Page 74 - Yucaipa Valley Water District

January 2016

Point of Responsibility, Metered Service - The connection point at the outlet side of a water meter where a
landowner's responsibility for all conditions, maintenance, repairs, use and replacement of water service facilities
begins, and the District's responsibility ends.

Potable Water - Water that is used for human consumption and regulated by the California Department of Public
Health.
Pressure Reducing Valve - A device used to reduce the pressure in a domestic water system when the water
pressure exceeds desirable levels.
Pump Station - A drinking water or recycled water facility where pumps are used to push water up to a higher
elevation or different location.
Reservoir - A water storage facility where water is stored to be used at a later time for peak demands or
emergencies such as fire suppression. Drinking water and recycled water systems will typically use concrete or
steel reservoirs. The State Water Project system considers lakes, such as Shasta Lake and Folsom Lake to be
water storage reservoirs.
Runoff - Water that travels downward over the earth's surface due to the force of gravity. It includes water
running in streams as well as over land.
Sanitary Sewer System - Sewer collection system designed to carry sewage, consisting of domestic,
commercial, and industrial wastewater. This type of system is not designed nor intended to carry water from
rainfall, snowmelt, or groundwater sources. See Combined Sewer System.

Sanitary Sewer Overflow – Overflow from a sanitary sewer system caused when total wastewater flow exceeds
the capacity of the system. See Combined Sewer Overflow.

Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) Line – A regional brine line designed to convey 30 million gallons per day
of non-reclaimable wastewater from the upper Santa Ana River basin to the sewer treatment plant operated by
Orange County Sanitation District.
Secondary Treatment – Biological sewer treatment, particularly the activated-sludge process, where bacteria
and other microorganisms consume dissolved nutrients in wastewater.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) - A computerized system which provides the ability to
remotely monitor and control water system facilities such as reservoirs, pumps and other elements of water
delivery.

Service Connection - The water piping system connecting a customer's system with a District water main
beginning at the outlet side of the point of responsibility, including all plumbing and equipment located on a parcel
required for the District's provision of water service to that parcel.
Sludge – Untreated solid material created by the treatment of sewage.

Smart Irrigation Controller - A device that automatically adjusts the time and frequency which water is applied
to landscaping based on real-time weather such as rainfall, wind, temperature and humidity.
Special District - A political subdivision of a state established to provide a public services, such as water supply
or sanitation, within a specific geographic area.
Surface Water - Water found in lakes, streams, rivers, oceans or reservoirs behind dams.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) – The amount of solids floating and in suspension in water or sewage.
Transpiration - The process by which water vapor is released into the atmosphere by living plants.
Trickling Filter – A biological secondary treatment process in which bacteria and other microorganisms, growing
as slime on the surface of rocks or plastic media, consume nutrients in primary treated sewage as it trickles over
them.
Underground Service Alert (USA) - A free service that notifies utilities such as water, telephone, cable and
sewer companies of pending excavations within the area (dial 8-1-1 at least 2 working days before you dig).

Yucaipa Valley Water District - August 1, 2017 - Page 74 of 76