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Glossary and Shortened Forms
Activated carbon absorption: A process of using activated carbon to absorb dissolved organic matter from wastewater.
ADWQ: Annual Drinking Water Quality, the name of a report.
Algal bloom: Rapid growth of algae in surface waters due to an increase in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
Alkalinity: The alkalinity of water is its acid-neutralising capacity, otherwise known as buffering capacity. It is the sum of the titratable bases in a sample.
Alum: A double sulphate of aluminium and potassium. Used as a water treatment chemical in some parts of the world.
Aluminium (Al): A naturally occurring element which can enter the water from the catchments.
Anaerobic: Not needing or without oxygen.
ANZECC Guidelines: Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters published by ANZECC 1992. These guidelines provide reference levels for comparison with water quality results in storages and inflows.
ANZECC: Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council provides a forum for the development of national land use policies to protect environmental quality and for the setting of national objectives for air, land and water quality.
Aquatic Organisms: Organisms which live in water - stored water, river and streams.
Aquatic: Something that lives in water.
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG): The guidelines provide summary of the criteria, which represents the basis for identifying acceptable water quality.
AWT: Australian Water Technologies Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Sydney Water.
Backflow: A reverse flow condition created by a difference in water pressures that causes water to flow back into the distribution pipes of a drinking water supply from any source other than the intended one.
Backwash: The processes of cleaning by forcing air and water upwards through a filter which flushes out the trapped material in the filter.
BASIX: Building Sustainability Index.
Beneficial reuse: The recovery of used materials for subsequent uses that deliver a net environmental benefit.
Benthic organisms: Organisms that live in or on the bottom of a body of water, including the ocean floor or river bed.
Bioaccumulation: The process where chemical substances from water or food build up in an organism.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): The amount of oxygen used by micro-organisms to break down organic matter.
Bio-cord system: A wastewater treatment process used to assist nitrogen removal by using microorganisms grown on synthetic cord material.
Biodegradable: A substance that can be broken down into harmless products in the environment.
Biodiversity: Variety and number of different species living in an ecosystem or a defined geographic area.
Biofilm: An accumulation in water pipes which may harbour microorganisms.
Biological nutrient removal: The removal of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, by a natural treatment process involving microorganisms.
Biosolids: Solids from wastewater treatment processed into products suitable for beneficial uses such as agriculture or forestry.
BOD: Biochemical oxygen demand; a measure of the food value or energy in a sample of wastewater.
BOO: Build, Own, Operate
Boom: A stormwater control device for capturing sediment and rubbish.
BSM: Be Safe Mate, an internal safety program.
Bubble licence condition: A condition within the wastewater treatment plant licences that covers more than one plant. The condition sets standards for pollution reduction across all of the plants as a whole, rather than individually.
Bypass: When wastewater bypasses wastewater treatment facilities and is not fully treated. It is caused usually by plant failures or flows exceeding plant capacity.
Calcium (Ca): A naturally occurring element which can enter the water from the catchments. It may also be added to water in the treatment process to reduce the acidity levels.
Catchment (Inner): The area immediately surrounding a dam or stored water supply which is closed to access to protect water quality.
Catchment (Outer): Areas surrounding the inner catchment where human activity is permitted but may be restricted to protect water quality.
Catchment: An area of land surrounding a dam or water storage. Rain falling over the catchment drains to the dam and may contain nutrients, minerals and other contaminants collected from the land surfaces. May also refer to areas served by a wastewater or stormwater system.
Cationic polymer: Pollydiallyl-dimenthyl ammonium chloride (Poly DADMAC). A positively charged molecule which functions as a secondary coagulant in the coagulation-flocculation process.
Chemically assisted sedimentation (CAS): A wastewater treatment process that involves adding chemicals like ferric chloride to increase the removal of suspended solids and grease.
Chloramination: The adding of chlorine followed by ammonia for longer lasting destruction of microorganisms in water.
Chlordane: An organochlorine pesticide used to treat termites.
Chlorination: The application of chlorine to drinking water, wastewater, or industrial waste to disinfect or to oxidise undesirable compounds.
Chlorine (Cl): A naturally occurring element. To ensure good quality drinking water, chlorine is added to kill bacteria that may cause disease. We test for the residual chlorine that needs to be present to make sure that the water is disinfected all the way to your tap. The health guideline value for chlorine depends on the type used. Some systems use 'free' chlorine (5 mg/L) and others use monochloramines (3 mg/L)
Chlorophyll A: Produced by plants and indicates the potential presence of algae in stored water.
Climate corrected demand: Customer demand for water that is adjusted to account for weather conditions that are significantly above or below average for that period of the year and which have a heavy influence over customer water use.
CMP: Conservation Management Plan.
Coagulation: The addition of a coagulant chemical (eg ferric chloride) to destabilise the charges of a particulate suspended in water, collapsing the negatively charge "cloud" surround the particle, so they can agglomerate.
Coastal communities: Coastal communities include the households and industry situated within the coastal catchment from the coast. This may include inland settlements that are still on the coastal plain.
Coliforms (Total): Total coliform bacteria are used as a scientific indicator of the quality of drinking water and of the possible presence of disease causing micro-organisms. They are measured in colony forming units per 100 mL
Colony Forming Unit (orgs): Unit used to represent numbers of bacteria.
Colour: There are two types of colour. Colour that is used to define true colour, that is the colour of water from which turbidity has been removed. Apparent colour includes not only colour due to substances in solution, but also that due to suspended matter.
Conservation: Use, management and protection of resources so they are not degraded, depleted or wasted and are available on a sustainable basis for present and future generations.
Cryptosporidiosis: A disease of humans caused by the ingestion of Cryptosporidium oocysts.
Cryptosporidium (Crypto.): These micro-organisms occur in warm blooded animals and can sometimes find their way into the way supply. Disinfection and treatment processes normally inactivate or remove them from the water.
Customer Supply System: The network of pipes, pumps and local reservoirs that deliver water from the water filtration plants.
Dam(s): Artificial walls built to store water - principally for domestic consumption or irrigation.
DEC: Department of Environment and Conservation, the primary NSW public sector organisation responsible for protecting the environment.
Dechlorination: A process that neutralises the toxicity of chlorine and chloramines (a by-product of chlorine).
Deepwater ocean outfall: A submarine tunnel or pipeline which carries treated wastewater away from the coast into deep ocean waters where it can be diluted and dispersed.
Demand management: Strategies to reduce water consumption by residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Demand: The quantity of water which would be consumed if no limitations or restrictions on use are imposed.
Desalination: The process that removes salt from saline water to produce freshwater.
DEUS: Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability.
DIPNR: Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.
Disinfection: Inactivation (killing) of pathogens or organisms, capable of causing infectious disease, by chemical or physical processes.
Dissolved oxygen: The amount of oxygen that is dissolved in water.
Drinking Water: Drinking water is defined as water intended primarily for human consumption but which has other domestic uses.
Dual reticulation: A water supply system that provides two types of water services to each property. It requires two separate pipe systems in the roads and properties: a drinking water system suitable for indoor use and requiring high quality water, and a recycled water system for water that can be used outdoors and to flush toilets etc.
Due diligence: Due diligence, in terms of environmental responsibilities, means taking reasonable care to minimise environmental harm. A lack of due diligence leading to such harm may result in charges of negligence under the Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1989.
DWQ: Drinking Water Quality, the name of quarterly reports.
E. coli (Escherichia coli): A type of thermo-tolerant Coliform bacteria, and is nearly always present in the gut of humans and other warm-blooded animals. E. coli is now generally regarded as the most specific indicator of faecal contamination, and therefore the more important indicator for public health.
EAPS: Ethnic Affairs Priorities Statement
Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD): Ecologically sustainable development - development that improves the quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends.
Ecosystem: A community of organisms, interacting with one another, plus the environment in which they live. Processes occurring within an ecosystem are the flow of energy by food chains and food webs and nutrient cycling. An ecosystem may be a pond that is dry for half the year, a lake or even a planet.
EDC: Every Drop Counts, the name of water conservation programs run for business and the community.
EEO: Equal employment opportunity.
Effluent reuse: Effluent reuse is a process where treated wastewater is recycled for useful purposes and is not discharged to a natural waterway. The treated water may be used in industry, for golf courses or to water plants.
Effluent: A waste product that is discharged to the environment, usually used to mean wastewater discharged from sewage (wastewater) treatment plants.
EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment, see also EIS.
EICR: Environmental Indicators Compliance Report, the name of a report.
EIS: Environmental Impact Statement, usually prepared following completion of a feasibility study and initial concept development.
Emission: Anything given off as a result of a process. For example, gases, heat and odours.
EMP: Environmental Management Plan
EMS: Environmental Management System, the framework for the management of environmental issues.
Enterococci: Faecal organisms used as an indicator of sewage contamination in the environment.
Environment: The sum total of external influences acting on an organism.
Environmental Flows: Water provided for the environment to sustain and, where necessary, restore ecological processes and biodiversity of water-dependent ecosystems.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): A detailed written assessment of the likely impact that a change of land use or a commercial or industrial operation may have on the environment. In NSW this is a statutory process under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Environmental impact: Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organisation's activities, products and services.
Environmental indicators: Physical, chemical or biological features that can be monitored and used to measure changes in the environment.
EPLs: Environment Protection Licences issued by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
ESDI/EP: Ecologically Sustainable Development Indicators/Environment Plan, the name of a report.
Estuary: The lowermost point of a river system that is a mixture of fresh water and sea water.
Evaporation: Liquid water from the rivers, dams and oceans is converted by the sun to water vapour which rises back into the atmosphere as a gas through a process called Evaporation.
EWON: Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW, a body that provides an independent way of resolving customer complaints about member water providers and electricity and gas providers in NSW.
Faecal coliforms: Bacteria that inhabit the intestines of humans and other vertebrates and are present in faeces.
Ferric chloride: This is an iron based chemical used as a water treatment chemical in some parts of the world.
Ferric salt: A form of primary coagulant such as ferric chloride or ferric sulphate.
Ferric: A chemical containing iron. Used in the water filtration process to settle contaminants.
Filtration: A process for removing particles from a solution by passing it through a porous structure or medium, such as a screen, membrane, sand or gravel.
Fish ladders: A device to facilitate the movement of migrating fish over a dam. It may consist of a stair-like series of small ponds connected by flowing water.
Flocculant: A chemical which encourages heavy contaminants to gather together and settle from water more quickly in the treatment process.
Flocculation: The bridging of flocculant chemicals between agglomerated particles for larger settleable flocs.
Fluoride: Small amounts of fluoride are added for dental health reasons in accordance with legislation. It is measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L)
Flushing: A process of pipe cleaning through the increased flow of high pressure water.
FOI: Freedom of Information.
Food chain: A 'chain' of organisms through which energy is transferred. Each organism in this chain feeds on and obtains energy from another organism preceding it, and in turn is eaten by, and provides energy for, the one following it (e.g. plant eaten by herbivore, then herbivore eaten by carnivore).
Freshwater: Water found in lakes, rivers, streams; generally containing less than 1,000 mg/L of dissolved solids.
FTE: Full-time employees.
Giardia: These micro-organisms occur in warm blooded animals and can sometimes find their way into the way supply. Disinfection and treatment processes normally inactivate or remove them from the water.
Gigajoule (GJ): A measure of energy equal to a billion joules.
Gigalitre (GL): A measure of volume equal to a billion litres.
GIS: Geographic information system.
Greenhouse effect: Warming of the Earth's atmosphere as a result of increases in carbon dioxide and other gases.
Greenhouse gas emissions: Gases such as carbon dioxide and other forms of air pollutants, resulting from the burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or oil, which contribute to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere.
Grey water: Domestic wastewater from sources other than toilets - for example, water from washing machines and dishwashers.
GRI: Global Reporting Initiative, an official collaborating centre of the United Nations Environment Program that has developed voluntary sustainability reporting guidelines.
Grit: Hard and heavier solid matter removed from wastewater, generally inorganic.
Gross pollutant trap: A stormwater control device for capturing sediment and rubbish.
Groundwater: Water found below the surface, usually in porous rock or soil or in underground aquifers (natural underground formations that contains sufficient saturated, permeable material to yield significant quantities of water).
Guideline Values: Values for water quality. Usually set as targets and not as minimum standards.
Hazen Units (HU): Unit of measurement for measuring colour.
Headloss: The difference in head pressure between the top of a filter and the bottom.
IICATS: Integrated Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Telemetry System.
Indicators: Readings in test results which may indicate the presence of contaminants.
Infiltration: Water entering the sewerage system through cracked pipes or faulty joints.
Inflows: Water flowing from the catchments to the dams through streams, rivers and creeks.
Inland communities: Inland communities include the households and industry located in areas where water flows to inland streams, rivers and lakes.
IPART: Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, the independent body that oversees regulation in the water, gas, electricity and public transport industries in NSW.
Iron (Fe): A naturally occurring element which occurs at low levels in water and may be responsible for taste and staining problems. It is measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L).
Irrigation: Controlled application of water for agricultural purposes through manmade systems to supply water requirements not satisfied by rainfall.
Kilolitre (kL): One thousand litres of water or one tonne.
Leached: The collection of minerals, elements and salts in water as it passes through the environment.
Lime slurry: A suspension of lime in water at a concentration greater than that of the lime saturation point.
Litre (L): A measure of liquid volume.
Litter rack: A stormwater control device for capturing sediment and rubbish.
LTIFR: Lost Time Injuries Frequency Rate, number of injuries/illnesses where one or more full days were lost due to a work related incident, per million hours worked.
Macroinvertebrate: Animals without backbones greater than 1 millimetre long that live in the water column, on the water surface or on the bottom of a waterway.
Manganese (Mn): A naturally occurring element that is found in water. It is an essential element in our diet but causes staining of kettles, baths and laundry. It is measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L).
Maximum: The highest measure recorded.
Median: The middle reading in a series.
Megalitre (ML): Measurement of volume equal to one million litres. One megalitre is approximately the volume of a one metre deep Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Microfiltration: A pressure-driven membrane operation in which very fine particles or other suspended matter are separated from a liquid. Microfiltration is capable of removing suspended solids, bacteria or other impurities. Membrane pore sizes are slightly larger than those used for ultrafiltration.
Microgram: Unit of measurement which is equivalent to 0.001 of a milligram.
Microgram per litre (ug/L): Unit of measurement which is equivalent to 0.001 of a milligram expressed per litre.
Microorganisms: The organisms which are invisible or only barely visible with the unaided eye.
Milligram (mg): Unit of measurement which is equivalent to 0.001 of a gram.
Milligrams per litre (mg/L): Unit of measurement which is equivalent to 0.001 of a gram expressed per litre.
Millilitre (mL): Unit of measurement which is equivalent to 0.001 of a litre.
Mineral Elements: Naturally occurring elements which can enter the water from the catchments.
Minimum: The lowest recorded reading.
Monitoring: An on-going testing program to assess potential changes in circumstances.
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding.
Naturally Occurring: Within the natural environment as minerals, elements, salts, and other contaminants.
Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU): Unit of scientific measurement used to represent the level of suspended material in solution.
NH&MRC Guidelines: Advisory standards established by the NH&MRC with respect to the performance of products to ensure they are within safe levels. The latest drinking water guidelines were agreed in 2004.
NH&MRC: The National Health and Medical Research Council which is an advisory body to the Australian Government.
NILS: No Interest Loans Schemes.
Nitrogen (N): A naturally occurring element which can enter the water from the catchments. Is used by plants as a nutrient.
Non-potable reuse: The use of treated wastewater for purposes that do not require water of a drinkable standard.
NRI: Natural Resources Inventory.
Nutrients: Compounds required for growth by plants and other organisms. Major plant nutrients are phosphorus and nitrogen.
Odour scrubber: A device for removing odours released during wastewater treatment.
OH&S: Occupational health and safety, protection of the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and visitors who are at, or may be affected by, a worksite.
Operating Licence: A licence issued under the Sydney Water Act 1994, that defines many of Sydney Water's performance standards.
Organic: Of animal or vegetable origin.
Organism: Any living animal or plant.
Organochlorine pesticide: An organic compound containing chlorine. They are not easily broken down and can persist in the environment for a long time. Includes chlordane, dieldrin and aldrin which have been banned in NSW.
Organophosphate pesticide: Organophosphate pesticides are made up of hydrocarbon compounds which contain phosphorus, for example, chlorpyrifos or parathion. They are best known for their ability to persist in the environment, however, they degrade in the environment faster than organochlorine pesticides.
Orgs/100mls: Organisms per 100mls.
Osmosis: Movement of water molecules through a thin membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
Overgrazing: Continued grazing of pasture or rangeland at a level that leads to land degradation.
Ozonation: The use of ozone for water purification.
Ozone: A form of oxygen with three rather than the normal two oxygen atoms, a strong oxidising agent.
Parasites: An organism which relies on a host organism to grow.
PAS: Payment Assistance Scheme.
Pathogens: Potentially disease-causing micro-organisms including bacteria, viruses, parasitic protozoa (Giardia and cryptosporidium) and helminths (intestinal worms).
PENGOs: Peak environmental non-government organisations.
Per capita: For each head of population.
pH: A measure of the alkalinity or acidity of water expressed on a scale from 1 to 14: 1 is most acidic, 7 neutral and 14 most alkaline.
Phosphorus (P): An element that is essential for all living organisms. It is a nutrient and a common ingredient in fertilisers and washing detergents (to attach to and remove dirt). The Australian environment is adapted to very low levels of P in soils and water.
PIAC: Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
POEO: Protection of the Environment Operations Act.
Pollutants: Contaminants in water that, when in sufficient quantity, may cause environmental degradation.
Pollution: Any harmful or undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological quality of air, water or soil as a result of the release of chemicals, radioactivity, heat and large amounts of organic matter.
Potable reuse: Reuse of highly treated wastewater for drinking.
Potable: Fit or suitable for drinking.
PPIP: Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act.
Protocol: An agreement between NSW Health and Sydney Water which covers testing, monitoring and providing information to the public about microorganisms.
PRP: Pollution Reduction Program.
PSP: Priority Sewerage Program.
R&D: Research and development.
Rainwater tank: On-site storages to collect rainwater for beneficial use.
Receiving water: A stream, river, pond, lake or ocean that receives stormwater or wastewater discharges.
Recycled water: Highly treated wastewater that can be used in industrial processes, for irrigation in agriculture, urban parks and landscapes, and in the home for flushing toilets, car washing and watering gardens. It is not for drinking or personal use.
Recycling: Collecting and reprocessing a resource so that it can be used again.
Reference Levels: Guideline values used for comparison with water quality data. See ANZECC guidelines.
Regulators: Organisations that set standards and guidelines for Sydney Water.
Renewable resource: A resource that is replenished at the same rate it is used.
REP: Regional Environmental Plan.
Reservoir: An artificial body of water. Water is transferred from the dams and treatment plants either by gravity or pumping stations to a water storage reservoir. These reservoirs are human-made water storage areas, usually on high land. From these storage facilities the water flows through a system of mains and smaller pipes to homes, shops, factories, schools and public places.
Residuals: The area on the plant where the waste generated by backwashing is processed. It can also refer to the waste material itself.
Reverse osmosis: A process in which, if pressure is put on the concentrated side of a liquid system in which liquids with different concentrations of mineral salts are separated by a semi-permeable membrane, molecules of pure water pass out of the concentrated solution to the weak or fresh-water side. The reverse osmosis membrane is permeable to the solvent but impermeable to most dissolved species, both organic and inorganic.
RIAMP: Reliability Improvement and Modernisation Program.
Risk assessment: Process of gathering data and making assessments to estimate short and long-term harmful affects on human health or the environment from exposure to hazards associated with a particular product or activity.
Runoff: Water that flows across the land surface and does not soak into the ground.
SCA: Sydney Catchment Authority, the NSW Government agency responsible for managing and protecting Sydney's catchments and supplying bulk water to Sydney Water and a number of local councils.
SCAMPS: Sewer Catchment Area Management Plans.
SCI: Statement of Corporate Intent, an annual statement that specifies business drivers for financial management and commercial performance targets agreed by Sydney Water and its voting shareholders.
Screenings: Materials removed from wastewater by screening processes. For example, timber, rags, plastic and condoms.
Scum: Any material that floats to the surface of wastewater during treatment, usually removed in sedimentation tanks.
Sediment: Soil or other particles that settle to the bottom of lakes, rivers, oceans and other waters.
Sedimentation: A treatment process which allows sediment to settle out of water or wastewater.
SEIP: Stormwater Environment Improvement Program.
SEL: Special Environment Levy, a levy on Sydney Water customers to be spent on projects providing environmental benefit in addition to the normal program of work planned by the Corporation.
SEPP: State Environmental Planning Policy - a statutory planning instrument.
Septic tank: Underground tank used for treatment of wastewater through bacterial activity.
Sewage overflow: Any liquid that escapes from the sewerage system, as well as partially treated sewage that is discharged from a sewage (wastewater) treatment plant.
Sewage: The wastewater from homes, offices, shops, factories and other premises discharged to the sewer. About 99 per cent of sewage is water.
Sewerage system: The network of pipes, pumping stations and treatment plants used to collect, transport, treat and discharge sewage (wastewater).
Sludge: Solid matter that is removed during wastewater or water treatment. It can be processed into a material that can be beneficially used (biosolids).
SMCMA: Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority.
Soluble: Able to be dissolved in water.
Source control: Controlling substances entering the sewer or stormwater at their origin. Often used to prevent potentially hazardous substances from entering the sewer. Sydney Water's source control program for industrial and commercial customers is known as the Trade Waste Policy.
Special Areas: Lands mostly around drinking water storages that were originally set aside for the protection of drinking water quality. The lands are declared as Special Areas under the Sydney Water Act 1994 ("The Act""). Parts of the Special Areas are also National Parks, nature reserves and State Recreation Areas and are jointly managed by Sydney Water and NPWS.
SPS: Sewage pumping station.
Stakeholder: A stakeholder is any individual or group which can affect or is affected by an organisation's activities.
Storage Dam: Sydney Water uses a large and complex network of dams to provide a reliable source of drinking water for the regions of Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains. The Sydney Catchment authority is a statutory body set up by the NSW government to manage and protect Sydney's water supply catchments, dams and associated infrastructure. Water drains from the catchment areas and feeds into the storage dam, mostly by streams or rivers. The water is then stored in the dam until it is needed, this can be months or even years. It is then transferred by water pumping stations to a water filtration plant, then to below and above ground reservoirs to supply the community with water.
Stormwater system: The system of pipes, canals and other channels used to carry stormwater to bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans. The system does not usually involve any treatment.
Stormwater: Rainwater that runs off the land, frequently carrying various forms of pollution such as litter and detritus, animal droppings and dissolved chemicals. This untreated water is carried in stormwater channels and discharged directly into creeks, rivers, the harbour and the ocean.
STP: Sewage treatment plant - a facility to improve sewage quality before discharge to receiving waters.
Suspended solids: Particles in water that can be removed by sedimentation or filtration.
Sustainable development: Activities that can be maintained over the long term while achieving a balance between the environment, the economy and society.
Sustainable water supply: Achieving a long-term balance between the ability of the system to capture and store supplies of water and the demand of current and future users, including the environment.
Sustainability: See ESD.
Swabbing: The cleaning of mains using mechanical in-pipe cleaning tools.
SWSSS: South Western Sydney Sewerage Scheme.
TCorp: Treasury Corporation.
Thermo-tolerant Coliforms: A type of coliform that can grow at higher temperatures than other Total Coliforms. They are also known as Faecal Coliforms.
Total Coliforms (TC's): Total Coliforms are a family of bacteria commonly found in the environment. Some members of the family come from the environment and other members from intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Due to their widespread occurrence in most soil and water environments, they are no longer regarded as the most reliable indicator of human or animal contamination. E. coli is now regarded as a more important indicator organism for public health.
Total Dissolved Solids: Dissolved salts in water.
Trade waste: Industrial or commercial wastewater which contains significant quantities of potential contaminants, commonly controlled by trade waste agreements limiting trade waste inputs to the wastewater system at the source.
Trade Waste Agreements: Agreements between Sydney Water and industrial and commercial customers to restrict the amount of toxic and other potentially harmful substances discharged to the wastewater system.
Trash rack: Grill placed across stormwater channels to collect rubbish and other pollution.
Treatment (Water): The filtration and disinfection process.
Trihalomethanes (THMs): THM's are formed in water when chlorine reacts with small amounts of naturally occurring organic matter. THM's are measured in mg/L.
True Colour: Water should be virtually colourless. It is measured in Hazen Units (HU).
Turbidity: This is a measure of suspended material in water that may cause it to look muddy or discoloured. It is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)
Ultrafiltration: High level filtration used for water and wastewater treatment. This method uses very fine pore size membranes which allows selective particles to pass through. Capable of removing suspended solids, bacteria and viruses. Membrane pore sizes are slightly smaller than those used for microfiltration.
Unaccounted for water: The difference between the amount of water measured entering the water supply system and the amount used by customers, caused by leaks, inaccurate metering and illegal use.
Upgrade: To improve something.
UV: Ultraviolet, a high energy light used for disinfection.
Waste: Discarded, rejected, unwanted, surplus or abandoned substances, excluding gas, water, wastewater, beneficially used biosolids and reuse water.
Wastewater: The dirty water or wastewater that goes down the drains of homes, offices, shops, factories and other premises and is discharged into the wastewater system. Also known as sewage.
Wastewater system: The system of pipes and pump stations for collecting and transporting wastewater from each property to the wastewater (sewage) treatment plant.
Wastewater treatment plant: Wastewater treatment plants treat wastewater, also known as sewage, from the sewerage system. Once the waste is treated it is then either discharged to the environment or it is recycled as effluent reuse.
Wastewater treatment: High rate primary - Wastewater treatment that provides less than full primary treatment due to high flow rates.
Wastewater treatment: Primary - The initial stage of wastewater treatment in which floating or settleable solids are removed by screening and sedimentation.
Wastewater treatment: Secondary - The second stage of wastewater treatment involving the capture and removal of dissolved fine organic solids.
Wastewater treatment: Tertiary - The third stage in the purification of wastewater. This process consists largely of the removal of nutrients and any remaining suspended solids and may include disinfection of the effluent.
Water conservation: Preventing and reducing wasteful, uneconomical, impractical or unreasonable use of water resources.
Water cycle: The continuous cycle of water movement through the environment, including the oceans, atmosphere, surface water systems and ground water.
Water demand: Total water use requirements for drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation and gardening; seasonal and highly influenced by the weather.
Water filtration plants (WFP): Water filtration plants are treatment facilities that improve water quality. Impurities are removed through a process known as filtration, incoming water is passed through a porous structure or medium, such as a screen, membrane, sand or gravel.
Water pumping stations: Water pumping stations house mechanical pumping equipment used to lift water from lower ground to higher ground through pipes.
Water quality: Physical, chemical and biological measures of water.
Water reuse: The use of water more than once, following treatment of wastewater to an appropriate quality standard and delivery to the point of use.
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD): Incorporates a range of initiatives designed to reduce the impact of urban stormwater discharge.
Water Supply System: The network of pipes, pumps and local reservoirs that deliver water from the water filtration plants.
Water supply network: System of water sources including dams, bores, treatment plants, pump stations and distribution pipes used to supply drinking water on demand to customers.
Water Treatment Plant: See Water Filtration Plant.
WaterPlan 21: Sydney Water's long-term strategic plan to provide water, wastewater and stormwater services to communities in a sustainable way.
Waterways: All streams, creeks, rivers, estuaries, inlets and harbours.
Wetland: A wetland is a low-lying area of land often inundated or permanently covered by shallow water. There are many different types of wetlands which can be found all the way from the coast to the middle of the Australian continent. The many types of wetlands may also be referred to as marshes, mangroves, swamps, bogs or billabongs. Wetlands are rich in biodiversity and are the home to many unique wildlife species. They can also provide a seasonal home for migratory birds from all over the world. They play a major role in the water cycle by storing and filtering water and replenishing underground water supplies. Wetlands can also be effective in cleaning polluted water by reducing aquatic plant nutrients, suspended solids and oxygen demands.
Wetlands: A low-lying area inundated or permanently covered by shallow water, natural or manmade.
WFP: Water filtration plant, a facility that improves water quality by removing impurities through filtration.
WRAPP: Waste Reduction and Purchasing Policy.
WSAA: Water Services Association of Australia.
Zinc (Zn): A naturally occurring element which can enter the water from the catchments and is also used as a coating to prevent corrosion of iron and steel products which may be responsible for taste problems with water. It is measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L).
