Page 72 - Yucaipa Valley Water District

January 2016

GLOSSARY OF COMMONLY USED TERMS

Every profession has specialized terms which generally evolve to facilitate communication between individuals.
The routine use of these terms tends to exclude those who are unfamiliar with the particular specialized language
of the group. Sometimes jargon can create communication cause difficulties where professionals in related fields
use different terms for the same phenomena.
Below are commonly used water terms and abbreviations with commonly used definitions. If there is any
discrepancy in definitions, the District's Regulations Governing Water Service is the final and binding definition.

Acre Foot of Water - The volume of water (325,850 gallons, or 43,560 cubic feet) that would cover an area of
one acre to a depth of 1 foot.
Activated Sludge Process – A secondary biological sewer treatment process where bacteria reproduce at a
high rate with the introduction of excess air or oxygen, and consume dissolved nutrients in the wastewater.
Annual Water Quality Report - The document is prepared annually and provides information on water quality,
constituents in the water, compliance with drinking water standards and educational material on tap water. It is
also referred to as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

Aquifer - The natural underground area with layers of porous, water-bearing materials (sand, gravel) capable of
yielding a supply of water; see Groundwater basin.

Backflow - The reversal of water's normal direction of flow. When water passes through a water meter into a
home or business it should not reverse flow back into the water mainline.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Methods or techniques found to be the most effective and practical
means in achieving an objective. Often used in the context of water conservation.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) – The amount of oxygen used when organic matter undergoes
decomposition by microorganisms. Testing for BOD is done to assess the amount of organic matter in water.
Biosolids – Biosolids are nutrient rich organic and highly treated solid materials produced by the sewer treatment
process. This high-quality product can be used as a soil amendment on farm land or further processed as an
earth-like product for commercial and home gardens to improve and maintain fertile soil and stimulate plant
growth.
Catch Basin – A chamber usually built at the curb line of a street, which conveys surface water for discharge
into a storm sewer.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – Projects for repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of assets. Also
includes treatment improvements, additional capacity, and projects for the support facilities.
Collector Sewer – The first element of a wastewater collection system used to collect and carry wastewater
from one or more building sewer laterals to a main sewer.
Coliform Bacteria – A group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and other animals, but also
occasionally found elsewhere and is generally used as an indicator of sewage pollution.
Combined Sewer Overflow – The portion of flow from a combined sewer system, which discharges into a water
body from an outfall located upstream of a wastewater treatment plant, usually during wet weather conditions.
Combined Sewer System– Generally older sewer systems designed to convey both sewage and storm water
into one pipe to a wastewater treatment plant.

Yucaipa Valley Water District - August 1, 2017 - Page 72 of 76