Page 70 - Yucaipa Valley Water District

October 2018

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 wastewater 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 wastewater
treatment process. This high-quality product can be recycled 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.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) - Projects for repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of assets. Also
includes treatment improvements, additional capacity, and projects for the support facilities.

Certificate of Participation (COP) – A type of financing where an investor purchases a share of the lease
revenues of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues.

Coliform Bacteria - A group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and other animals, but also
occasionally found elsewhere used as indicators of sewage pollution. E. coli are the most common bacteria in
wastewater.
Collections System - In wastewater, it is the system of typically underground pipes that receive and convey
sanitary wastewater or storm water.
Conjunctive Use - The coordinated management of surface water and groundwater supplies to maximize the
yield of the overall water resource. Active conjunctive use uses artificial recharge, where surface water is
intentionally percolated or injected into aquifers for later use. Passive conjunctive use is to simply rely on surface
water in wet years and use groundwater in dry years.
Yucaipa Valley Water District - February 5, 2019 - Page 70 of 74