions, also !nown as the :eibull
distribution. 0ften used in the low flow fre$uency analysis.
8umbel distribution A statistical distribution used in flood fre$uency analysis, to determine
the probability that a given flow will occur within a given time interval.
gutter (1) An artificially surfaced, and generally shallow, waterway provided at the margin of
a roadway for surface drainage. (") he trough at the eaves or on the roof of a building for
carrying off rainwater.
gypsum A hydrated form of calcium sulphate, having the formula -aS0"."@"2.
habitat he physical characteristics of an area that support life.
habitat suitability inde) (@S%) An inde) which measures the suitability of habitat based on
preference.
hardness A measure of the concentration of dissolved calcium carbonate in water. @ard water
has high levels, and causes scaling in pipes that increases frictional resistance to flow.
harrowing Surface cultivation of the soil, usually with a tine or disc#type implement.
hay bale ban! @ay bales placed in the path of sediment laden runoff (as in a perimeter ban!)
to filter out sediment as the runoff passes through.
hazardous substances -hemicals considered to be a threat to man in the environment,
including substances which (individually or in combination with other substances) can cause
death, disease including cancer, behavioral abnormalities, genetic mutations, physiological
malfunctions or physical deformities.
@azen#:illiams formula An e$uation developed in 132" by 8ardner :illiams and Allen
@azen to e)press flow relations in pressure conduits.
@azen#:illiams roughness coefficient A coefficient related to the influence of the type of
conduit material on velocity characteristics used in the @azen#:illiams formula.
head (1) he height of the free surface of fluid above any point in a hydraulic system' a
measure of the pressure or force e)erted by the fluid. (") he energy, either !inetic or
potential, possessed by each unit weight of a li$uid, e)pressed as the vertical height through
which a unit weight would have to fall to release the average energy possessed. %t is used in
various compound terms such as pressure head, velocity head, and loss of head. (1) he upper
end of anything, as headwor!s. (/) the source of anything, as headwater. (6) A comparatively
high promontory with either a cliff or steep face e)tending into a large body of water, such as
a sea or la!e. An unnamed head is usually called a headland.
head height he distance from the downstream water level and the impoundment water level.
head loss Energy losses due to the resistance of flow of fluids. ,ay be classified into conduit
surface and conduit form losses. See also energy loss.
head on (over) the weir Elevation of the water above the lowest point of the crest of a weir,
measured at a point upstream. he distance upstream to the point of measurement depends on
the type of weir used, but is upstream of the transition zone from subcritical to supercritical
flow.
headwall A retaining wall at the end of a chute, culvert, pipe, or similar structure.
headwater stream A stream forming the source of another and larger stream.
headwaters he upstream area of the watershed.
heavy metals ,etals that can be precipitated by hydrogen sulfide in acid solution, for
e)ample, lead, silver, gold, mercury, bismuth, copper.
heliothermometer An instrument that measures the sun=s heat by means of a thermoelectric
>unction. See also pyrheliometer.
herbicide A compound, usually a synthetic organic chemical, used to control plant growth,
particularly weeds or brush. See also pesticide.
high#rate filter A tric!ling filter operated at a high average daily dosing rate, usually between
12 and /2 mgd.acre (1.2G" ) 12/ to /.1"G )
12#/ m1.m".s) including any recirculation of effluent.
holism, holistic A philosophy, developed by 8eneral 9.-. Smuts, that an organic or integrated
whole has a reality independent of and greater than the sum of its parts.
homogeneous A historical data series can be classified as homogeneous if all data share the
same causative effect.
horizon (of soil) A layer of soil material, appro)imately parallel to the surface, that has
distinct characteristics produced by soil forming processes. See profile.
horseshoe conduit A conduit having a cross section above the invert more or less similar to
the outside shape of a horseshoe with prongs pointed downward.
house connection he pipe carrying the wastewater from the building to a common sewer.
Also called building sewer, house sewer ($.v.).
house sewer A pipe conveying wastewater from a single building to a common sewer or point
of immediate disposal. See also house connection.
humidity he condition of the atmosphere with respect to its content of water vapor.
hydraulic depth' average depth he $uotient of the wetted cross#sectional area of an open
channel and the surface (i.e. top) water width.
hydraulic grade %n a closed conduit under pressure, artesian a$uifer, or groundwater basin, a
line >oining the elevations to which water would rise in pipes freely vented and under
atmospheric pressure. %n an open channel, the hydraulic grade is the water surface.
hydraulic grade line (@85) A hydraulic profile of the piezometric level of water at all points
along a line. he term is usually applied to water moving in a conduit, open channel, or
stream, but may also be applied to free or confined groundwater. %n open channel flow, the
hydraulic grade line is the free water surface. %n a closed conduit a line >oining the elevations
to which water could stand in risers or vertical pipes connected to the conduit at their lower
end and open at their upper end. See also hydraulic grade.
hydraulic gradient he slope of the hydraulic grade line' the rate of change of pressure head'
the ratio of the loss in the sum of the pressure head and position head to the flow distance. ;or
open channels it is the slope of the water surface, and is fre$uently considered parallel to the
invert. ;or closed conduits under pressure, it is the slope of the line >oining the elevations to
which the water would rise in pipes freely vented and under atmospheric pressure. A positive
slope is usually one which drops in the direction of flow.
hydraulic >ump (1) he sudden and usually turbulent passage of water in an open channel,
under conditions of free flow, from low stage below critical depth to high stage above critical
depth' during this passage the velocity changes from supercritical to subcritical. %t represents
the limiting condition of the surface curve, in which that curve tends to become perpendicular
to the stream bed. (") %n a closed conduit, the sudden rise from part#full flow at a supercritical
velocity to full flow under pressure' the depth plus the pressure head downstream from the
hydraulic >ump e$uals the high stage obtained for open#channel flow. (1) A device to dissipate
energy in an open channel, in a sewer, or at the toe of a spillway section of a dam. (/) A
device to promote turbulence. (6) An abrupt rise in water surface which may occur in an open
channel when water flowing at a high velocity is retarded.
hydraulic mean depth See hydraulic radius.
hydraulic radius' hydraulic mean depth, (h he right cross#sectional area of a stream of water
divided by the length of that part of its periphery in contact with its containing conduit' the
ratio of area to wetted perimeter. Also called hydraulic mean depth. 0ften denoted m or ( in
,annings ;ormula.
hydraulics *ertains to the physical attributes of flowing water.
hydrocarbon Any of the class of compounds consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen.
Fsually derived from petroleum.
hydroelectric *ower generated from water flow.
hydrogen#ion concentration he concentration of hydrogen ions in moles per liter of solution.
-ommonly e)pressed as the p@ value, which is the logarithm of the reciprocal of the
hydrogen#ion concentration. See also p@.
hydrograph A graph showing, for a given point on a stream or conduit, the discharge, stage,
velocity, available power, or other property of water with respect to time.
hydrologic *ertaining to water cycling in the environment.
hydrologic system A group of interrelated surface# and ground#water bodies or forces within
the same drainage basin.
hydromulcher A machine designed to apply seed, fertilizer and mulch in a slurry form sprayed
out under high pressure.
hydroseeder A machine designed to apply seed, fertilizer, and short fibre wood or paper
mulch to the soil surface.
hydroseeding Seeding with a hydroseeder.
hydrostatic level he level or elevation to which the top of a column of water would rise, if
afforded opportunity to do so, from an artesian a$uifer or basin, or from a conduit under
pressure.
hyetograph (1) A graphical representation of the variation in rate of rainfall over time'
specifically a graphical representation of average rainfall, rainfall e)cess rates, or volumes
over specified areas during successive units of time during a storm. (") A self#registering rain
gage.
hypolimnion he region of a body of water e)tending below the thermocline to the bottom of
the la!e and thus removed from much of the surface influence. A region of constant
temperature below the thermocline and e)panding to the bottom in a thermally stratified body
of water. See also epilimnion, thermocline.
ice See anchor ice' frazil ice' rime ice etc.
immediate biochemical o)ygen demand (1) he initial $uantity of o)ygen used by polluted
li$uid immediately upon being introduced into water containing dissolved o)ygen. %t may be
e)ercised by end products of prior biochemical action or by chemical substances that are very
reactive with o)ygen. (") %n the standard laboratory procedure, the apparent +0< for 16 min
at "2o-.
impact basin A type of energy dissipator that has a vertical impact wall inside a concrete
structure, such as the F.S. +ureau of (eclamation ype B% basin.
impervious &ot allowing, or allowing only with great difficulty, the movement of water'
impermeable.
impervious area %mpermeable surfaces, such as pavement or rooftops, which prevent the
infiltration of water into the soil.
imperviousness coefficient he ratio, e)pressed decimally or as a percentage, of effectively
impervious surface area to the total catchment or tributary area under consideration.
implied dilution volume he product of minimum streamflow e$ualled or e)ceeded and the
corresponding duration over which this flow is observed.
impoundment A water body that is formed by the construction of a dam or a di!e system.
in#line storage Storage of sewage within an e)isting sewer system.<ams or weirs are typically
used to bloc! flow and create a bac!up or storage of sewage.
indicated number (%&) %n the testing of bacterial density by the dilution method, the number
obtained by ta!ing the reciprocal of the highest possible dilution (smallest $uantity of sample)
in a decimal series that gives a positive test.
infectious hepatitis An acute viral inflammation of the liver characterized by >aundice, fever,
nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. ,ay be waterborne.
infiltration (1) he flow or movement of water through the interstices or pores of a soil or
other porous medium. (") he $uantity of groundwater that lea!s into a pipe through >oints,
porous walls, or brea!s. he seepage in dry or wet weather or both of groundwater or vadose
water into any sewer (storm, sanitary, combined). 8enerally, infiltration enters through
crac!ed pipes, poor pipe >oints or crac!ed or poorly >ointed maintenance hatches. (1) he
entrance of water from the ground into a gallery. (/) he absorption of li$uid by the soil,
either as it falls as precipitation or from a stream flowing over the surface. See also
percolation, seepage.
infiltration basin A basin e)cavated into permeable material to temporarily store runoff
directed into it. he stored water drains by infiltrating into the material in which the basin has
been constructed.
infiltration capacity he ma)imum rate at which the soil, when in a given condition, can
absorb falling rain or melting snow.
infiltration ditch A ditch that e)tends into the saturation zone, the bottom of which is below
the water table in the saturation zone. he water flows from the saturated material by gravity
into the ditch, and from there into a sump, well, or canal.
infiltration gallery A sizeable gallery with openings in its sides and bottom, e)tending
generally horizontally into a water#bearing formation, for the purpose of collecting water.
infiltration rate (1) he rate at which water enters the soil or other porous material under a
given condition. (") he rate at which infiltration ta!es place, e)pressed in depth of water per
unit time, usually in mm or inches per hour. (1) he rate, usually e)pressed in cubic feet per
second or million gallons per day per mile of waterway, at which groundwater enters an
infiltration ditch or gallery, drain, sewer, or other underground conduit.
infiltrometer A device by which the rate and amount of water percolating into the soil is
determined by measuring the difference between the amount of water applied and that which
runs off. he water may completely cover the ground inside an infiltrometer ring or may be
applied by a sprin!ling mechanism (rain simulator) which provides a rather uniform
sprin!ling of water to a prescribed area at prescribed rates and size drops (impact)' au)iliary
apparatus consists of a rain gage (either total or intensity) and a catchment basin or
receptacles in which surface runoff rate or total flow is measured. %nfiltration or amount
absorbed by the soil is usually e)pressed in inches (of water) per standard interval of time.
inflow#infiltration (%.%) %nflow is defined as the gross influ) of wet weather flows into a
sanitary sewer. Sources of inflow include roof leaders, cross#connections (storm to sanitary)
and directly connected catch basins.
influent weir A weir at the inflow end of a sedimentation basin or channel.
initial abstraction he $uantity of potential runoff detained by depression storage and initial
wetting of the soil.
initial loss %n hydrology, rainfall preceding the beginning of surface runoff. %t includes
interception, surface wetting, and infiltration unless otherwise specified.
inlet' inta!e he point of entry into a hydraulic carrier.
inlet (hydraulics) (1) A connection between the catchment area and a drain or sewer for the
admission of surface or storm water. (") A structure at the entrance end of a conduit. (1) he
upstream end of any structure through which water may flow.
inlet control -ontrol of the relationship between headwater elevation and discharge by the
inlet or upstream end of any structure through which water may flow.inlet loss (or entry loss)
he loss of head at the inlet to a hydraulic carrier as a result of gaining velocity and
turbulence on entry.
inlet time he time re$uired for storm water to flow from the most distant point in a drainage
area to the point at which it enters a storm drain.
inlet velocity he velocity of flow at the inlet to a hydraulic carrier.
inorganic compounds All those combinations of elements that do not include organic carbon.
insanitary See unsanitary.
insecticide A substance used for !illing insect pests.
insolation he rate at which heat is delivered to any place on the surface of the earth directly
from the sun
instream flow *ertaining to the flow of water in a river or stream.
instream flow incremental methodology (%;%,) A habitat#based tool for evaluating
environmental changes in streams and rivers.
integrated, multi#resource approach -ollaborative management (e.g. rehabilitation, protection)
by individuals with e)pertise in all relevant fields of ecosystem resources with full recognition
of the interdependence of such resources.
intensity#duration#fre$uency he relationship between rainfall intensity (amount per unit of
time), rainfall duration (total time over which rainfall occurs) and fre$uency (return interval)
at which the specific intensity#duration relationship is e)pected to recur.
intercepting sewer A sewer that receives dry#weather flow from a number of transverse
sewers or outlets and fre$uently additional predetermined $uantities of storm water (if from a
combined system), and conducts such waters to a point for treatment or disposal.
interception (1) he process by which precipitation is caught and held by foliage, twigs, and
branches of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation, and lost by evaporation, never reaching the
surface of the ground. (") he amount of precipitation intercepted. (1) %n waste collection, the
process of diverting wastewater from a main or a trun! into a conduit carrying flow to a
treatment plant, usually found as part of a system for diverting the flow from a combined
sewer.
interevent time definition (%E<) A statistically determined minimum elapsed time with no
rainfall which distinguishes one independent rainfall event from another.
interflow hat movement of water of a given density in a reservoir or la!e between layers of
water of different density. %t is usually caused by the inflow of water either or a different
temperature or of a different sediment or salt content.
internal overflow (egulating device used to transfer flow from one section of sewer system to
another.hese devices are typically weirs.
invert he floor, bottom or lowest portion of the internal cross#section of a closed conduit.
Fsed particularly with reference to a$ueducts, sewers, tunnels, drains and maintenance
hatches. 0riginally it referred to the inverted arch which was used to form the bottom of a
masonry lined sewer.
inverted siphon A pipeline crossing a depression or passing under a structure and having a
reversal in grade on a portion of the line, thus creating a B# or F#shaped section of conduit.
he line is under positive pressure from inlet to outlet and should not be confused with a
siphon. Also called depressed sewer.
ion An atom or group of atoms carrying an electrical charge. %ons are usually formed when
salts, acids or bases are dissolved in water. A charged atom, molecule, or radical, the
migration of which affects the transport of electricity through an electrolyte or, to a certain
e)tent, through a gas. An atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons.
irregular weir A weir with a crest that is not of standard or regular shape.
isochrone A map or chart of the drainage of a river or sewer system on which a series of time
lines is placed, giving the time of transit of water originating on a time line from that line to
the outlet of the system.
isohyet An imaginary line on the earth=s surface, as presented on a map, connecting all points
of e$ual precipitation. A line or contour representing e$ual concentration.
isohyetal map A map that shows, through the use of isohyets, the varation and distribution of
precipitation occurring over an area during a given period.
9F (9ac!son urbidity Fnit) A standard unit of turbidity based on the visual e)tinction of a
candle flame when viewed through a column of turbid water containing suspended solids. %t
varies with the solids composition (barium sulfate, diatomaceous earth, etc.) he 9F has
largely been replaced by the more reproducible ;F. See also ;F.
>etsam ;loating discarded material.
>ohnny darter etheostoma nigrum
>unction A converging section of a conduit used to facilitate the flow from one or more
conduits into a main conduit.
>unction chamber A converging section of a conduit, usually large enough for a man to enter,
used to facilitate the flow from one or more conduits into a main conduit.
>unction maintenance hatch (manhole) A maintenance hatch at the confluence of two or more
sewers.
>ute mesh A coarsely woven material of >ute yarn which can be used to control soil erosion in
waterways and on steep slopes. he >ute mesh is useful where there is an immediate need to
handle channelised flow, prior to establishment of vegetation. Belocities of up to "m.s can be
carried.
>uvenile he younger life stage before se)ual maturity.
!inematic viscosity (atio of absolute viscosity, e)pressed in poises (grams per centimeter
second), to the density, in grams per cubic centimeter, at room temperature.
!inetics he study of the rates at which changes occur in chemical, physical, or biological
treatment processes.
E>eldahl nitrogen test A standard analytical method used to determine the concentration of
organically#bound ammonia nitrogen state. See also standard methods.
laboratory procedures ,odes of conducting laboratory processes and analytical tests
consistent with validated standard testing techni$ues.
lag time he time between the centre of mass of precipitation and the pea! of runoff.
la!e associations An organization of people who address issues pertaining to reservoir
aesthetics.
land use (1) he culture of the land surface which has a determining effect on the broad social
and economic conditions of a region and which determines the amount and character of the
runoff and erosion. hree general classes are recognized7 crop, pasture or range, and forest.
(") E)isting or zoned economic use of land, such as residential, industrial, farm, commercial.
landslip Slipping down of a mass of earth and.or roc! on a slope. *ortion of a hillside which
becomes loosened or detached and slips down.
lateral (1) *ertaining to the side. (") A ditch, pipe, or other conduit entering or leaving a water
main from the side. (1) A secondary conduit diverting water from a main conduit for delivery
to distributaries. (/) A sewer which discharges into a branch or other sewer and has no
common sewer tributary to it.
leachate 5i$uid that has percolated through solid waste or other permeable material and has
e)tracted soluble dissolved or suspended materials from it.
largemouth bass micropterus salmoides
lateral sewer A sewer that discharges into a branch or other sewer and has no other common
sewer tributary to it.
leaching he action of surface water dissolving many materials in the soil or in landfills as it
drains by gravity to groundwater.
lea!age (1) he uncontrolled loss of water from artificial structures as a result of hydrostatic
pressure. (") he uncontrolled loss of water from one a$uifer to another. he lea!age may be
natural, as through a semi#impervious confining layer, or man#made as through an uncased
well.
leaping weir An opening or gap in the invert of a combined sewer through which the dry
weather flow will fall to a sanitary sewer and over which a portion or all of the storm flow
will leap. Also called separating weir.
least#cost design ;acility design which complies with the intent of the specifications at the
lowest possible cost.
left ban! he ban! to the left of an observer facing downstream.
lethal %nvolving a stimulus or effect causing death directly.
lethal concentration he concentration of a test material that causes death of a specified
percentage of a population, usually e)pressed as the median or 62H level, 5-62.
lethal dose he amount of a test material that causes death of a specified percentage of a
population which has ingested or been in>ected with the material, usually e)pressed as the
median or 62H level, 5<62.
levee A di!e or emban!ment, generally constructed on or parallel to the ban!s of a stream,
la!e, or other body of water, intended to protect the land side from inundation by flood waters
or to confine the stream flow to its regular channel.
level spreader A shallow channel e)cavated at the outlet end of a diversion channel, with a
level section to disperse outflow onto a stable, vegetated area and so reduce its erosive effect
below the outlet.
life stage A classification for the development stage of an organism.
lime Any of a family of chemicals consisting essentially of calcium hydro)ide made from
limestone (calcite) which is composed almost wholly of calcium carbonate or a mi)ture of
calcium and magnesium carbonate. A calcareous material used to raise the p@ of acid soils for
the benefit of plants being grown. ,ay be either ground limestone (-a -0) or hydrated lime
(-a (0@)).
linear shrin!age A measure of the swelling properties of a soil. %t is the decrease in one
dimension of a soil when oven dried from the moisture content at its li$uid limit, e)pressed as
a percentage of the original dimension.
lining (of channel) An erosion resistant non#vegetative material usually concrete or mortared
stone but possibly galvanized iron or timber.
li$uid level See stage.
li$uid limit See Atterberg limits
li$uid waste disposal he application of municipal and industrial wastewater effluents such as
sewage sludge, industrial effluents and sludges and waste waters from individual home waste
treatment systems to land.
lithosphere hat part of the earth which is composed predominantly of roc!s (either coherent
or incoherent, and including the disintegrated roc! materials !nown as soils and subsoils),
together with everything in this roc!y crust.
litter (1) Begetative material, such as leaves, twigs and stems of plants, lying on the surface of
the ground in an undecomposed or slightly decomposed state. (") Solid waste from human
activity deposited indiscriminately on land or water.
loading he rate at which a chemical constituent in water is introduced to the a$uatic system
(reported in !g.d or lb.d).
loam A well graded soil of appro)imate composition 16 to "6 per cent clay, 16 to "6 per cent
silt, and 62 to D2 per cent sand.
log *earson distribution A statistical distribution used in flood fre$uency analysis to
determine the probability that a given flow will occur within a given time interval.
log weir A low weir of triangular cross section, built of layers of logs placed side by side with
butt ends downstream.
long#based weir A weir of such dimensions that a section through the bloc! forming it has a
horizontal longitudinal dimension at the bed level of the weir e$ual to or greater than the
ma)imum operating head.
low flow channel An incised or paved channel from inlet to outlet in a dry basin which is
designed to carry low runoff flows and.or baseflow directly to the outlet without detention.
low gradient system A flowing system with low slope.
lysimeter A structure containing a mass of soil and designed to permit the measurement of
water draining through the soil.
main sewer (1) %n larger systems, the principal sewer to which branch sewers and submains
are tributary' also called trun! sewer($.v.). %n small systems, a sewer to which one or more
branch sewers are tributary. (") %n plumbing, the public sewer to which the house or building
sewer is connected.
maintenance he repair or replacement of a facility or vegetative surface.
maintenance hatch ;ormerly called a manhole (which term is no longer used). he old
abbreviation ,@ used in engineering drawings is preserved in this new term. (1) A structure
atop an opening in a gravity sewer to permit entry for servicing. Fsually placed at all points of
change in sewer grade and at least every 122 to /22 feet along the line. (") An opening in the
top or side of an enclosed vessel to permit human entry.
ma>or system he route followed by storm runoff when the minor system is either inoperative
or inade$uate. %t generally should consist of roads and ma>or drainage channels.
manhole See maintenance hatch.
,anning formula (hydraulics) A formula used to predict the velocity of water flow in an open
channel or pipeline7
B I (".1 Sl." . n
wherein B is the mean velocity of flow in metres per second' ( is the hydraulic radius in
metres' S is the slope of the energy gradient or for assumed uniform flow the slope of the
channel' and n is the roughness coefficient or retardance factor of the channel lining, e.g. .21
for bare earth to .26 for high grass, and scattered brush. he ,anning formula, published by
,anning in 1G32, gives the value of c in the -hezy formula for open channel flow. See also
-hezy formula, ,anning roughness coefficient.
,anning roughness coefficient he roughness coefficient in the ,anning formula for
determination of the discharge coefficient in the -hezy formula.
manometer An instrument for measuring pressure. %t usually consists of a F#shaped tube
containing a li$uid, the surface of which in one end of the tube moves proportionally with
changes in pressure in the li$uid in the other end. Also, a tube type of differential pressure
gage.
marsh A tract of soft, wet land, usually vegetated by reeds, grasses, and occasionally small
shrubs. Also see swamp, tidal marsh.
masonry dam A dam constructed of stone set in mortar or of concrete. ,asonry may be
$ualified as rubble masonry, cyclopean masonry, and concrete masonry.
mass balance An accounting for all identified materials entering, leaving, or accumulating
within a defined region.
mass diagram A diagram, curve, or graph plotted with rectangular coordinates and
representing a summation (integration) of all preceding $uantities up to a point, each ordinate
being e$ual to the sum of preceding terms in the series, with the corresponding abscissa
representing elapsed time or other appropriate variable. he diagram is used e)tensively in
storage and regulation studies pertaining to stream flow and water supply systems. Also called
mass curve. See also mass runoff, (ippl diagram.
mass discharge curve See cumulative volume curve.
mass runoff he total volume of runoff over a specified period of time. Successive
summations are fre$uently plotted against time to produce a mass diagram ($.v.).
mass spectrometer A device which permits observation of the masses of molecular fragments
produced by destructive bombardment of the molecule with electrons in a vacuum' coupled
with gas chromatography (8-#,S), mass spectrometry can yield very specific compound
identification.
ma)imum flow he greatest volume of influent to a treatment plant within a given time
period.
ma)imum probable precipitation *recipitation of a given amount and duration that can
reasonably be e)pected to occur in a drainage basin.
ma)imum probable rainfall *recipitation due to rain of a given amount and duration that can
reasonably be e)pected to occur in a drainage basin.
mean depth he average depth of water in a stream channel or conduit. %t is e$ual to the cross#
sectional area divided by the surface width.
mean particle diameter, he arithmetic mean of the individual particle diameters.
mean suspended concentration' mean suspended concentration (time)' time#weighted mean
suspended sediment concentration he time#average sediment concentration.
median lethal concentration (5-62) he concentration of a test material that causes death to
62H of a population within a given time period.
median particle diameter, <62 he particle size dividing a given sample into two e$ual
masses.
medium sand Sediment particles having diameters between 2."62 and 2.622 mm.
mesh 0ne of the openings or spaces in a screen. he value of the mesh is usually given as the
number of openings per linear inch. his gives no recognition to the diameter of the wire, and
thus the mesh number does not always have a definite relationship to the size of the hole.
mesophilic hat group of bacteria which grow best within the temperature range of "2o- to
/2o-. See also thermophilic range.
methane bacteria A specialized group of obligate anaerobic bacteria which decompose
organic matter to form methane.
,ichaelis#,enton e$uation A mathematical e)pression to describe an enzyme#catalyzed
biological reaction in which the products of a reaction are described as a function of the
reactants.
microbial activity he activities of microorganisms resulting in chemical or physical changes.
microclimate he climate of a specific place within an area, contrasted with the climate of the
area as whole.
micrograms per litre ( g.l) and milligrams per litre (mg.l) Fnits of measure e)pressing the
concentration of a substance in a solution.
microhabitat @abitat conditions (e.g. dissolved o)ygen, temperature) that affect the
longitudinal distribution of an organism.
migration he movement of an organism.
minimum flow he flow occurring in a stream during the driest period of the year. Also called
low flow. (") he least $uantity of influent to a treatment plant or within a sewer within a
given time period. See also ma)imum flow.
minimum water release flow A base flow that is used to protect a$uatic life.
minor system he drainage pipes, roadway gutters, enclosed conduits, and roof leader
connections designed to convey runoff from fre$uent, less intense storms, to eliminate or
minimize inconvenience in the area to be developed.
mi)ed media filter A filter containing filtering media of different particle size or density.
mi)ing reach (length) for complete mi)ing ;or the constant#rate in>ection method, the
minimum length of the reach between the in>ection cross#section and cross#sections where the
steady tracer concentration does not vary spatially in the section. ;or the integration method,
it is the minimum length of the reach between the in>ection cross#section and the cross#section
where transverse mi)ing is such that the integral of the tracer concentration versus time
relationship does not vary spatially in the section.
mi)ing zone An area of water contiguous to a point source, where e)ceptions to water $uality
ob>ectives and conditions otherwise applicable to the receiving water, may be granted.
model (1) A scaled reproduction or representation of a entity, treatment process or
environmental domain. (") A series of mathematical e$uations appro)imating a real situation.
modeling he simulation of some physical or abstract phenomenon or system with another
system believed to obey the same physical laws or abstract rules of logic, in order to predict
the behavior of the former (main system) by e)perimenting with the latter (analogous system).
moisture tension (1) A numerical measure of the energy with which water is held in the soil.
:hen e)pressed as the common logarithm of the head in centimeters of water necessary to
produce the suction corresponding to the capillary potential, it is called p;. (") he e$uivalent
negative or gage pressure to which water must be sub>ected in order to be in hydraulic
e$uilibrium, through a porous permeable wall or membrane, with the water in the soil.
momentum e$uation An e$uation stating that the impulse (force multiplied by time) applied to
the body of water is e$ual to the momentum (mass multiplied by velocity) ac$uired by it. he
concepts of momentum and impulse, along with energy, are basic to all dynamics.
monitoring (1) (outine observation, sampling and testing of designated locations or
parameters to determine efficiency of treatment or compliance with standards or
re$uirements. (") he procedure or operation of locating and measuring contamination by
means of survey instruments that can detect and measure.
,oody <iagram A graphical representation of relationship among the friction factor,
(eynolds number, pipe roughness and pipe size in pipe flow. he friction factor can be
obtained !nowing the other factors and is used in the <arcy#:eisbach e$uation to calculate
the head loss in the pipe flow.
most probable number (,*&) hat number of organisms per unit volume which, in
accordance with statistical theory, would be more li!ely than any other number to yield the
observed test result or which would yield the observed test result with the greatest fre$uency.
E)pressed as density of organisms per 122 ml. (esults are computed from the number of
positive findings of coliform group organisms resulting from multiple portion decimal
dilution plantings. Fsed commonly for coliform bacteria. See also standard methods.
movable bed (1) A stream bed made up of materials readily transportable by the stream flow.
(") A bed made up of materials readily movable under the hydraulic conditions established in
a tan! or chamber.
movable weir (1) A temporary weir that can be removed from the river channel in time of
flood. (") he ad>ustable weir at the end of a sedimentation tan!. See also overflow weir.
muc! soil 0rganic soil derived from the decomposition of peat, usually in an area sub>ect to
periodic overflow by silty waters, and containing "2H or more of mineral material. See also
peat soil.
mulch -overing on surface of soil to protect and enhance certain characteristics, such as water
retention $ualities.
mulching he application of plant residues or other suitable materials to the land surface to
conserve moisture, hold soil in place, aid in establishing plant cover, increase infiltration, and
minimize temperature fluctuations.
multi#bloc! <ivision of the domain into different bloc!s to simplify grid generation., or model
structure.
multi#media filter beds A filtration apparatus consisting of two or more media, such as
anthracite and sand, through which wastewater flows and by which it is cleansed. ,edia may
be intermi)ed or segregated.
multiple linear regression A statistical techni$ue based on the method of least s$uares in
which two or more independent variables are used to estimate the value of a dependent
variable.
mutagen A material that induces genetic change. See also carcinogen, teratogen.
nappe he sheet or curtain of water overflowing a weir or dam. :hen freely overflowing any
given structure, it has a well#defined upper and lower surface.
native (grasses) &aturally occurring' not introduced from other countries.
native plantings *lants indigenous to a region.
natural ground 8round surface which has not been disturbed by man.
naturalized species A species adapted to an environment outside its normal historic range.
needle weir A movable timber weir in which the wooden barrier consists of upright s$uare
timbers placed side by side against the structural#steel frames.
nematodes Any of a class or phylum (&ematoda) of elongated cylindrical worms parasitic in
animals or plants or free#living in soil or water.
nephelometer An instrument for comparing turbidities of solutions by passing a beam of light
through a transparent tube and measuring the ratio of the intensity of the scattered light to that
of the incident light.
&essler tubes ,atched cylinders with strain#free, clear#glass bottoms for comparing color
density or opacity.
netting :ire, plastic, or cotton mesh used to hold mulch on the soil surface.
neutral herbicide -lass of herbicides classified by the method of analysis used to identify
them. %ncludes the following compounds7 triazine, dintroaniline, amide and thiocarbamate.
&ewtonian flow ;low of a fluid with viscosity independent of shear rate, e.g. water, solutions
of coagulants. See also non#&ewtonian flow.
&ewtonian fluid A simple fluid in which the state of stress at any point is proportional to the
time#rate of strain at that point' the proportionality factor is the viscosity coefficient.
&ipher shield A wind shield for precipitation gages, shaped li!e an inverted cone with the
base of the cone level with the lip of the gage, devised by ;.E. &ipher in 1GDG. Also called
&ipher screen.
nitrate#nitrogen -oncentration of nitrogen in water in the form of nitrate ion (reported in
mg.l).
nitrification he o)idation of ammonia nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen in wastewater by
biological or chemical reactions. See also denitrification.
nitrobacteria +acteria capable of o)idizing nitrogenous material.
nitrogen removal he removal of nitrogen from wastewater through physical, chemical, or
biological processes, or by some combination of these.
nitrogenous o)ygen demand (&0<) A $uantitative measure of the amount of o)ygen re$uired
for the biological o)idation of nitrogenous material, such as ammonia nitrogen and organic
nitrogen, in wastewater' usually measured after the carbonaceous o)ygen demand has been
satisfied. See also biochemical o)ygen demand, nitrification.
&itrosomonas A genus of bacteria that o)idize ammonia to nitrite.
nominal diameter he diameter of a sphere of the same volume as the given particle.
nomograph A diagram for the graphical solution of problems that involve formulas in two or
more variables
non#conservative pollutant A pollutant that can e)ist in more than one form (e.g. nitrogen,
+0<6, etc.).
nonfrontal precipitation *recipitation which may occur in any !ind of barometric depression.
he lifting of air is caused by horizontal convergence resulting from inflow into the low
pressure area. See also frontal precipitation.
nonindigenous.non#native species A species that enters an ecosystem beyond its historic
range. Also !nown as e)otic.
nonindigenous nuisance species A nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or
abundance of native species or otherwise threatens ecosystem integrity or commercial,
agricultural and.or recreational activities dependent on it.
non#&ewtonian flow ;low of a fluid having a viscosity that decreases with increasing shear
rate, e.g. solutions of flocculants. See also &ewtonian flow.
non#point pollution ,an#made or man#induced alteration of the chemical, physical,
biological, or radiological integrity of water, originating from any source other than a point
source.
non#point source Any source, other than a point source, which discharges pollutants into air or
water. he source of a chemical or biological constituent in water that cannot be associated
with a well#defined point of discharge. he origin of the discharge is diffuse. An area from
which pollutants are e)ported in a manner not compatible with practical means of pollutant
removal (e.g. crop lands).
non#point source runoff he runoff of sediment and other undesirable materials along with
stormwater from diffuse sources.
nonsettleable solids Suspended matter that will stay in suspension for an e)tended period of
time. Such period may be arbitrarily ta!en for testing purposes as one hour. See also
suspended solids.
nonuniform flow A flow in which the slope, cross#sectional area, and velocity change from
section to section in the channel.
normal (1) A mean or average value established from a series of observations, for purposes of
comparison of some meterological or hydrological event. (") A straight line perpendicular to a
surface or to another line. (1) *ertaining to a 8aussian statistical distribution, for which the
arithmetic and statistical means are e$ual.
normal depth (1) he depth of water in an open conduit that corresponds to uniform velocity
for a given flow. %t is the hypothetical depth under conditions of steady nonuniform flow' the
depth for which the surface and bed are parallel. Also called neutral depth. (") he depth of
water measured perpendicular to the bed. %t is a function of the geometry, slope and roughness
of the channel, and of the rate of discharge. See also uniform flow.
notched weir A weir having a substantial width of crest bro!en at intervals by a notch of
!nown hydraulic characteristics, usually a B#notch. See also broad#crested weir.
no)ious weeds @armful' undesirable' hard to control.
restricted ,ay be sold in the trade but are limited to very small amounts as undesirable
contaminates.
prohibited *rohibited from sale.
nutrient Any substance that is assimilated by organisms and promotes growth' generally
applied to nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater, but also to other essential and trace
elements.
nutrient cycle he cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants. %nputs into the cycle include
precipitation, fertilizer application and pollution. he outputs include runoff and streamflow,
release of nitrogen and phosphorus into the atmosphere.
off#line storage Storage of sewage in a facility outside an e)isting sewer system. Fsually
refers to a tan! into which sewage is diverted from the main sewer system.
offset maintenance hatch (manhole) A maintenance hatch located tangentially to the sewer
line rather than on the sewer centerline.
oligotrophic la!e 5a!e or other contained water body poor in nutrients. -haracterized by low
$uantity of plan!tonic algae, high water transparency with high dissolved o)ygen in upper
layer, ade$uate dissolved o)ygen in deep layers, low organic deposits colored shades of
brown, and absence of hydrogen sulfide in water deposits.
opacity he ratio of transmitted to incident light.
open channel Any natural or artificial waterway or conduit in which water flows with a free
surface' the longitudinal boundary surface consisting of the bed and ban!s or sides within
which a li$uid flows with a free surface.
open channel flow ;low of a fluid with its surface e)posed to the atmosphere. he conduit
may be an open channel or a closed conduit flowing partly full.
open conduit %n general, an open artificial or natural duct for conveying li$uids or possibly
other fluids.
operating costs he ongoing costs of causing a piece of e$uipment, a treatment plant, or other
facility or system to perform its intended function, e)cluding the initial cost of building or
purchasing the e$uipment, plant, facility, or system. <epending on the conte)t, it may or may
not include such factors as labor, energy, chemicals, supplies, replacement parts, interest on
borrowed money, insurance.
operation and maintenance (0 J ,) he management of a facility involving operating, repair
and replacement. 0peration is the organized procedure for causing a piece of e$uipment, a
treatment plant, or other facility or system to perform its intended function, but not including
the initial building or installation of the unit. ,aintenance is the organized procedure for
!eeping the e$uipment, plant, facility, or system in such condition that it is able to continually
and reliably perform its intended function.
optimal flow ;low which ma)imizes fish habitat.
optimal habitat An area which has the best combination of microhabitat characteristics.
organic (efers to volatile, combustible, and sometimes biodegradable chemical compounds
containing carbon atoms (carbonaceous) bonded together and with other elements. he
principal groups of organic substances found in wastewater are proteins, carbohydrates, and
fats and oils. See also inorganic compounds.
organic layer he surface layer of leaf and plant debris covering the soil.
orifice (1) An opening with closed perimeter, usually of regular form, in a plate, wall, or
partition, through which water may flow, generally used for the purpose of measurement or
control of such water. he edge may be sharp or of another configuration. (") he end of a
small tube such as a *itot tube, piezometer.
orthophosphate (1) A salt that contains phosphorus as (*0/)#1. (") *roduct of hydrolysis of
condensed (polymeric) phosphates. (1) A nutrient re$uired for plant and animal growth. See
also nutrient, phosphorus.
organophosphorus insecticide -lass of insecticides whose chemical structure is characterized
by the presence of both nitrogen and phosphorus.
outfall' outlet (1) he point, location or structure where waste water or drainage discharges
from a stream, river, la!e, tidal basin or drainage area' or pipe, channel, sewer, drain, or other
conduit. (") he condut leading to the ultimate disposal area. See also outfall sewer,
wastewater outfall.
outfall sewer A sewer that receives wastewater from a collecting system or from a treatment
plant and carries it to a point of final discharge. See also outfall.
outlet channel A waterway constructed or altered primarily to carry water from man#made
structures such as terraces, subsurface drains, diversions and impoundments.
outlet structure See control structure
overban! flow hat portion of stream flow which e)ceeds the carrying capacity of the normal
channel and overflows the ad>oining ban!s.
overflow he intentional or unintentional discharge of sewage to the environment prior to
treatment. An overflow may be caused by inade$uate conveyance or treatment capacity,
electrical or mechanical failure, line bloc!ages or restrictions, or human error.
overflow maintenance hatch (manhole) A maintenance hatch at which water overflows from a
collection system. hey are used primarily in combined sewerage systems to divert e)cess
flows that e)ceed the capacity of the downstream collection system or at pumping stations or
treatment plants to divert flows that cannot be accommodated under emergency conditions. %n
either case, the diverted flows are conveyed essentially untreated to the nearest watercourse
overflow rate <etention basin release rate divided by the surface area of the basin. %t can be
thought of as an average flow rate through the basin.
overflow structure A weir or spill over structure in which water can freely spill to a lower
level or other carrier.
overflow weir Any device or structure over which any e)cess water or wastewater beyond the
capacity of the conduit or container is allowed to flow or waste. See also diverting weir.
overland flow (1) he flow of water over the ground or paved surface before it enters some
defined channel or inlet, often assumed to be shallow and uniformly distributed across the
width. (") A type of wastewater irrigation.
o)ygen deficit he difference between the dissolved o)ygen level at saturation and the actual
dissolved o)ygen concentration in water.
o)ygen demand he $uantity of o)ygen utilized in the o)idation of substances in a specified
time, at a specified temperature, and under specified conditions. See also biochemical o)ygen
demand, carbonaceous o)ygen demand, chemical o)ygen demand, nitrogenous o)ygen
demand, total o)ygen demand.
o)ygen depletion 5oss of dissolved o)ygen from water or wastewater resulting from
biochemical or chemical action.
o)ygen sag he temporary decrease in dissolved o)ygen in a flowing stream that occurs
downstream from a point source of pollution, and which is a result of the competing effects of
microbiological activity and stream reaeration.
o)ygen sag curve A curve that represents the profile of dissolved o)ygen content along the
course of a stream, resulting from deo)ygenation associated with biochemical o)idation of
organic matter and reo)ygenation through the absorption of atmospheric o)ygen and through
biological photosynthesis. Also called dissolved o)ygen sag curve ($.v.).
*almer#+owlus flume A type of Benturi flume that uses a constricted throat to measure flow
in partially full pipes.
paper chromatography A method for separation or purification of small amounts of mi)tures
for identification by spotting the mi)ture at the bottom of a paper strip and allowing a solvent
to move and distribute the components along its path.
parabolic weir A weir with a notch parabolic in shape, with the a)is of the parabola vertical.
parent material he geologic material from which a soil profile develops. he material may be
roc!, unconsolidated sediment, or concretionary material.
*arshall flume A calibrated device developed by *arshall for measuring the flow of li$uid in
an open conduit. %t consists essentially of a contracting length, a throat, and an e)panding
length. At the throat is a sill over which the flow passes at +elanger=s critical depth. he upper
and lower heads are each measured at a definite distance from the sill.
particle size' grain size A dimension which is representative of the size of an individual
particle.
particle size distribution' grain size distribution *roportion by mass of each particle size
present in a given sediment sample.
particles 8enerally, discrete solids suspended in water or wastewater, which can vary widely
in size, shape, density, and charge. -olloidal and dispersed particles are artificially
agglomerated by processes of coagulation and flocculation.
parts per million he number of weight or volume units of a minor constituent present with
each one million units of a solution or mi)ture. he more specific term milligrams per liter is
preferred.
pathogenic bacteria +acteria that cause disease in the host organism by their parasitic growth.
pathogens *athogenic or disease#producing organisms.
pea! discharge he ma)imum instantaneous flow at a specific location resulting from a given
storm condition.
pea! flow ,a)imum flow
pea!#shaving -ontrolling post#development pea! discharge rates to predevelopment levels by
providing temporary detention in a +,*.
pea! stage he ma)imum instantaneous stage during a given period.
pea!ing facility A hydroelectric facility that varies energy production (i.e. flow through the
turbines) to ma)imize profit.
peat soil 0rganic soil formed by the accumulation in wet areas of the partially decomposed
remains of vegetation, and having less than "2H mineral material. See also muc! soil.
ped An individual, natural soil aggregate.
percent total habitat *ercent of total habitat that is of suitable $uality for a specific species and
life stage of fish.
perched groundwater' perched water 8roundwater that is separated from the main body of
groundwater by an a$uiclude. 8roundwater occurring in a saturated zone located at a higher
elevation than the general body of groundwater and separated from it by an unsaturated zone.
perched water table he upper surface of a body of perched water. See also perched
groundwater.
percolation (1) he flow or tric!ling of a li$uid downward through a contact or filtering
medium. he li$uid may or may not fill the pores of the medium. Also called filtration ($.v.).
(") he movement or flow of water through the interstices or the pores of a soil or other
porous medium. (1) he movement of groundwater in streamline flow in any direction
through small interconnected and saturated interstices of roc! or earth, principally of capillary
size. (/) he water lost from an unlined conduit through its sides and bed. See also
infiltration, seepage.
perimeter ban! A temporary barrier of compacted soil or straw bales located along the
perimeter of a construction site to control the movement of runoff and sediment.
peripheral weir he outlet weir e)tending around the inside of the circumference of a circular
settling tan!, over which the effluent discharges.
periphyton he aggregate of microscopic plants and animals (aufwuchs) firmly attached to
solid surfaces in running water. See also plan!ton.
permanent seeding Sowing of perennial vegetation which may remain on an area for many
years.
permanent vegetation Begetation designed as or intended to be the permanent ground cover.
permeability (of soil) *roperty of a soil which governs the rate at which water moves through
it.
permeability coefficient A coefficient e)pressing the rate of flow of fluid through a cross#
section of permeable material under a hydraulic or a pressure gradient. he standard
coefficient of permeability used in the hydrologic wor! of the F.S. 8eological Survey, !nown
also as the ,einzer unit, is defined as the rate of flow of water at 42o;, in gallons per day,
through a cross#section of 1 ft under a hydraulic gradient of 122H. Also see field permeability
coefficient.
permeameter A device for measuring the permeability of soils or other material. %t usually
consists of two reservoirs or tan!s connected by a conduit containing the material under
investigation. :ater is passed from one reservoir, under varying conditions of head, through
the connecting conduit.
permissible depth (hydraulics) he depth of flow permissible for the material or vegetative
cover comprising the lining.
permissible velocity (hydraulics) he highest average velocity at which water may be carried
safely in a channel or pipe. he highest velocity that can e)ist through a substantial length of
channel and not cause scour.
permit program An authoritative or official program of licensing the conduct of an activity,
for e)ample, the construction or operation of a wastewater treatment facilities which
discharge into navigable water.
persistence he tendency of a refractory, nonbiodegradable material to remain essentially
unchanged after being introduced into the environment
persistent organochlorine compound -hlorinated organic chemical compounds with a half#life
in water of greater than eight wee!s. %ncludes both pesticides and industrial chemicals.
persistent to)ic substance Any substance that can cause death, disease, behavioural
abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutations, physiological or reproductive malfunctions or
physical deformities in any organism or its offspring' or which can become poisonous after
concentration in the food chain, or in combination with other substances' or that has a half#life
in water greater than eight wee!s, where half#life means the time re$uired for the
concentration of a substance to diminish to one#half of its original value in a la!e or other
water body.
pervious *ossessing a te)ture that permits water to move through it perceptibly under normal
head differences. See also permeability.
perviousness he property of a material that permits appreciable movement of water through
it when it is saturated and the movement is actuated by hydrostatic pressure of the magnitude
normally encountered in natural subsurface water. ,ore properly called permeability.
pesticide (1) Any substance or chemical applied to !ill or control animal pests. (") An agent
(usually a chemical) used to destroy or inhibit undesirable plants, fungi, animals (vertebrate
and invertebrate) and bacteria. See also algicide, herbicide, insecticide.
petrochemicals *roducts or components which arise primarily from the chemical processing
of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons.
p; he numerical measure of energy with which water is held in the soil, e)pressed as the
common logarithm of the head, in centimeters of water, necessary to produce the suction
corresponding to the capillary potential. See also moisture tension.
p@ A measure of hydrogen#ion concentration in a solution, e)pressed as the logarithm (base
ten) of the reciprocal of the hydrogen#ion concentration in gram moles per litre. 0n the p@
scale (2#1/), a value of D.2 at "6o- denotes neutrality. <ecreasing values, below D, indicate
increasing hydrogen#ion concentration (acidity)' increasing values, above D, indicate
decreasing hydrogen#ion concentration (al!alinity).
phenolic compounds @ydro)y derivatives of benzene. he simplest phenolic compound is
hydro)y benzene, -4@60@.
pheno)y acid herbicide -lass of herbicides whose chemical structure is characterized by a
pheno)y acid functional group.
phosphorus An essential chemical element and nutrient for all life forms. 0ccurs in
orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, and organic phosphate forms. Each of these
forms and their sum, total phosphorus, is e)pressed as mg.l elemental phosphorus. See also
nutrient.
photosynthesis he synthesis of comple) organic materials, especially carbohydrates, from
carbon dio)ide, water, and inorganic salts, with sunlight as the source of energy and with the
aid of a catalyst such as chlorophyll.
photosynthetic bacteria +acteria that obtain their energy for growth from light by
photosynthesis
phreatic line he upper surface of the zone of saturation in an emban!ment is the phreatic
(zero pressure) surface' in cross#section, this is called the phreatic line.
phreatophyte A plant that habitually obtains its water supply from the saturation zone, either
directly or through the capillary fringe.
physical#chemical treatment process ,eans of treatment in which the removal of pollutants is
brought about primarily by chemical clarification in con>unction with physical processes.
physical habitat simulation system (*@A+S%,) -omputer models that compute the
relationship between stream flow and (a) physical habitat of various life stages of a$uatic
organisms or (b) a recreational activity.
physical treatment Any water or wastewater treatment process involving only physical means
of solid#li$uid separation, for e)ample, centrifugation, clarification, distillation, filtration,
flocculation solely by agitation, head treatment.
phytoplan!ton *lan!ton consisting of plants, such as algae.
pier (1) A vertical support of an engineering structure. ;or e)ample, an intermediate support
for the ad>acent ends of two bridge spans. (") A structure, usually of greater length than width,
of timber, stone, concrete, or other material, having a platform and pro>ecting from the shore
into navigable waters so that vessels can be moored along both sides for loading and
unloading cargo, passengers, stores, and fuel or for storage during the transfer period. See
baffle pier.
piezometer An instrument for measuring pressure head in a conduit, tan!, or soil. %t usually
consists of a small pipe or tube tapped into the side of the container, with its inside end flush
with, and normal to, the water face of the container, and connected with a manometer pressure
gage, mercury or water column, or other device for indicating pressure head.
pilot channel A riprap or paved channel that routes runoff through a +,* to prevent erosion
of the surface.
pipe collar A collar or ring placed around an outlet pipe designed to increase the seepage flow
path and prevent a piping failure.
pipe.culvert entry trap A temporary sediment control device placed at the entry of a pipe or
culvert headwall and formed by means of a timber barrier with gaps with an aggregate filter in
front.
piping (emoval of soil material through sub#surface flow. -hannels or pipes developed by
seepage water.
*itot tube A device for measuring the velocity of flowing fluid by using the velocity head of
the stream as an inde) of velocity. %t consists essentially of an orifice held to point upstream
and connected with a tube in which the impact pressure due to velocity head may be observed
and measured. %t also may be constructed with an upstream and downstream orifice, or with
an orifice pointing upstream to measure the velocity head or pressure and piezometer holes in
a coa)ial tube to measure the static head or pressure, in which case the difference in pressure
is the inde) of velocity.
plan!ton (1) Small, usually microscopic, plants (phytoplan!ton) and animals (zooplan!ton) in
a$uatic systems. (") he aggregate of passively floating, drifting, wea!ly motile organisms in
a body of water. See also periphyton, phytoplan!ton, zooplan!ton.
plastic limit See Atterberg limits.
plasticity inde) See Atterberg limits.
plate count &umber of colonies of bacteria grown on selected solid media at a given
temperature and incubation period, usually e)pressed in number of bacteria per milliliter of
sample. See also standard methods.
plug flow ;low in which fluid particles are discharged from a tan! or pipe in the same order
in which they entered it. he particles retain their discrete identities and remain in the tan! for
a time e$ual to the theoretical detention time. A flow value used to describe a constant
hydrologic condition. Also a se$uence of parcels of water.
pluviometer A rain gage.
point#integrating sampler An instrument which obtains a sample of sediment.water mi)ture at
a given point over a fi)ed period of time.
point rainfall (ainfall rate at a single station, in contrast to average rate for a region.
point source A single source of pollutants, such as a sewage treatment plant waste water
outfall. Any discernable, confined, or discrete conveyance from which pollutants are or may
be discharged, including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well,
container, rolling stoc!, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating
craft.
pollutant <redged soil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sludge, chemical
wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrec!ed or discarded e$uipment,
roc!, sand, dirt and industrial, municipal and agricultural waste discharged into water.
pollution (1) Specific impairment of water $uality by agricultural, domestic, or industrial
wastes (including thermal and atomic wastes), to a degree that has an adverse effect upon any
beneficial use of water. (") he addition to a natural body of water of any material which
diminishes the optimal economic use of the water body by the population which it serves, and
has an adverse effect on the surrounding environment.
polychlorinated biphenyls, *-+ A chemical compound previously used in many
manufacturing activities which causes health problems in many living things.
ponding area he surface storage of water.
porosity (1) he $uality of being porous or containing interstices. (") he ratio of the
aggregate volume of interstices in a roc! or soil to its total volume. %t is usually stated as a
percentage.
porous @aving small passages' permeable by fluids.
ppm *arts per million, a unit of concentration on a weight of volume basis. 0bsolete' replaced
by mg.1.
precipitable water otal water vapor contained in an atmospheric column of unit cross#
sectional area, e)pressed in terms of depth of water of the same cross#sectional area.
precipitation (1) he total measurable supply of water received directly from clouds as rain,
hail, or sleet' usually e)pressed as depth in a day, month, or year, and designated as daily,
monthly, or annual precipitation. (") he process by which atmospheric moisture is
discharged onto a land or water surface. (1) he phenomenon that occurs when a substance in
solution is chemically transformed into an insoluble form. (/) he conversion of dissolved
solids into suspended solids which may be concentrated subse$uently by flocculation and
sedimentation. See also phosphorus removal. (6) he removal of fine particles from an
airstream using electrostatically#charged plates.
precipitation gage A device for catching and measuring the depth of precipitation. See also
rain gage.
prey species An organism that is utilized by other organisms for food.
*rice current meter A wheel#li!e current meter with a series of conical cups fastened to a flat
framewor! through which a pin e)tends. he pin sits in the framewor! of the meter, and the
cups or rotated around it in a horizontal plane by the flowing water, registering the number of
revolutions by acoustical or electrical devices. ;rom the revolutions the velocity of the water
may be computer.
primary effluent he li$uid portion of wastewater leaving primary treatment.
primary treatment (1) he first ma>or treatment in a wastewater treatment facility, usually
sedimentation but not biological o)idation. (") he removal of a substantial amount of
suspended matter, but little or no colloidal and dissolved matter. (1) :astewater treatment
processes usually consisting of clarification with or without chemical treatment to accomplish
solid#li$uid separation. See also secondary treatment, advanced (waste) treatment.
private sewer A sewer privately owned and used by one or more properties. See also public
sewer.
profile A graph showing elevations of conduit invert and crown, ground, and @85 along the
a)is of its flow.
profile (of soil) A vertical cross#section of a soil constitutes the soil profile. %t is generally
composed of three ma>or layers designated the A, +, and - horizons. he A and + horizons
are layers that have been modified by weathering and soil development, while the - horizon
is weathering parent material which has not, as yet, been significantly altered by soil#forming
processes.
A horizon his is the original top layer of soil. %t can be divided into two parts7 A1 horizon is
the surface soil (generally referred to as topsoil). (elative to other horizons it has a high
content of organic matter, a dar! colour and ma)imum biological activity. his is the most
useful part of the soil for revegetation. %t is generally 62 to 122mm deep. A" horizon does not
always occur. %t is a layer of soil of similar te)ture (though often with a lower clay content) to
the A1 horizon, but is paler in colour, poorer in structure, and deficient in nutrients. A white
or grey coloration (bleaching) is often an indication of impeded soil drainage. he A horizon
is usually from 62 to D22mm deep.
+ horizon he layer of soil below the A horizon (generally referred to as subsoil). %t is usually
heavier in te)ture (i.e. more clayey), denser, and brighter in colour. %n most cases it is a poor
medium for plant growth. <epth ranges from 122mm to over " metres.
- horizon 5ayers below the + horizon which may be weathered, consolidated or
unconsolidated parent material, little affected by biologic soil forming processes. he -
horizon is recognised by its lac! of soil formation activity and development, and by the
presence of remnants of geologic formations. %ts thic!ness is very variable.
proportional weir A special type of weir in which the discharge through the weir is directly
proportional to the head.
prototype he natural or full scale entity simulated by a model. Also, those structures that are
yet to be built and for which model e)periments are being conducted.
psychrometer An instrument or hygrometer used to determine the relative humidity and vapor
tension of the atmosphere. %t usually consists of two thermometers, with one bulb left dry and
the other encased in cloth or a cloth wic! that can be saturated with water. Evaporation from
the wet bulb causes the temperature to fall below that of the air. he relative humidity and the
vapor pressure can be determined by using this temperature difference and specially prepared
psychrometric tables.
public safety -oncern for the safety of the public by the avoidance of hazardous
designs.structures.
public sewer A common sewer controlled by a governmental agency or public utility. See also
private sewer.
pump characteristic curve A curve or curves showing the interrelation of speed, dynamic
head, capacity, bra!e horsepower, and efficiency of a pump.
pump efficiency he ratio of energy converted into useful wor! to the energy applied to the
pump shaft, or the energy difference in the water at the discharge and suction nozzles divided
by power input at the pump shaft.
pump stage he number of impellers in a centrifugal pump' for e)ample, a single#stage pump
has one impeller' a two#stage pump has two impellers.
pump station' pumping station (1) A structure containing pumps and appurtenant piping,
valves and other mechanical and electrical e$uipment for pumping water, wastewater, or other
li$uids. (") *ump house is the usual term for shelters for small water pumps. Also called lift
station.
pump well A well that does not discharge water at the surface e)cept through the operation of
a pump or other lifting device. Also called nonflowing well.
pumping head he sum of the static head and friction head on a pump discharging a given
$uantity of water.
pyrheliograph An instrument for measuring and recording the intensity of incoming radiation
from the sun or the s!y, or both. ,easurement is accomplished with bimetal strips, one
blac!ened and the other polished and shielded' differential temperature causes motion which
is recorded on a chart or drum as in recording barographs, thermographs.
pyrheliometer An instrument for measuring the intensity of incoming radiation from the sun
or the s!y, or both. here are two types7 an instrument that measures the heat absorbed by a
blac!ened dis! or chamber, called an actinometer, and an instrument that measures the sun=s
heat by means of a thermoelectric >unction, called a heliothermometer.
$uantile An estimate of a random variable associated with a specific return period or
probability of occurrence.
r" -oefficient of multiple determination the value of which relates the proportion of the
variation of the dependent variable that is e)plained by the regression e$uation.
rac! A device fi)ed in place and used to return or remove suspended or floating solids from
wastewater and composed of parallel bars evenly spaced. See also screen.
radial gate A pivoted crest gate, the face of which is usually a circular arc with the center of
curvature at the pivot about which the gate swings when opening. See also tainter gate.
rain *articles of li$uid water that have become too large to be held by the atmosphere. heir
diameter generally is greater than 2.2" in. (2.6 mm) and they usually fall to the earth at
velocities greater than 12 fps (1.26 m.s) in still air.
rain gage A device for catching and measuring the depth of rainfall. here are various !inds
and sizes of rain gages, most of them employing the principle of catching the rainfall in a
collector of larger area than that of the measuring compartment, so that a given depth of water
in the latter represents a considerably smaller depth of rainfall catch. Also called pluviometer
($.v.).
rainfall (1) A fall of rain' precipitation in the form of water. (") he amount of rain, usually
e)pressed in inches depth of water on an area, that reaches the surface of the earth. he term
is sometimes e)panded to include other forms of atmospheric precipitation such as snow and
dew, but technically the term precipitation should be used in this broader scope.
rainfall intensity Amount of rainfall occurring in a unit of time, converted to its e$uivalent in
inches per hour at the same rate.
rainfall rate he amount of rainfall occurring in a unit of time, generally e)pressed in inches
per hour.
rainfall simulator A device to simulate rainfall, primarily for use in determining infiltration on
small areas. Some instruments permit application of droplets of controlled size, simulating
natural rainfall' others use sprays. Sometimes called rain ma!er.
rainstorm A meteorological disturbance accompanied by rain.
random hat which occurs by chance.
rapid filter A rapid sand filter or pressure filter.
rapid sand filter A filter for the purification of water, in which water that has been previously
treated, usually by coagulation and sedimentation, is passed downward through a filtering
medium. he medium consists of a layer of sand, prepared anthracite coal, or other suitable
material, usually "/#12 in. (412#D41 mm) thic!, resting on a supporting bed of gravel or a
porous medium such as carborundum. he filtrate is removed by an underdrainage system
which also distributes the wash water. he filter is cleaned periodically by reversing the flow
of the water upward through the filtering medium, sometimes supplemented by mechanical or
air agitation during washing, to remove mud and other impurities which have lodged in the
sand. %t is characterized by a rapid rate of filtration, commonly from two to three gallons per
minute per s$uare foot of filter area (1./ to " l.m".s).
rapid sand filtration A down#flow, static#bed, water filtering process using batch or
semicontinuous operation and generally using sand as the single filtration medium. Effective
particle sizes range from 2.16 mm to 2.G mm with uniformity coefficients between 1.1 and
1.D. ;ilter cleaning is usually effected by reversing flow through the filter medium.
rate#of#flow controller An automatic device that controls the rate of flow of a fluid.
rating (1) he relation, usually determined e)perimentally and e)pressed either graphically or
in the form of an algebraic formula, between two mutually dependent $uantities such as stage
and discharge of a stream, revolutions of a current meter and velocity of water. Also called
calibration ($.v.). (") he process of ta!ing measurements or of ma!ing observations to
establish the relation between two $uantities.
rating of a station he establishment of a discharge relation with the measured variable(s).
rating curve (1) A curve which e)presses graphically the relation between mutually dependent
$uantities. (") A graphic representation of a rating table. (1) A curve showing the relation
between gage height and discharge of a stream or conduit at a given gaging station. %t is a
graphical representation of a rating or discharge table. (/) A curve showing the relation
between the discharge of a gate, meter, or other hydraulic structure or instrument and the
pertinent hydraulic conditions that affect the discharge, such as pressure, hydrostatic head,
velocity of approach. %f more than one condition affects discharge, a family of curves will be
re$uired to represent the rating.
rational formula A 13th century simplistic formula for estimating ma)imum discharge of
runoff at a point, viz.
C I -%A.142
where C is ma)imum volumetric discharge (m1.sec)' - is the runoff coefficient' % is the
rainfall intensity (mm.hr.) with a selected recurrence interval (years) and with a duration
e$ual to the time of concentration of the catchment (minutes)' A is the catchment area
(hectares).
reach (1) A comparatively short length of a stream, channel, or shore. (") A length of open
channel between two defined cross sections (e.g. the portion of a stream between two gages).
(1) %n a canal, the length in which the hydraulic elements remain uniform. (/) A reach differs
from a crossover in that a reach refers to a long straight stretch of a river, while a crossover
refers to the relatively short length in which curvature of flow is reversed.
receiving basin A receptacle at the surface of the ground constructed to receive water or
wastewater.
receiving water A river, la!e, ocean or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated
effluent is discharged.
receiving waters :aters into which point or non#point sources discharge.
recession curve 0n a hydrograph, that part of the descending line from the point of inflection
to the time when direct runoff has ceased. A normal recession curve is derived from segments
of the hydrograph that represent the discharge from natural valley or channel storage after the
base flow has been subtracted.
recharge (1) Addition of water to the zone of saturation from precipitation, infiltration from
surface streams, and other sources. (") o in>ect treated water into underground strata to
replenish groundwater and.or prevent land collapse or salt water intrusion. See also artificial
recharge, groundwater recharge.
recharge area (or a$uifer) An area where water is absorbed to be added to a geologic zone.
recharge basin A basin e)cavated in the earth to receive the discharge from streams or storm
drains for the purpose of replenishing groundwater supply.
recreational areas he use of land and water resources for rest, rela)ation and recuperation,
including a variety of sports and other activities on public and private lands so designated for
that purpose' including par!s, cottage subdivisions, high#density, non#sewered residential
areas, intensive recreational land use, s!i slopes and recreational beaches.
recruitment he growth of a fish from one life stage to the ne)t.
rectangular weir A weir having a notch that is rectangular in shape.
recurrence interval (return period) (1) he average time interval between actual occurrences
of a hydrological event of a given or greater magnitude, e.g 1 in 6 year fre$uency. (") %n an
annual flood series, the average interval in which a flood of a given size recurs as an annual
ma)imum. (1) %n a partial duration series, the average interval between floods of a given size,
regardless of their relationship to the year or any other period of time. his distinction holds
even though for large floods recurrence intervals are nearly the same on both scales.
regulation A specific law that legally applies in all relevant situations.
regulator (1) A structure installed in a canal, conduit or channel to control the flow of water or
wastewater at inta!e, or to control the water level in a canal, channel or treatment unit. See
also rate of flow controller. (") A device for regulating the diversion of flow in combined
sewers. -ommonly a float device used to control a sluice gate on a sewer line.hese devices
control the amount of combined sewage directed toward a sewage treatment plant and amount
of combined sewage discharged through a -S0. (1) A device for regulating water pressure.
relative density See specific mass.
relative humidity (1) he amount of water vapor in the air, e)pressed as a percentage of the
ma)imum amount that the air could hold at the given temperature. (") he ratio of the actual
water vapor pressure to the saturation vapor pressure.
release rate he rate of discharge in volume per unit time from a detention facility.
relief sewer (1) A sewer built to carry the flows in e)cess of the capacity of an e)isting sewer.
(") A sewer intended to carry a portion of the flow from a district in which the e)isting sewers
are of insufficient capacity, and thus prevent overta)ing the latter.
remedial action plan A long term plan to correct the problems in an area of concern of the
8reat 5a!es.
reno mattress (roc! mattress) A container of similar shape to a mattress, made from steel wire
mesh and filled with stone similar to a gabion but thinner.
reo)ygenation he replenishment of o)ygen in a stream from dilution water entering the
stream, biological reo)ygenation through the activities of certain o)ygen#producing plants,
and atmospheric reaeration.
reserve capacity A portion of the assimilative capacity of a stream, which is set aside to
provide an ade$uate margin of protection, including consideration for future water uses.
retarding basin (retention basin) A dam constructed for the purpose of temporary storage of
streamflow or surface runoff, which releases the stored water at controlled rates.
retarding measure Any measure designed to delay stormwater and thereby reduce flow pea!s
(e.g. grassed drains, constricted outlets on stormwater drains, retarding basins).
retarding reservoir A reservoir formed in a river, valley, or other basin by a dam or barrier
with controlled or uncontrolled outlets. See also detention reservoir.
retention hat part of the precipitation falling on a drainage area which does not escape as
surface streamflow, during a given period. %t is the difference between total precipitation and
total runoff during the period, and represents evaporation, transpiration, subsurface lea!age,
infiltration and, when short periods are considered, temporary surface or underground storage
on the area.
retention ponds +asins, usually enclosed by artificial di!es, that are utilized for wastewater
treatment and.or storage.
retention time he period that water or wastewater, at a given hydraulic loading, will be
retained in a reactor, unit process, or facility.
retrofit o install a new +,* or improve an e)isting +,* in a previously developed area.
return period he reciprocal of the annual probability of e)ceedance of a specific flow value
(also !nown as recurrence interval ($.v.)). %n statistical analysis of hydrologic data, with
observations e$ually spaced in time and the interval between two successive observations as
unit of time, the reciprocal of one minus the probability of a value e$ual to or less than a
certain value' or, the mean number of such time units necessary in order to obtain once a
value e$ual to or greater than a certain value. ;or e)ample, when the interval between
observations is a year, a return period of 122 yr means that on the average in the long run, an
event of this magnitude or greater is e)pected to occur not more often than once in 122 yr.
revegetation techni$ues ,ethods and measures of a vegetative nature used to prevent soil
erosion.
revetment ;acing of stone or other material, either permanent or temporary, placed along the
edge of a stream or shoreline, or against a batter, to stabilize the ban! and protect it from the
erosive action of water.
(eynolds= number, (e A numerical $uantity used to characterize the type of flow in a
hydraulic structure where resistance to motion depends on the viscosity of the li$uid in
con>unction with the resisting force of inertia. %t is e$ual to the ratio of inertia forces to
viscous forces. %t is e$ual to the product of a characteristic velocity of the system (it may be
the mean, surface, or ma)imum velocity) and a characteristic linear dimension, such as
diameter or depth, divided by the !inematic viscosity of the li$uid' all e)pressed in consistent
units in order that the combinations will be dimensionless. he number is chiefly applicable to
closed systems of flow, such as pipes or conduits where there is no free water surface, or to
bodies fully immersed in the fluid so the free surface need not be considered. A dimensionless
number e)pressing the ratio of inertia forces to viscous forces. ;or open channels the
(eynolds number is calculated7
where (h is the hydraulic radius of the cross#section (m), is the mean velocity of flow (m.s)
and u is the !inematic viscosity of the li$uid (m".s).
right ban! he ban! to the right of an observer facing downstream.
rill A very small stream. Also called rivulet, streamlet. A small channel, cut by concentrated
runoff, through which water flows during and immediately after rain. A rill is usually only a
few centimetres deep.
rime ice A white mass of tiny ice crystals or granular ice tufts formed on e)posed ob>ects
owing to atmospherice moisture.
rip rap 5oose stone deposited on surfaces, such as the face of a dam or the ban! of a stream,
to protect against scour by water (channel flow or waves).
riparian (1) 0f, pertaining to, or situated or dwelling on the ban! of a river or other body of
water. (") 0ne who owns land on the ban! of a natural watercourse or body of water. (1)
*ertaining to a relatively narrow strip of land that borders a stream or river, often coinciding
with the ma)imum water surface elevation of the 122 year storm.
riparian land 5and that abuts on the ban!s of a stream or other natural body of water.
riparian vegetation Begetation growing on the ban!s of a stream or other body of water.
ripping (agric) *ulling a chisel plough or similar implement through the soil to reduce
compaction and promote infiltration of water into the soil. <oes not invert the soil.
(ippl diagram A mass diagram for the study of storage from the net yield of a source of water
supply during a consecutive time period, generally of a long e)tent.
riprap +ro!en stone or boulders placed compactly or irregularly on dams, levees, di!es, or
similar emban!ments for protection of earth surfaces against the action of waves or currents.
riser he inlet portion of a drop inlet that e)tends vertically from the receiving or outflow
pipe. A riser as part of a dam outlet controls the water surface elevation.
river he stream of water in a large natural open channel.
river mile <istance downstream from the headwaters (stream origin).
roc!#fill dam A dam composed of loose roc! supporting a watertight face or containing a
watertight core of impervious earth, concrete, steel sheet pile, or some combination of these
materials, or bac!ed by an earth emban!ment.
roc!#filled crib dam A timber dam consisting of a series of cribs or rectangular cells made of
s$uare or round timbers, driftbolted together, and filled with bro!en roc! or boulders, with an
upstream facing and dec! covered with heavy plan!s to provide watertightness.
roc! mattress See reno mattress.
rolled#earth dam A dam in which selected material of proper moisture content is placed in thin
layers and compacted by rolling. he resulting fill attains a very high density and is relatively
impervious, but may contain a line of saturation that remains within the base of the structure.
rolling#up curtain weir A movable timber weir in which the wooden barrier consists of a
curtain that is composed of horizontal lathes increasing in thic!ness downward and connected
by watertight hinges' it is rolled up from the bottom.
roof leader A drain or pipe that conducts storm water from the roof of a structure, downward
and into a sewer for removal from the property, or onto or into the ground for disposal by
seepage.
roof water Storm water flowing from the roofs of buildings.
root zone he region of soil that serves as support for the plant , and where the plant draws
nutrients and water.
rootstoc! An underground stem commonly for food storage and as a source from which
shoots arise.
rotifera ,inute, multi#celled a$uatic animals.
roughness coefficient A factor, in the -hezy, <arcy#:eisbach, @azen#:illliams, Eutter,
,anning, and other formulas for computing the average velocity of flow of water in a conduit
or channel, which represents the effect of roughness of the confining material on the energy
losses in the flowing water.
round#crested weir' rounded#crest weir A weir having a crest that is conve) upward in the
direction of flow over the weir. Also, a weir having a crest with a flat center and rounded
corners.
routing (1) he derivation of an outflow hydrograph for a given reach of a stream from !nown
values of upstream inflow. he procedure uses wave velocity or the storage e$uation,
sometimes both. (") Estimating the flood at a downstream point from the inflow at an
upstream point.
run#of#river he operation of a hydroelectric facility based on the concept that river inflow
e$uals turbine outflow.
runoff (1) hat portion of the earth=s available water supply that is transmitted through natural
surface channels. (") otal $uantity of runoff water during a specified time. (1) %n the general
sense, that portion of the precipitation which is not absorbed by the deep strata, but finds its
way into the streams after meeting the persistent demands of evapotranspiration, including
interception and other losses. (/) he discharge of water in surface streams, usually e)pressed
in inches depth on the drainage area, or as volume in such terms as cubic feet or acre feet. (6)
hat part of the precipitation which runs off the surface of a drainage area and reaches a
stream or other body of water or a drain or sewer.
runoff coefficient (1) ;raction of total rainfall that appears as total runoff volume after
subtracting depression storage and interception. ypically supposed to account for infiltration
into ground and evaporation. (") he ratio of the ma)imum rate of the runoff to the uniform
rate of rainfall with a duration e$ualling or e)ceeding the time of concentration which
produced this rate of runoff. (1) he ratio of the depth of runoff from the drainage basin to the
depth of rainfall.
runoff conveyance he method of transporting stormwater by means of a hydraulic carrier.
runon Surface water flowing onto an area as a result of runoff occurring higher up the slope.
sag Surface depression in flat urban areas.
saline soil A soil which contains sufficient soluble salts to impair plant growth.
Salmonella A genus of aerobic, rod#shaped, usually motile bacterial that are pathogenic for
man and other warm#blooded animals.
saltation Bariable or leaping movement of particles of soil or grains of sand.
sampler A device used with or without flow measurement to obtain a portion of water or
waste for analytical purposes. ,ay be designed for ta!ing single sample (grab), composite
sample, continuous sample, periodic sample.
San <imas flume A special form of flume for measuring the flow of debris#laden water in
open conduits.
sand A soil separate consisting of particles between 2.2" and ".2 mm in diameter.
sand filter A bed of sand through which water is passed to remove fine suspended particles.
Bery common in water treatment plants' also used in tertiary wastewater treatment plants and
sludge drying beds.
sand interceptor A detention chamber designed to remove sand from a conduit. See also grit
chamber.
sand trap A device, often a simple enlargement in cross#sectional area, placed in a conduit to
remove sand or silt carried by the water. %t usually includes means for e>ecting the settled
material.
sanitary collection system he sewer networ! used for the collection and conveyance of
municipal wastewater.
sanitary landfill A solid waste burial site operated to minimize environmental hazards. he
wastes are continuously compacted and are covered daily with a layer of soil to minimize
blowing, odors, fire hazards, and fly and rat problems' provisions are also made to minimize
leaching of dissolved solids to groundwater.
sanitary sewer A sewer that carries li$uid and water#borne wastes from residences,
commercial buildings, industrial plants, and institutions, together with relatively low
$uantities of ground, storm, and surface waters that are not admitted intentionally.
saprophytic bacteria +acteria that live on dead organic matter.
scour (1) he action of a flowing li$uid as it lifts and carries away the material on the sides or
bottom of a waterway, conduit, or pipeline. (") he enlargement of a flow section of a
waterway through the action of the fluid in motion carrying away the material composing the
boundary. See also scouring velocity.
scouring velocity he minimum velocity necessary to dislodge stranded material from the
boundary of a waterway, conduit or pipeline by a fluid in motion.
screen (1) A device with openings, generally of uniform size, used to retain or remove
suspended or floating solids in flowing water or wastewater and to prevent them from
entering an inta!e or passing a given point in a conduit. he screening element may consist of
parallel bars, rods, wires, grating, wire mesh, or perforated plate, and the openings may be of
any shape, although they are usually circular or rectangular. (") A device used to segregate
granular material such as sand, crushed roc!, and soil into various sizes.
S#curve hydrograph A graph showing the summation of the ordinates of a series of unit
hydrographs spaced at unit rainfall duration intervals. %t represents the hydrograph of unit rate
of rainfall e)cess continued indefinitely. %f the ordinates of the S#curves are e)pressed as a
percentage of the total unit hydrograph volume and the abscissa in unit of time, or in
percentage of lag time, the S#curve is !nown as a summation graph.
secondary treatment *rocesses or methods for the supplemental treatment of sewage and other
wastes, usually following primary treatment, to effect additional improvement in the $uality
of the treated wastes by biological means of various types. (1) 8enerally, a level of treatment
that produces removal efficiencies for +0< and SS of G6H . (") Sometimes used
interchangeably with concept of biological wastewater treatment, particularly the activated
sludge process. -ommonly applied to treatment that consists chiefly of clarification followed
by a biological process, with separate sludge collection and handling.
section control See control.
sediment (1) Solid material settled from suspension in a li$uid. (") Solid material, both
mineral and organic, formed as a result of erosion, that is in suspension, is being transported,
or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity, or ice, and has come to rest on
the earth=s surface either above or below sea level. (1) %norganic or organic particles
originating from weathering, chemical precipitation or biological activity. (/) Any solid phase
settling out of a li$uid phase, as for e)ample, deposits in rivers and la!es, sludge in clarifiers.
sediment concentration he ratio of the weight of the sediment in a water#sediment mi)ture to
the total weight of the mi)ture. Sometimes e)pressed as the ratio of the volume of sediment to
the volume of mi)ture. %t is dimensionless and is usually e)pressed in percentage for high
values of concentration and in parts per million for low values. he ratio of the mass of dry
sediment in a water.sediment mi)ture to the total volume of the suspension.
sediment discharge (sediment load) he $uantity of sediment, measured in dry weight or by
volume, transported through a stream cross#section in a given time.
sediment erosion <etachment of sediment particles by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
sediment retention pond A temporary sediment control device formed by e)cavation and.or
emban!ment to intercept sediment laden runoff and to retain the sediment. A pond in which
turbid water is chemically dosed and after clarification the treated water is released.
sediment transport he movement of solids transported in any way by a flowing li$uid.
sediment trap (1) A temporary structure or a vegetative barrier designed to trap sediment in
runoff before it enters stormwater pipes, channels or stream. %t is usually designed to control
runoff from only small catchments. (") A device, often a simple enlargement in cross#
sectional area, placed in a conduit to arrest, by deposition, the sand or silt carried by the water.
%t usually includes means for e>ecting the settled material. Also called sand trap ($.v.).
sedimentation (1) he process of subsidence and deposition of suspended matter carried by
water, wastewater, or other li$uids, by gravity. %t is usually accomplished by reducing the
velocity of the li$uid below the point at which it can transport the suspended material. Also
called settling. ,ay be enhanced by coagulation and flocculation. (") %n geology,
sedimentation consists of five fundamental processes7 weathering, erosion, transportation,
deposition and diagnesis or consolidation into roc!. (1) Solid#li$uid separation resulting from
the application of an e)ternal force, usually settling in a clarifier under the force of gravity. %t
can be variously classed as discrete, flocculent, hindered and zone sedimentation.
sedimentation basin A basin or tan! in which water or wastewater containing settleable solids
is retained to remove by gravity a part of the suspended matter. Also called sedimentation
tan!, settling basin, settling tan!.
sedimentation tan! See sedimentation basin.
seed bed Soil prepared by natural or artificial means to promote the germination of seeds to
the soil surface.
seeding he application or broadcasting of seeds to the soil surface.
seep (1) A more or less poorly defined area where water oozes from the earth in small
$uantities. (") o appear or disappear, as water or other li$uid, from a poorly defined area of
the earth=s surface. (1) According to some authorities, the type of movement of water in
unsaturated material. %t is to be distinguished from percolation, which is the predominant type
of movement of water in saturated material.
seepage (1) :ater escaping through or emerging from the ground. (") he process by which
water percolates through the soil. (1) *ercolation of water through the lithosphere. <efinitive
meaning is usually described by an ad>ective such as influent, effluent...See infiltration. (/)
he slow movement of water through small crac!s, pores or interstices of a material into or
out of a body of surface or subsurface water. (6) he loss of water by infiltration from a canal,
reservoir or other body of water, or from a field. %t is generally e)pressed as flow volume per
unit time. <uring the process of priming, such loss is called absorption loss.
seepage length %n sediment basins or ponds, the length along the pipe and around the anti#seep
collars that is within the seepage zone through an emban!ment. See also phreatic line.
self#cleansing velocity he minimum velocity in sewers necessary to !eep solids in
suspension, thus preventing their deposition and subse$uent nuisance from stoppages and
odors of decomposition.
senescence he annual die#bac! of a$uatic plants at the end of the growing season.
sensor A device which responds to the absolute value of, or change in, a physical or chemical
stimulus.
separate sewer A sewer intended to receive only wastewater or storm water or surface water.
See also combined sewer, sanitary sewer, storm sewer.
separate sewer system' separate system A sewer system carrying sanitary wastewater and
other water carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and
institutions, together with minor $uantities of ground#, storm, and surface waters that are not
intentionally admitted. A system of sewers and drains in which sanitary wastewater and storm
water are carried in different conduits. See also combined sewer, sanitary sewer, wastewater.
separating weir An opening or gap in the invert of a combined sewer through which the dry
weather flow will fall to a sanitary sewer and over which a portion or all of the storm flow
will leap. Also called leaping weir ($.v.).
septic (1) Anaerobic (") *utrid, rotten, foul smelling.
septic tan! An underground vessel for treating wastewater from a single dwelling or building
by a combination of settling and anaerobic digestion. Effluent is usually disposed of by
leaching. Settled solids are pumped out periodically and hauled to a treatment facility for
disposal.
se$uencing and staging of wor! he method used to underta!e the wor! in which the wor! is
split up into either separable parts or into components in order to reduce erosion of for other
reasons.
serial correlation he tendency of a $uantity to be dependent on previously occurring values
of that $uantity.
serial independence A historical data series can be classified as serially independent if the
data value at any time is independent of the value at any other time.
settleable (flotable) solids (1)hat matter in wastewater which will not stay in suspension
during a preselected settling period, such as one hour, but settles to the bottom (or floats to the
top). (") %n the %mhoff cone test, the volume of matter that settles to the bottom of the cone in
one hour. (1) Suspended solids that can be removed by conventional sedimentation.
settleability (1) he tendency of suspended solids to settle. (") ;or mi)ed li$uor and return
sludge, a standard test made by ta!ing a volume of a well#mi)ed sample and allowing it to
settle $uiescently for a fi)ed period of time.
settling basin See sedimentation basin.
settling tan! See sedimentation basin.
settling velocity he velocity at which subsidence and deposition of the settleable suspended
solids in water and wastewater will occur. See also fall velocity, standard fall velocity.
sewage @ousehold and commercial wastewater that contains human waste. <istinguished
from industrial wastewater. See also wastewater.
sewage treatment plant (S*) he central facility of wastewater treatment facilities which
contains all treatment processes e)clusive of the collection systems.
sewer A pipe or conduit that carries wastewater or drainage water. See following terms
modifying sewer7 branch, building, building storm, combined, common, depressed, egg#
shaped, flight, house, intercepting, lateral, main, outfall, private, public, relief, sanitary,
separate, storm, storm overflow, stormwater overflow, submain, trun!.
sewer appurtenances Structures, devices, and appliances, other than pipe or conduit, which are
integral parts of a sewer system, e.g. maintenance hatches, pipe encasement, flap valves.
sewer district (1) An organization, created and operating under statute, for the purpose of
financing, constructing, and operating a wastewater system. (") he land or area within the
boundaries of a sewer district as delimited in the organizing statute. %t may embrace parts of
one or more political subdivisions.
sewer gas A gas mi)ture of variable composition produced by anaerobic decomposition of
organic matter in sewers and maintenance hatches. %t contains high percentages of carbon
dio)ide and varying amounts of methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, and may be both
dangerous to inhale and e)plosive.
sewer maintenance hatch (manhole) A shaft or chamber providing access from the surface of
the ground to a sewer.
sewer outfall' sewer outlet he outlet or structure through which wastewater is finally
discharged.
sewer system -ollectively, all of the property involved in the operation of a sewer utility. %t
includes land, wastewater lines and appurtenances, pumping stations, treatment wor!s, and
general property. 0ccasionally referred to as a sewerage system. See also sewer utility.
sewer territory he land or area within the boundaries of a sewer district as delimited in the
organizing statute. See also sewer district.
sewer utility An enterprise having the principal ob>ective of rendering sewer service.
sewerage A complete system of piping, pumps, basins, tan!s, unit processes, and
appurtenances for the collection, transporting, treating, and discharging of wastewater. erm
is declining in use. See also sewer system, wastewater facilities.
sewershed he area of a municipality served by a given sewer networ!. ;or e)ample, the area
tributary to a given combined sewer overflow or a given :*-* would be termed the
sewershed tributary to the overflow or :*-*.
sharp#crested weir A weir having a crest, usually consisting of a thin plate (generally of
metal), so sharp that the water passing over it touches only a line.
sharp#edged orifice An orifice with sharp edges, in which the water passing through touches
only the line of the edge. Also called standard orifice.
sheet erosion See erosion.
sheet flow :ater, usually storm runoff, flowing in a thin layer over the ground surface.
short circuiting he passage of runoff through a +,* in less than the theoretical or design
treatment time.
short#crested weir A weir of such dimensions that a section through the bloc! forming it has a
horizontal longitudinal dimension at a bed level e$ual to or smaller than the ma)imum
operating head.
shutter weir A movable weir consisting of a row of large panels hinged at the bottom and
inclined slightly downstream toward the top when the weir is closed.
side#channel spillway A spillway in which the initial and final flow are appro)imately at right
angles to each other. he water, after passing over the spillway weir or ogee crest, is carried
away by a channel running essentially parallel to the crest. Also called lateral#flow spillway.
side contraction he contraction of the nappe or reduction in width of water overflowing a
weir, brought about by the detachment of the sides of the nappe or >et of water passing over
the sides of the weir.
side#flow weir A diverting weir constructed on the side of a channel or conduit, usually at
right angles to the center line of the main channel. See also diverting weir, overfall weir,
overflow weir.
side slope, m (1) he tangent of the angle which the side of the open channel ma!es with the
horizontal plane. he tangent of the angle, which may also be e)pressed as the ratio of the
horizontal and vertical components of the slope, ta!ing either of them as unity' it should be
stated which component is ta!en as unity. he side slope may also be e)pressed as a
percentage. (") he slope of the sides of a canal, dam or emban!ment. %t is customary to name
the horizontal distance first as 1.6 to 1 (or fre$uently, 1 1." 7 1) meaning horizontal distance of
1.6 metres to 1 metres vertical' a better and more strictly correct form of e)pressing such a
slope that is not sub>ect to misinterpretation would be 1 on 1 1.".
sieve diameter he length of the side of the smallest s$uare opening through which particles
will >ust pass.
sill (1) he timber, steel or concrete base located at the bottom of a lift#gate opening, on
which the gate rests when closed. (") he timber, steel or concrete base affi)ed to the crest of
a dam or spillway, to which gates or flashboards are attached or against which they are
supported. (1) A low concrete or masonry dam in a small mountain stream, designed to retard
the downward cutting of the stream in a relatively soft roc! or unconsolidated material. (/) A
low wall used on an apron or in a stilling basin to assist in energy dissipation and the control
of the water currents within and leaving the stilling basin. (6) An intrusive sheet of igneous
roc! of appro)imately uniform thic!ness which is slight compared with the lateral e)tent,
forced between level or gently inclined beds. (4) A structure built under water across deep
pools of a river with the aim of correcting the depth of the river. (D) he edge, usually of a
level channel section, over which water discharges.
silt (1) A soil separate consisting of particles between 2.22" and 2.2"mm in e$uivalent
diameter. (") Also soil particles having diameters between 2.22/ and 2.24" mm. (1) A size
classification of sediment transported by water, air or ice. (/) <eposits of waterborne material
in a reservoir, on a delta, or on overflowed lands.
siltation echnically this term refers to the deposition of silt particles, but it is more
commonly used to refer to deposition of any soil material (i.e. sedimentation).
silting he process of filling up or raising the bed of a body of water through deposition of
sediment.
simulation (epresentation of physical systems and phenomena by mathematical models.
single#arch dam A curved masonry dam which depends principally on arch action for
stability. Also called arch dam.
siphon A closed conduit a portion of which lies above the hydraulic grade line, resulting in a
pressure less than atmospheric and re$uiring a vacuum within the conduit to start flow. A
siphon utilizes atmospheric pressure to effect or increase the flow of water through the
conduit.
siphon spillway An enclosed spillway which utilizes the principle of the siphon. he top of
the inlet or air vent is constructed at the elevation at which spilling is to cease, with the top of
the inside of the tube placed at the ma)imum elevation which the water is to attain. :hen the
water level outside somewhat e)ceeds the elevation of the crest of the spillway, the air is
e)hausted in the tube, siphonic action commences, and the discharge through the siphon is
greatly accelerated. :hen the water level falls below the top of the inlet or air vent, siphonic
action is bro!en and discharge ceases. Such siphons have a large capacity for a small rise in
water level, and allow a considerable reduction in length of spillway.
siphon trap A trap having a double bend li!e an S on its side, in which the lower bend
contains the water seal preventing reflu) of foul gases. Also called running trap.
site access he means of access to a pro>ect site.
site clearing he clearing or removal of vegetative cover and other obstructions on a pro>ect
site prior to underta!ing the construction wor!.
size distribution A numerical or graphical representation of the results of a particle size
analysis.
s!imming weir A weir on a tan! or reservoir with an ad>ustable crest elevation to afford
means of restricting the depth of overflow so that a layer of water of small depth is removed
or s!immed off. See also diverting weir.
sliding#panel weir A movable timber weir in which the barrier consists of wooden panels
sliding in grooves and placed between pairs of immovable frames.
slip failure See landslip.
slip#prone Susceptible to landslip.
sludge (1) he accumulated solids separated from li$uids, such as water or wastewater, during
processing. (") 0rganic deposits on bottoms of streams or other bodies of water. (1) he
removed material resulting from chemical treatment, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation,
flotation, and.or biological o)idation of water or wastewater. (/) Any solid material
containing large amounts of entrained water collected during water or wastewater treatment.
See also activated sludge, settleable solids.
sluice gate A gate, used for sluicing, constructed to slide vertically and fastened into or
against the masonry of dams, tan!s, or other structures.
slurry A thic!ened, a$ueous mi)ture of such things as seed, fertilizer, short fibre mulch or
soil.
smo!e test A test used to detect unauthorized connections to a sewer system in which a
?bomb? that emits smo!e is ignited in a partially sealed sewer system and the appearance of
smo!e from various points is monitored.
snowfall (1) he rate at which snow falls, usually e)pressed as inches of snow depth per si)#
hour period. (") he actual depth of snow on the ground after a snowstorm. (1) A snowstorm.
snow gage A device for measuring snow depth. See also snow scale.
snow ripening he process, occurring during early stages of melting, by which snow crystals
tend to become granular, spaces between the crystals become filled with water, and the water
content of the snow tends to become uniform at all depths. :hen the snow becomes still more
dense and begins to lose water, it is sometimes called overripe.
snow sampler A device used in securing snow samples, consisting essentially of a set of light,
>ointed, metal tubes for ta!ing samples and a spring scale graduated to read directly the
corresponding depth of water contained in the snow sample.
snow scale A device, usually a rod, bearing mar!ings so that snow depth can be read directly
from a distance without disturbing snow cover.
sod A piece of earth containing grass with matted roots. urf.
softwater :ater with low concentrations of calcium (-a-01) ions.
soil Fnconsolidated mineral and organic material derived from weathering or brea!#down of
roc! and decay of vegetation. Soil materials include organic matter, clay, silt, sand and gravel.
soil evaporation he loss of water by evaporation into the atmosphere from water films
adhering to moist soil grains.
soil group, hydrologic A classification of soils by the F.S. Soil -onservation Service into four
runoff potential groups. he groups range from A soils, which are very permeable and
produce little runoff, to < soils, which are not very permeable and produce much more runoff.
soil infiltration rate he ma)imum rate at which a soil, in a given condition at a given time,
can absorb water.
soil moisture *ellicular water in the soil zone. %t is divided into available and unavailable
moisture, the former being water easily abstracted by roots of plants, the latter being water
held so firmly by adhesion and other forces that it cannot usually be absorbed by plants
rapidly enough to produce growth.
soil porosity he percentage of the soil (or roc!) volume that is not occupied by solid
particles, including all pore space filled with air and water. he total porosity may be
calculated from the formula7 *ercent pore space I
(1 # volume weight.specific gravity)122.
soil strata he various horizontal layers of sedimentary roc! (soil).
soil test -hemical analysis of soil to determine needs for fertilizers or amendments for species
of plants being grown.
solid waste disposal he disposal of municipal solid waste from residential, commercial and
industrial activities, either in sanitary landfill sites or in other forms of disposal.
sorption he physical or chemical binding of pollutants to sediment or organic particles.
sounding he operation of measuring the depth from the free surface to the bed.
source control (+,*s) he practice of reducing pollutants at their source, so that they don=t
enter the surface drainage channels.
spawning adult ;ish that are in the active spawning stage.
species he most specific ta)onomic classification of an organism.
specific discharge he discharge per unit area. %t is often used to define flood magnitudes.
specific energy he energy contained in a stream of water, e)pressed in terms of head,
referred to the bed of the stream. %t is e$ual to the mean depth of water plus the velocity head
of the mean velocity.
specific mass' relative density' specific gravity he ratio of the mass of a given volume of the
sediment to the mass of an e$ual volume of water.
spillway An open or closed channel, or both, used to convey e)cess water from a reservoir. A
waterway in or about a dam or other hydraulic structure, for the escape of e)cess water.
spillway chute An open conduit conducting the water, usually at supercritical velocity, from
the reservoir to the waterway downstream from the dam. Also called spillway trough.
spreader A device for distributing water uniformly in or from a channel.
stabilization *roviding ade$uate measures (vegetative and.or structural) to prevent erosion
from occurring.
stabilized area An area sufficiently covered by erosion resistant material, such as grass,
asphalt, concrete or stone, that erosion of the underlying soil does not occur.
stabilized channel An earth channel or canal in which, over a period of time, no appreciable
erosion or deposition of silt or sediment occurs.
stable (of a stream or channel) he condition of a stream, channel or other watercourse in
which no erosion or deposition occurs' ade$uately protected from erosion.
staff gage A graduated scale, vertical unless otherwise specified, on a plan!, metal plate, pier,
wall, etc., used to indicate the height of a fluid surface above a specified point or datum plane.
stage' gage height' li$uid level he elevation of the free surface of a stream, la!e or reservoir
above its minimum, or above or below an established low#water plane or datum of reference.
stage (discharge) hydrograph A graphical representation of changes in stage (discharge) with
respect to time.
stage#discharge relation he relation between gage height and discharge of a stream or
conduit at a gaging station. his relation is shown by the rating curve or rating table for such
station. A curve, e$uation or table which e)presses the relation between the stage and the
discharge in an open channel at a given cross section.
stage recorder A device which automatically records, either continuously or at selected time
intervals, the li$uid level as detected by a sensor.
staging of wor! he method used to underta!e the wor! in which the wor! is split up into
either separable parts or into components in order to reduce erosion or for other reasons.
sta!eholders %ndividuals and organizations that share local interest in, and responsibility for,
solving community problems. (his current understanding of the term is in direct
contradiction to the original definition of the sta!eholder as the impartial neutral party, trusted
to hold the sta!e # editor=s note).
standard fall velocity he average rate of fall that a particle would attain if falling alone in
$uiescent distilled water of infinite e)tent and at a temperature of "/o-. ;all velocity and
settling velocity are general terms which may apply to any rate of fall or settling, as
distinguished from standard fall velocity.
standard methods (1) An assembly of analytical techni$ues and descriptions commonly
accepted in water and wastewater treatment (Standard ,ethods for the E)amination of :ater
and :astewater) published >ointly by the American *ublic @ealth Association, the American
:ater :or!s Association, and the :ater *ollution -ontrol ;ederation. (") Balidated methods
published by professional organizations and agencies covering specific fields or procedures.
hese include, among others American *ublic @ealth Association, American *ublic :or!s
Association, American Society of -ivil Engineers, American Society of ,echanical
Engineers, American Society for esting and ,aterials, American :ater :or!s Association,
Fnited States +ureau of Standards, Fnited States of America Standards %nstitute (formerly
American Standards Association), Fnited States *ublic @ealth Service, :ater *ollution
-ontrol ;ederation, F.S. Environmental *rotection Agency.
standing crop he amount of a particular organism(s) present at a specific time in a specific
location.
staphylococcus Any of several spherical bacteria of the genus staphylococcus occurring pairs,
tetrads, and irregular clusters, certain species of which can be pathogenic for man.
static head (1) @ead resulting from elevation differences, for e)ample, the difference in
elevation in headwater and tailwater in a pipeline. (") he total head without reduction for
velocity head or losses' e.g. the difference in elevation of headwater and tail water of a power
plant. (1) he vertical discharge between the free level of the source of supply and the point
of free discharge or the level of the free surface.
static suction head he vertical distance from the source of supply when its level is above the
pump to the center line of the pump.
station rating curve A curve showing the relation between gage height and discharge of a
stream or conduit at a given gaging station. %t is a graphical representation of a rating or
discharge table. See also rating curve.
stationary A historical data series can be classified as stationary if data characteristics remain
unchanged by long#terms trends or other effects.
Stauwer!e gate An automatic crest gate operated by counterweights placed either above or
below the water surface.
steady flow he condition in which the discharge does not change in magnitude with respect
to time.
steady state &ot changing with time. &ot statistically#based.
step bac!water calculation A calculation procedure for determining water surface levels used
in @E-".
stewardship he careful and responsible management of ecosystem resources entrusted to
humans in the interest of achieving and protecting ecosystem integrity for its intrinsic value
and.or for the benefit of current and future generations.
stilling basin An open structure or e)cavation located, for e)ample, at the foot of an outfall,
pipe, chute, or spillway which reduces the velocity or turbulence of flowing or falling water.
stilling well A pipe, chamber, or compartment with comparatively small inlet or inlets
communicating with a main body of water. %ts purpose is to dampen waves or surges while
permitting the water level within the well to rise and fall with the ma>or fluctuations of the
main body of water. %t is used with water measuring devices to improve accuracy of
measurement.
Sto!es 5aw (ype % Sedimentation) A model for the settling characteristics of particulate
materials in bodies of water' whereby coarser materials are deposited first, followed by finer#
sized fractions.
stop log A log, plan!, cut timber, or a steel or concrete beam fitting into end guides between
walls or piers to close an opening in a dam or conduit to the passage of water. he logs
usually are handled or placed one at a time.
storage he impounding of water, either in surface or in underground reservoirs, for future
use. he term differs from pondage and regulation in that the latter refer to more or less
temporary retention of the water, while storage involves retention for much longer periods.
storage capacity curve' storage curve A curve e)pressing the relation between the volume of a
space and the upper level of elevation of the material occupying the space. %n the case of a
reservoir, it is the relation between the water surface elevation in the reservoir and the volume
of water below that elevation. Also called capacity curve.
storage e$uation An a)iom stating that the volume of inflow e$uals the volume of outflow
plus or minus the change in storage. Also called continuity e$uation ($.v.).
storm Fsually, an occurrence of such phenomena as rain, snow, hail, and wind, although wind
storms may be described in accordance with the material which is carried in suspension in the
air, such as dust, sand. 0ften used in connection with a meteorological phenomenon which is
either unusual or of great magnitude, rate, or intensity.
storm capture design method he design method used for sediment retention ponds in which
the ponds are designed to have sufficient capacity to capture a storm without spill. he
stormwater may then be chemically dosed, and after clarification, the treated water released.
storm distribution pattern he manner in which depth of rainfall varies from station to station
throughout an area.
storm drain A drain used for conveying rainwater, groundwater, subsurface water, condensate,
cooling water, or other similar discharge to a storm sewer or combined sewer.
storm flow hat portion of the precipitation which leaves the drainage area in a comparatively
short time on or near the surface. Also called e)cess rainfall ($.v.), surface runoff ($.v.).
storm fre$uency A measure of how often a storm event of given magnitude should, on the
average, be e$ualled or e)ceeded.
storm overflow (1) A weir, orifice or other device for permitting the discharge from a
combined sewer of the flow in e)cess of that which the sewer is designed to carry. (") Some
portion of flow due to storm water.
storm overflow sewer A sewer used to carry the e)cess of storm flow from a main or
intercepting sewer to an independent outlet.
storm pulse A high concentration of urban pollutants found in a stream for a short period of
time, following a rainstorm.
storm runoff hat portion of the total runoff that reaches the point of measurement within a
relatively short time after the occurrence of precipitation. Also called direct runoff ($.v.).
storm sewer A sewer that carries storm water and surface water, street wash and other wash
waters or drainage, but e)cludes domestic wastewater and industrial wastes. Also called storm
drain ($.v.).
storm sewer discharge ;low from a storm sewer that is discharged into a receiving water.
storm wastewater (1) hat portion of li$uid, resulting from precipitation runoff flowing in
combined sewers during or after a period of rainfall. (") :ater resulting from precipitation
runoff carried in a storm drain.
stormwater' storm water (1) :ater resulting from precipitation which either percolates into
the soil, runs off freely from the surface, or is captured by storm sewer, combined sewer, and
to a limited degree, sanitary sewer facilities. (") Surface water from rain, snow, or ice melting
and running off from the surface of a drainage area. %t is normally collected in sewers separate
from the sanitary sewers, and receives minimal, if any, treatment prior to discharge to a
receiving water. :hen collected in a combined sewer system, the resulting mi)ture of sewage
and stormwater is called combined wastewater.
stormwater collection system he system of underground pipes, open channels, inlets, catch
basins, maintenance hatches, and pumping stations used to collect rainwater and snow melt
from the ground surface, paved areas, and roofs, and convey it to a natural watercourse or to a
treatment plant' usually man#made.
stormwater management he storage and treatment of precipitation runoff to reduce flooding,
remove pollutants, and provide other amenities.
stormwater overflow ;low due to storm water that is diverted from its normal channel. See
also storm overflow.
stormwater overflow sewer See storm overflow sewer.
stormwater $uality ponds :et or dry ponds used to treat urban runoff.
stormwater retarding basin See retarding basin, retarding measure.
stormwater runoff hat portion of the rainfall over a given area which finds its way to natural
or manmade drainage channels.
stormwater system System of drains and appurtenances for conveying the runoff from street
surfaces' includes natural drains.
stratification (1) he formation of separate mi)ing layers in a la!e, usually characterized by
different temperature regimes and called thermal stratification. See also hypolimnion,
thermocline. (") -ollectively, the e)istence of beds or laminae. Also called lamination.
stratification of flow he state of fluid flow that consists of two or more distinct layers
arranged according to their density, the least dense layer being on top and the densest at the
bottom.
straw bale and stone trap A temporary sediment control device formed by a barrier of straw
bales with an opening in which stones are placed to act as a filter device.
straw mulching he application of straw to the soil surface.
stream biota he collective animal and plant life of a stream.
stream degradation he lowering of the bed of a stream. %t may be due to a number of causes,
such as the removal of the natural sediment load giving the stream the ability to pic! up
additional material from its bed and degrade it.
stream gaging All of the operations necessary for measuring discharge.
streamflow he water which is flowing in a stream channel. -ommonly used interchangeably
with stream discharge to designate the rate of flow. :ater flowing in a natural channel above
ground.
street wash he surface runoff from streets that enters sewers or storm drains.
Streeter#*helps e$uation An e$uation that describes the o)ygen depletion rate in a stream
under conditions of single#source +0<6 pollution and atmospheric reaeration.
structure A hydraulic facility or structure used to control the flow of water.
structure (of soil) he combination or arrangement of primary soil particles into secondary
particles, units or peds. %t is a very important property in relation to stability and infiltration
characteristics.
subarea A sub#division or portion of the drainage area that has similar hydrological
characteristics and drains to a particular point.
subbasin See subcatchment.
subcatchment Subdivision of a drainage area that drains to a particular point with a combined
sewer system. Same as subarea, often applied to an inlet to a sewer system.
subcritical flow urbulent flow with a mean velocity less than +elanger=s critical velocity.
Also called streaming flow. ;low in which the ;roude number is less than unity and small
surface disturbances can travel upstream.
subgrade *repared ground surface on which pavement is constructed.
sub#lethal %nvolving a stimulus below the level that causes death.
sublimation he direct conversion of solids to the gaseous state and bac! to the solid state
without apparent li$uefication.
submain sewer A sewer into which the wastewater from two or more lateral sewers is
discharged and which subse$uently discharges into a main, trun! or other collector.
submerged flow See drowned flow.
submerged orifice An orifice discharging wholly under water.
submerged outlet An outlet entirely covered by water.
submerged spillway A spillway in which the water level downstream stands at an elevation
higher than the crest of the spillway.
submerged weir A weir which, when in use, has the water level on the downstream side at an
elevation e$ual to, or higher than, the weir crest. he rate of discharge is affected by the tail
water. Also called drowned weir ($.v.).
submergence (1) he condition of a weir when the elevation of the water surface on the
downstream side is e$ual to or higher than that of the weir crest. (") he ratio, e)pressed as a
percentage, of the height of the water surface downstream from a weir above the weir crest to
the height of the water surface upstream above the weir crest. he distances upstream or
downstream from the crest at which such elevations are measured are important, but have not
been standardized. (1) %n water power engineering, the ratio of tail water elevation to the
headwater elevation when both are higher than the crest. he overflow crest of the structure is
the datum of reference. he distances upstream or downstream from the crest at which
headwater and tail water elevations are measured are important, but have not been
standardized. (/) he depth of flooding over a pump suction inlet.
subsoil he + horizon of soils with distinct profiles. %n soils with wea! profile development,
the subsoil can be defined as the soil below the topsoil.
substrate he natural soil base underlying a +,*' the roc! fragments, on the bed of a stream,
to which benthic biota become attached.
subsurface runoff (1) 8roundwater runoff from temporary zone of saturation in the soil. he
runoff occurs so rapidly that it cannot be distinguished on the stream hydrograph from
overland runoff and therefore is included in direct runoff. (") :ater that enters the soil but
returns to the surface or appears in channels at a lower level without entering the water table
in the zone of saturation.
subsurface sedimentation tan! An underground facility commonly used for stormwater
control by allowing sufficient detention time for particles to settle out.
subsurface storage tan! An underground facility commonly used for temporary storage of
-S0.
sudden contraction A reduction in the cross#sectional area of a stream channel, conduit, or
other hydraulic structure, that occurs abruptly, or over a distance that is small compared with
dimensions of the channel or conduit, such as depth, diameter.
supercritical flow ;low in which the ;roude number is greater than unity and small surface
disturbances cannot travel upstream.
surcharge (1) he flow condition occurring in closed conduits when the sewer is flowing full,
is pressurized, or when the hydraulic grade line is above the crown of the sewer. (") he
height of wastewater in a sewer maintenance hatch above the crown of the sewer when the
sewer is flowing completely full. (1) 5oads on a system beyond those normally anticipated.
(/) An e)tra monetary charge imposed # especially on flows into a wastewater collection
system # when set $uantity or $uality limits are e)ceeded.
surcharge storage Storage available above an established reservoir level' sometimes used to
control floods.
surcharged maintenance hatch (manhole) A maintenance hatch that is receiving a flow in
e)cess of that which can be transported by the sewer line.
surface detention hat part of the rain which remains on the ground surface during rainfall
and either runs off or infiltrates after the rain ends' does not include depression storage. he
detention depth increases until discharge reaches e$uilibrium with rate of supply e$ual to
surface runoff.
surface drawdown he local lowering of the water surface in an approach channel caused by
the acceleration of the flow passing over an obstacle or through a control.
surface erosion See erosion.
surface profile he longitudinal profile assumed by the surface of a stream of water flowing in
an open channel.
surface runoff (1) hat portion of the runoff of a drainage basin that has not passed beneath
the surface after deposition. (") he water that reaches a stream by travelling over the soil
surface or falls directly into the stream channels, including not only the large permanent
streams but also the tiny rills and rivulets. (1) :ater that remains after infiltration,
interception, and surface storage have been deducted from precipitation.
surface slope, S he difference in elevation of the li$uid surface of the stream per unit of
horizontal distance measured in the direction of flow.
surface#water inlet An inlet providing entrance for surface water into a drain which is located
below ground surface.
surface width he width of a channel, measured in cross section, at the water surface normal
to the direction of flow.
surge (1) A momentary increase in flow (in an open conduit) or pressure (in a closed conduit)
which passes longitudinally along the conduit, usually due to sudden changes in velocity or
$uantity. (") Any periodic, usually abrupt, change in flow, temperature, p@, concentration, or
similar factor.
suspended#frame weir A movable timber weir in which the structural#steel frames, in times of
flood, can be raised from the river and be supported by an overhead bridge.
suspended load hat part of the total sediment transported which is maintained in suspension
by turbulence in the flowing water for considerable periods of time without contact with the
stream bed. %t moves with practically the same velocity as that of the flowing water' it is
generally e)pressed as a mass or volume per unit time.
suspended sediment he very fine soil particles that remain in suspension in water for a
considerable period of time without contact with the solid#fluid boundary at or near the
bottom. hey are maintained in suspension by the upward components of turbulent currents or
may be fine enough to form a colloidal suspension.
suspended solids (1) %nsoluble solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in,
water, wastewater, or other li$uids. (") Solid organic or inorganic particles (colloidal,
dispersed, coagulated, flocculated) physically held in suspension by agitation or flow. (1) he
$uantity of material removed from wastewater in a laboratory test, as prescribed in ?Standard
,ethods for the E)amination of :ater and :astewater? and referred to as nonfilterable
residue.
sustainable community A community where the natural environment and its human
inhabitants interrelate in a manner that maintains ecosystem integrity and provides a high
$uality of life for humans.
sustainable development <evelopment that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, and respects the
limits imposed by the capacity of an ecosystem to absorb the impact of human activities.
sustainable use (of resources) -onsumption or employment of a resource which, all other
factors being e$ual, does not cause depletion that harms the resource or constitutes a threat to
ecosystem integrity.
Sutro weir A weir with at least one curved side and horizontal crest, so formed that the head
above the crest is directly proportional to the discharge.
swale (1) A temporary channel e)cavation of small dimensions formed by ploughing or light
e)cavation. (") A slight depression, often wet and covered with ran! vegetation. (1) A wide
shallow ditch, usually grassed or paved.
swamp An area of moist or wet land, with water standing on or >ust below the surface of the
ground, usually covered with a heavy and dense growth of vegetation. Fsually applied to
rather large fresh#water areas. See also tidal marsh.
swelling soil See e)pansive soil.
synergism %nteractions of two or more substances or organisms producing a result such that
the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
synthetic unit hydrograph A unit graph developed for an ungaged drainage area, based on
!nown physical characteristics of the basin.
tabledrain <rain following the side of a road, ad>acent to the shoulder.
tail race A channel that conducts water from a water structure' afterbay.
tailwater (1) he stretch of river below a dam. (") :ater, in a river or channel, immediately
downstream from a structure.
tainter gate A crest gate the face of which is a section of cylinder that rotates about a
horizontal a)is downstream from the gate. he water pressure against the gate is concentrated
in the a)is' this arrangement reduces friction in raising and lowering the gate. A seal is placed
along the sides and bottom of the gate face for watertightness. he gate is raised and lowered
by winches or hoists attached to cables or chains fastened to the bottom edge of the gate and
lying against its water face' this allows a vertical lifting force to be applied. %t can be closed
under its own weight.
- otal carbon, including both inorganic and organic forms. See also %-, 0-.
<S otal dissolved solids.
television inspection See video inspection.
telltale (1) A water#level indicator installed in a reservoir. (") A small overflow pipe that
indicates, by dripping, when a tan! or cistern is full.
temperature (1) he thermal state of a substance with respect to its ability to communicate
heat to its environment. (") he measure of the thermal state on some arbitrarily chosen
numerical scale. See also celsius scale, centigrade.
temporary construction e)it A pad of coarse gravel located at e)its from construction sites to
reduce the transport of sediment onto public roads by motor vehicles.
temporary seeding Sowing to establish temporary vegetative cover for the soil (while waiting
for further construction or other activity to ta!e place).
teratogen A material that induces congenital malformations. See also carcinogen, mutagen.
terminal cleanout A pipe leading to the ground surface at the upper end of a branch sewer to
permit the cleanout of the sewer.
terminal maintenance hatch (manhole) he first maintenance hatch at the upper end of a
branch sewer line.
terrace An emban!ment or combination of an emban!ment and channel constructed across a
slope at a suitable spacing to control erosion by diverting or storing surface runoff instead of
permitting it to flow uninterrupted down the slope. &ormally used only on cropland.
terrestrial forest community ecosystem An upland plant community dominated by trees,
typically with a mature canopy, having distinct sub#canopy understorey trees as well as one to
two shrub layers and a herbaceous layer.
tertiary treatment See advanced waste treatment
test well A device installed in an infiltration +,* to monitor infiltration rates.
te)ture (of soil) A measure of the behaviour of a moist ball of soil when pressed between the
thumb and forefinger. %t is generally related to the proportion of soil particles of differing
sizes (sand, silt, clay and gravel) in a soil, but it is also influenced by organic matter content,
clay type, and degree of structural development of the soil.
thalweg (1) he line following the lowest part of a valley, whether under water or not.
Fsually the line following the deepest part or middle of the bed or channel of a river. (") A
subsurface groundwater stream percolating beneath and in the general direction of a surface
stream course or valley. (1) he middle or chief navigable channel of a waterway' the thread
of a stream.
thermal conductivity he $uantity of heat that flows in one second across unit area of a slab of
a substance of unit thic!ness when the temperatures of the faces of the slab differ by one
degree. Also called coefficient of thermal conduction, specific thermal conductivity.
thermal#convection storm A storm, caused by local ine$ualities in the temperature, in which
the rainfall is intense, short#lived, and limited to only a small area.
thermal pollution <ischarge of heated effluents at temperatures that can be detrimental to
a$uatic life.
thermocline %n a thermally stratified la!e, the layer below the epilimnion and above the
hypolimnion. %t is the stratum in which there is a rapid rate of decrease in temperature with
depth.
thermograph An instrument designed to ma!e an automatic record of temperature. he
thermometric element is, most commonly, either a bimetallic strip or a metal tube filled with a
li$uid. %n all types, the pen writes the record of temperature on a ruled sheet which is wrapped
around a cylinder revolved by enclosed cloc!wor!' from the trace thus made, the
instantaneous behavior of the temperature may be determined.
thermophilic range hat temperature range most conducive to maintenance of optimum
digestion by thermophilic bacteria, generally accepted as between /3o and 6Do- (1"2o and
116o;).
thin#layer chromatography A chromatographic separation techni$ue which employs, as a
stationary phase, a solid adsorbent thinly coated on a support material, such as glass plate. See
also paper chromatography.
thin plate notch weir A weir whose crest is a notch cut in a thin plate.
thin plate weir A weir constructed of a vertical thin plate, in such a manner that the nappe
springs clear of the crest.
throat he minimum cross#sectional area within a flume. he throat may be rectangular,
trapezoidal, F#shaped or of any other specially designed shape.
thunderstorm A local and short#lived atmos#pheric disturbance accompanied by electrical
phenomena and heavy showery precipitation, often by gusts of wind, and sometimes by hail.
See also thermal#convection storm.
%- otal inorganic carbon. See also -, 0-.
tidal marsh 5ow, flat marshlands traversed by interlacing channels and tidal sloughs and
usually inundated by tides. Fsually applied to marshlands with brac!ish or salt water.
tidal range he difference in elevation between high and low tide at any point or locality. See
also range of tide.
tide (1) he periodic rising and falling of the water that results from the gravitational
attraction of the moon and sun acting on the rotating earth. Should not be used to designate
the horizontal movement of the water, which is the tidal current. (") A flood in a stream
(collo$uial, southeastern Fnited States).
tide gate A gate with a flap suspended from a free swinging horizontal hinge, normally placed
at the end of a conduit discharging into a body of water having a fluctuating surface elevation.
he gate is usually closed because of e)ternal hydraulic pressure, but will open when the
internal head is sufficient to overcome the e)ternal pressure, the weight of the flap, and the
friction of the hinge.
time of concentration (hydraulics) ime between the start of a runoff event and the time when
the entire watershed is contributing flow.
%& A networ! consisting of triangles of various shapes, >oining nodes or vertices to each
other by lines.
0- otal organic carbon. See also -, %-.
toe (of slope) *oint where a slope stops or levels out. +ottom of the slope.
topdress Application of fertilizer to established or establishing vegetation to maintain the
supply of soil nutrients and to provide a continuing stimulus to plant growth.
topographic divide he line that follows the ridges or summits forming the e)terior boundary
of a drainage basin and that separates one drainage basin from another. Also called drainage
divide.
topsoil Soil material which is usually more fertile and better structured than underlying layers
and which usually consists of the A1 horizon.
topsoil removal he removal of topsoil form a site prior to underta!ing pro>ect wor!.
topsoil spreading he spreading of topsoil over a site after completion of the reshaping.
total carbon (-) A $uantitative measure of both total inorganic (%-) and total organic
(0-) carbon (mg.1) in water or wastewater, as determined instrumentally by chemical
o)idation to -0" and subse$uent infrared detection in a carbon analyzer.
total dissolved solids (<S) he sum of all dissolved solids (volatile and non#volatile) in a
water or wastewater.
total dynamic discharge head otal dynamic head plus the dynamic suction head or minus the
dynamic suction lift.
total dynamic head he difference between the elevation corresponding to the pressure at the
discharge flange of a pump and the elevation corresponding to the vacuum or pressure at the
suction flange of the pump, corrected to the same datum plane, plus the velocity head at the
discharge flange of the pump, minus the velocity head at the suction flange of the pump.
total habitat S$uare feet of wetted stream channel for 1222 feet of stream as calculated from
*@A+S%,.
total head, @ (1) he sum of the pressure, velocity, and position heads above a datum. he
height of the energy line above a datum. (") he difference in elevation between the surface
of water at the source of supply and the elevation of the water at the outlet, plus velocity head
and lost head. (1) he high distance of the energy line above the datum' energy head. (/) %n
open channel flow, the depth plus the velocity head. he sum of the elevation (z) of the free
surface above a horizontal datum of a section, and the velocity head based on the mean
velocity at that section.
total head line' energy head line A plot of the total (energy) head in the direction of flow.
total load he sum of the bed material load and the wash load.
total organic carbon (0-) he amount of carbon bound in organic compounds in a sample.
+ecause all organic compounds have carbon as the common element, total organic carbon
measurements provide a fundamental means of accessing the degree of organic pollution.
total o)ygen demand (0<) A $uantitative measure of all o)idizable material in a sample
water or wastewater as determined instrument#ally by measuring the depletion of o)ygen after
high#temperature combustion. See also total organic carbon, chemical o)ygen demand, -0<.
total pumping head he measure of the energy increase imparted to each pound of li$uid as it
is pumped, and therefore, the algebraic difference between the total discharge head and the
total suction head.
total solids he sum of dissolved and suspended solid constituents in water or wastewater.
to)ic wastes :astes which, when they come in contact with a biological entity, cause an
adverse response.
to)icity he adverse effect which a biologically active substance has, at some concentration,
on a living entity.
(#"2 A watershed hydrology model developed by the F.S. Soil -onservation Service that is
used to route a design storm hydrograph through a pond.
trace element Any element in water or wastewater that for reasons associated with natural
distribution, industrial use, solubility, or other factor, is present at very low concentrations.
tracer An ion, compound or radionuclide introduced into a flow system to follow the
behaviour of some component of that system' it is necessary for the tracer, which can be
observed, to behave in e)actly the same fashion as the component to be followed, the
behaviour of which cannot be easily observed.
transects A section across a stream channel that is perpendicular to the direction of water
flow.
transmission constant A $uantity used to e)press the ability of granular material to transmit
water. %t is e$ual to the discharge (in cubic feet per minute) through each s$uare foot of cross#
sectional area when the hydraulic gradient is 122H. A discharge of one cubic foot per minute
through a cross#sectional area one foot s$uare with a hydraulic gradient of one foot difference
in head for each foot the water travels gives a transmission constant of unity. See also
permeability coefficient.
transpiration (1) he process by which water vapor is lost to the atmosphere from living
plants. (") he $uantity of water thus dissipated.
transportation he movement of people and goods for social and economic purposes
involving the use of machines or e$uipment including highways and roads, railroads, airports
and utility corridors (transmission lines, pipelines).
trap (sediment trap) A temporary structure or vegetative barrier to trap sediment in runoff
before it enters stormwater pipes, channels or stream. %t is usually designed to control runoff
from only a small catchment.
trap efficiency capability of a reservoir to trap sediment. he ratio of sediment trapped to the
sediment delivered, usually e)pressed in percent.
trapezoidal weir A weir with a trapezoid#shaped notch. Also see -ipolletti weir.
trashrac! (1) A grill, grate or other device located at the inta!e of a channel, pipe, drain or
spillway to prevent oversize debris from entering the structure. (") A grid or screen placed
across a waterway to catch floating debris.
travel time ime it ta!es for a particle of water to travel from one point to another.
triangular weir A weir having a notch that is triangular in shape. See also B#notch weir.
triangulated irregular networ! A networ! consisting of triangles of various shapes, >oining
nodes or vertices to each other by lines.
tric!ling filter A very coarse filter used to provide secondary treatment of wastewater. A film
of aerobic microorganisms on the filter media metabolizes the organic material in the
wastewater tric!ling downward to underdrains' biofilm that sloughs off is subse$uently
removed by sedimentation.
trun! sewer A sewer that receives many tributary branches and serves a large territory. See
also main sewer.
trun! system A system of ma>or sewers serving as transporting lines and not as local or lateral
sewers.
tuberculation he formation of tubercules in pipe, with an increase in frictional coefficient.
tunnelling See piping.
turbidimeter An instrument for measurement of turbidity, in which a standard suspension is
used for reference.
turbidity (1) A condition in water or wastewater caused by the presence of suspended matter,
resulting in the scattering and absorption of light. (") Any suspended solids imparting a
visible haze or cloudiness to water which can be removed by filtration. (1) An analytical
$uantity usually reported in turbidity units determined by measurements of light scattering.
See also color, ;F, 9F.
turbine he unit which produces power at hydroelectric facilities.
underdrain *lastic pipes with holes drilled through the top, installed on the bottom of an
infiltration +,*, or sand filter, which are used to collect and remove e)cess runoff.
unified soil classification system (FS-S) A classification system based on the identification
of soils according to their particle size, gradation, plasticity inde) and li$uid limit.
uniform flow A state of steady flow when the mean velocity and cross#sectional area are e$ual
in all sections of a reach. A flow in which the velocities are the same in both magnitude and
direction from point to point along the conduit.
unit hydrograph he hydrograph of the storm runoff at a given point on a given stream which
will result from an isolated rainfall e)cess of unit duration occurring over the contributing
drainage area and resulting in a unit of runoff. Also called unitgraph.
universal soil loss e$uation An e$uation used for the design of water erosion control systems7
A I ( E 5 S - *
where A is average annual soil loss in tonnes per hectare per year' ( is rainfall factor' E is
soil erodibility factor' 5 is length of slope' S is percent of slope' - is cropping and
management factor' and * is conservation practice factor.
unsanitary &ot sanitary' unhealthy' liable to promote disease' contrary to principles !nown to
promote or safeguard health. Also called insanitary.
unsaturated zone hat portion of the lithosphere in which the functional interstices of
permeable roc! or earth are not (e)cept temporarily) filled with water under hydrostatic
pressure' that is, the water in the interstices is held by capillarity. he aeration zone comprises
the area where fringe water, intermediate water, and groundwater may be found' the zone of
suspended water. Also called aeration zone.
unsteady flow he condition in which the discharge changes in magnitude with respect to
time.
unsteady nonuniform flow ;low in which the velocity and the $uantity of water flowing per
unit time at every point along the conduit vary with respect to time and position.
uplift (hydraulics) he upward force of water on the base or underside of a structure.
urban capability assessment A system used by the F.S. Soil -onservation Service to classify
land for various intensities of urban use on the basis of the physical constraints applying to it.
urban drainage' urban drainage system %ncludes both man#made and natural elements. An
urban drainage networ! usually consists of two separate systems7 sanitary and storm sewers.
urban runoff Surface runoff from an urban drainage area that reaches a stream or other body
of water or a sewer.
urbanized area -entral city, or cities, and surrounding closely settled territory. -entral city
(cities) have populations of 62,222 or more. *eripheral areas with a population density of one
person per acre or more are included (Fnited States city definition).
vapour (1) he gaseous form of any substance. (") A visible condensation such as fog, mist,
or steam, suspended in air.
velocity, v Speed of flow in a specified direction' the time rate of motion' the distance
travelled divided by the time re$uired to travel the distance.
velocity gradient he change in velocity per unit of distance along the vertical velocity curve.
velocity head he !inetic energy of the flow e)pressed as the head obtained by dividing the
s$uare of the velocity by twice the acceleration due to gravity (v"."g).
vena contracta he most contracted sectional area of a stream, >et, or nappe issuing through or
over an orifice or weir notch. %t occurs downstream from the plane of such notch or orifice.
Benturi flume An open flume containing a contraction such that, in principle, a measurement
of two water levels, upstream from, and either at or downstream from, the constriction, allows
a calculation of the discharge. %t is used for measuring flow. See also *arshall flume.
very fine sand Sediment particles having diameters between 2.24" and 2.1"6 mm.
video inspection he inspection of inaccessible or hazardous locations using closed#circuit
television, usually applied to truc!#mounted, semi#portable e$uipment used to inspect the
inside of buried sewers. Synonymous with television inspection' often called --B (closed
circuit B).
virus he smallest (12 to 122 , in diameter) lifeform capable of producing infection and
diseases in man or other large species.
viscosity he molecular attractions with a fluid which ma!e it resist a tendency to deform
under applied forces. See also &ewtonian flow, non#&ewtonian flow.
B#notch weir A weir having a notch that is triangular in shape.
volatile -apable of being evaporated at relatively low temperatures.
warm front he surface of separation between two ad>acent air masses of different
characteristics, usually temperature and humidity, normally associated with a belt of cloud
and precipitation in which warmer air replaces colder air. See also frontal surface.
warm water fishery A fresh water, mi)ed fish population with no salmonids.
wash load hat part of the suspended load which is composed of particle sizes smaller than
those found in appreciable $uantities in the bed material. %t is in near#permanent suspension
and, therefore, is transported through the stream without deposition. he discharge of the
wash load through a reach only depends on the rate with which these particles become
available in the catchment and not on the transport capacity of flow. %t is generally e)pressed
in mass or volume per unit of time.
wash off he transport of pollutant mass out of a watershed during a rainfall event.
waste ;or our purposes, waste means any solid, li$uid, gas, odour, heat, sound, vibration,
radiation or combination of any of these resulting directly or indirectly from the activities of
man which may7 impair the $uality of the natural environment for any use that can be made of
it' cause in>ury or damage to property or to plant or animal' cause harm or material discomfort
to any person' adversely affect the health or impair the safety of any person' or render any
property or plant or animal life unfit for use by man.
waste weir A structure in a canal or open conduit installed to allow spilling or wasting of
e)cess water from other sources which might find its way into the canal and cause damage by
overflowing the ban!s. %t usually consists of a short section of canal with a level crest,
protected against erosion or cutting, with an elevation which is below the top of the canal
ban! but above the normal water surface in the canal. See also spillway.
wasteload allocation he allocation of waste waters to a receiving water system such that all
targets (i.e. for future waste loading rates) and constraints (on the receiving water) are met.
wastewater he spent or used water of a community or industry which contains dissolved and
suspended matter.
wastewater facilities he structures, e$uipment and processes re$uired to collect, convey and
treat domestic and industrial wastes, and dispose of the effluent and sludge.
wastewater outfall he outlet or structure through which wastewater is finally discharged.
wastewater treatment plant (1) An arrangement of devices and structures for treating
wastewater, industrial wastes and sludge. Sometimes used as synonymous with waste
treatment plant, sewage treatment plant or wastewater treatment wor!s. (") A water pollution
control plant. (1) A facility engineered and constructed to remove pollutants from a
predominantly li$uid medium. 0ften abbreviated ::*.
water balance he balance in a hydrologic system between precipitation or other inputs, and
the outflow of water by runoff, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, and streamflow.
water e$uivalent of snow he depth of water that would result if an accumulation of snow, at
a point or over an area, is reduced to water by melting.
water holding capacity (of soil) he volume of water a free#draining soil can contain.
water#level recorder A device for producing, graphically or otherwise, a record of the rise and
fall of a water surface with respect to time.
water management he monitoring, planning, and administration of water resources for
various purposes. :here these purposes include water supply, navigation, flood control, or
irrigation, then the design, financing, operation, maintenance, and evaluation of performance
of pro>ects for these purposes would also be included.
water pollution he addition of wastewater or other harmful material to water in
concentrations or $uantities that result in measurable degradation of water $uality. See also
pollution.
water $uality he chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water with respect to its
suitability for a particular purpose. he same water may be acceptable for one purpose or use,
and unacceptable for another, depending on its characteristics and the re$uirements for the
particular use. See also water $uality criteria.
water $uality +,* A +,* specifically designed for pollutant removal.
water $uality criteria' water $uality ob>ective Scientific standards on which a decision or
>udgement may be based concerning the suitability of water of a specific $uality to support a
designated use. A designated concentration of a constituent, based on scientific >udgements,
that, when not e)ceeded will protect an organism, a community of organisms, or a prescribed
water use with an ade$uate degree of safety.
water $uality standards (e$uirements established by government authority to prevent or abate
water pollution
water resources :ater in various forms # such as groundwater, surface water, rain, snow, ice,
or clouds # that is potentially useful for some purpose.
water supply system (1) -ollectively, all property involved in a water utility, including land,
water source, collection systems, dams and hydraulic structures, water lines and
appurtenances, pumping system, treatment wor!s and general properties. (") %n plumbing, the
water distribution system in a building or comple) of buildings, including appurtenances.
water surface elevation level (:SE5) he elevation of the water=s surface in relation to an
arbitrary datum
water surface profile (hydraulics) he longitudinal profile assumed by the surface of a stream
flowing in an open channel' the hydraulic grade line.
water system -ollectively, all of the property involved in the operation of a water utility,
including land, water lines and appurtenances, pumping stations, treatment plants, and general
property.
water system appurtenances Structures, devices, and appliances, other than pipe and conduit,
which are used in connection with a water distribution system, such as valves, hydrants,
corporation coc!s, services.
water table he surface of groundwater, or the surface below which the pores of roc! or soil
are saturated' the upper surface of the zone of saturation, e)cept where that surface is formed
by an impermeable body.
water table, perched he surface of a local zone of saturation held above the main body of
groundwater by an unsaturated zone. See also perched water, perched water table.
water treatment' water purification he process or method by which raw water is treated to
remove bacteria, and possibly algae, colour, suspended material or other impurities in order to
meet the minimum water $uality ob>ectives for human consumption.
water treatment plant he central facility for the production of potable water' it contains all
treatment processes and appurtenances e)clus#ive of the distribution system.
water treatment wor!s A group or assemblage of processes, devices and structures used for
the treatment or conditioning of water.
waterborne -arried by water. Fsually refers to infectious disease.
waterborne disease A disease caused by organisms or to)ic substances carried by water. he
most common water#borne diseases are typhoid fever, Asiatic cholera, hepatitis, giardiasia,
dysentery, tetanus, polio, and other intestinal disturbances.
watercourse (1) A natural or artificial channel for passage of water. (") A running stream of
water. (1) A natural stream fed from permanent or natural sources, including rivers, cree!s,
runs, and rivulets. here must be a stream, usually flowing in a particular direction (though it
need not flow continuously) in a definite channel, having a bed or ban!s and usually
discharging into some other stream or body of water.
watershed (1) A topographically defined area drained by a river or a stream or a system of
connecting rivers and streams such that all outflow is discharged through a single outlet. (")
he area contained within a divide above a specified point on a stream. %n water supply
engineering, it is called a watershed or a catchment area ($.v.)' in river engineeering it is
called a drainage area ($.v.), a drainage basin($.v.) or a catchment area ($.v.). (1) he divide
between drainage basins.
watershed divide he line that follows the ridges or summits forming the e)terior boundary of
a drainage basin and separates one drainage basin from another. Also called drainage divide.
waterway (1) A natural or man#made drainage way. -ommonly used to refer to a channel
which has been shaped to a parabolic or trapezoidal cross#section and stabilized with grasses
(and sometimes legumes), and which is designed to carry flows at a velocity that will not
induce scouring. (") Any body of water, other than the open sea, which is or can be used by
boats as a means of travel. (1) Any natural or artificial channel or depression in the surface of
the earth which provides a course for water flowing either continuously or intermittently.
waves of pollution Successive masses of polluted water occurring at intervals in a moving
body of water.
weed harvesting he mechanical cutting of a$uatic macrophytes and subse$uent removal of
the detritus from the water body.
weep holes 0penings left in retaining walls, aprons, linings or foundations to permit drainage
and reduce pressure.
weighted usable area (:FA) S$uare feet of suitable habitat for 1222 feet of stream.
weir An overflow structure across a channel which may be used for controlling upstream
surface level, or for measuring discharge, or for both' usually used in combination with a
reference to the shape of the notch or the form of the crest. See following terms modifying
weir7 broad#crested, -ipolletti, compound, contracted, crib, diverting, drowned, effluent, flat#
crested, free, friction, influent, irregular, leaping, log, long#based, movable, needle, notched,
overfall, overflow, parabolic, peripheral, proportional, rectangular, rolling#up curtain,
rounded#crest, separating, sharp#crested, short#crested, shutter, side#flow, s!imming, sliding#
panel, submerged, suspended#frame, Sutro, thin#plate, thin#plate notch, trapezoidal, triangular,
v#notch weir, waste, wide#crested.
wet weather flow A combination of dryweather flows, infiltration and inflow which occurs as
a result of rain and storms.
wetfall he deposition of atmospheric pollutants on the land surface that are washed out by
precipitation.
wetted perimeter, * he wetted boundary of an open channel at a cross section' the length of
the line of intersection of the plane of the hydraulic cross#section with the wetted surface of
the channel.
wide#crested weir See broad#crested weir.
wind direction he point of the compass from which the wind blows (not that toward which it
is moving).
wind gage An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of wind' an anemometer.
wing wall E)tension of a head wall or other end support designed to retain ad>acent earth
sideslopes and, in the case of culverts, chutes or similar structures, to confine and direct flows
of water.
winter pool A low impoundment water level to retain high water flows in the spring.
wor!s A group or assemblage of physical devices and structures for any of a variety of useful
purposes' for e)ample, water treatment plant, wastewater or industrial waste treatment plant,
wastewater pumping station. See also sewer system, wastewater treatment plant, water supply
system.
:* See water treatment plant.
::* See wastewater treatment plant.
zone of passage %n river systems, reservoirs, la!es, estuaries and coastal waters, zones of
passage are continuous water routes of sufficient volume, area, and $uality to allow passage
of free#swimming and drifting organisms so that no significant effects are produced on the
populations.
zooplan!ton *lan!ton that consists of animals, such as protozoans.
12C"2 he average streamflow over a 12#day period which is e$ualled or e)ceeded on
average once in every "2 years (i.e. 6H of the time).
DC"2 he average streamflow over a D#day period which is e$ualled or e)ceeded on average
once in every "2 years (i.e. 6H of the time).
List of acronyms and abbreviations
Still to be added.
KL
List of programs and models
Still to be written.
Converting units
Still to be written.
Copyright note: his is copyrighted material by *rofessor :illiam 9ames, and all
photographs, images and layouts are by :illiam 9ames unless specified otherwise.
his material must be properly ac!nowledged >ust as if it were presented in another format
e.g.7
James, William. (1996). Hydraulics and hydrology vocabulary, Web anual. !. o" #uel$h,
Sch o" %ng&rg. Htt$'((eos.uoguel$h.ca(web"iles()ames(w)vocab.html
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