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Glossary
porous -
a measure of the volume of empty space in a material such as soil or rock.
potable water -
water that is safe for human consumption.
pumping water level -
the level at which water stands in a well when pumping
is in progress.
recharge -
refers to water flowing into and replenishing an aquifer’s supply of water.
recharge area -
an area where water flows down through the soil and/or rock and
replenishes the supply of groundwater below.
runoff -
surface water entering rivers, freshwater lakes or reservoirs.
Ryznar Stability Index -
an empirical method for predicting scaling tendencies of water
based on a study of operating results with water of various saturation indices
sand pack or filter pack -
sand that is smooth, uniform, clean and well rounded.
It is sometimes called frac sand and is placed in a well borehole outside a well screen.
Its purpose is to prevent material such as fine sediment from entering through the screen
and into the well.
seal -
the impermeable material, such as betonite or cement grout, that is placed
in the annular space between the borehole wall and the casing of a water well to
prevent the downward movement of surface water or the vertical mixing of waters from
different aquifers.
septic tank -
an underground storage container that collects wastewater from a home.
The bacteria in the sewage decompose the organic wastes, and the sludge settles to the
bottom of the tank. The effluent flows out of the tank into the ground through drains or is
pumped on to the ground surface.
shock chlorination -
an inexpensive and straightforward treatment used to control
bacteria in water wells. The treatment involves placing a solution of chlorine and water down
a well for approximately 8 to 48 hours to kill off the bacteria. The well is then pumped for a
number of hours to flush out the bacteria and until the chlorine smell disappears. Regular
shock chlorination treatments once or twice per year are usually very effective at controlling
the problems associated with iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria.
spring -
a natural flow of groundwater on to the ground’s surface.