Glossary
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iron-related bacteria -
microorganisms that consume dissolved iron, either from water or
from steel pipe, and produce a slimy gel-like deposit. These organisms tend to collect in water
pipes and tanks during periods of low flow, and then break loose in slugs of turbid water
to create staining, taste and odor problems. They can also accumulate on perforated well
screens, well liners and pump screens and thus reduce water flows from a well.
leaching -
a natural process by which water transports salts and other soluble materials
down through the soil and eventually into groundwater.
milligrams per liter - mg/L -
milligrams per liter of water is a measure that is equivalent
to parts per million (ppm) or in other words one part in a million parts.
nitrate and nitrogen -
plant nutrients that can cause an overabundance of bacteria when
high amounts are present. Several forms occur in water, including ammonia, nitrate, nitrite
or elemental nitrogen. High levels of nitrate in groundwater can result from seepage of
agricultural products and by-products such as chemical fertilizers, livestock manure and
piles of silage fed to livestock.
non-potable water -
water that is not suitable for human consumption.
pathogen -
microorganisms that can cause disease.
percolation -
the movement of water through the subsurface soil layers, usually continuing
downward to the groundwater or water table reservoirs.
permeable -
material such as soil or rock that does allow fluids such as water to flow
through them.
pH -
numeric value that describes the intensity of the acid or basic (alkaline) conditions of
a solution such as water. The pH scale is from 0 to 14, with the neutral point at 7.0. Values
lower than 7 indicate the presence of acids and greater than 7.0 the presence of alkalis
(
bases). Most well water ranges in pH from 6.5 to 8.5.
plug -
bentonite, cement grout or other impermeable material used to fill and seal the
borehole around the casing of a water well.
pollution -
undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics
of the air, water or land that can harm the health, survival` or activities of human or other
living organisms.