Glossary

• Anaerobic Respiration

  A process in which bacteria are used to decompose organic matter in an oxygen-free environment, producing biogas and sludge.
• Biogas

  Gas produced through the fermentation of organic matter.
• Biological Oxidation

  The process by which bacteria and other micro-organisms consume dissolved oxygen and organic substances in sewage.
• Blackwater

  Waste water and sewage from toilets. Can be treated and recycled to produce water for non-potable use, that is not fit for drinking purposes but can be reused for flushing toilets or in industrial processes.
• Coagulation

  Chemical treatment of wastewater to separate out small suspended particles from the water.
• Disinfection

  The process of cleaning something especially with a chemical in order to destroy pathogens.
• Drip Irrigation

  A method of controlled irrigation in which water is slowly delivered to the root system of plants, either dripped onto the soil surface above the roots or directly to the root zone.
• Effluent

  Liquid waste material discharged by farming, industry, or sewage works into a river or the sea.
• Filtration

  Any mechanical, physical or biological operation than separates solids from fluids.
• Floc


  A loosely clumped mass of fine particles.
• Flocculation

  The clumping of individual particles into clot-like masses or precipitating into small lumps.
• Greywater

  Domestic wastewater other than sewage. May come from sinks, showers, baths, dishwashers, washing machines.
• Pathogen

  An agent that causes disease, such as a bacterium, virus or fungus.
• Purification

  The removal of undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases to produce water fit for a specific purpose.
• Screening

  The removal of larger objects such as rags, paper, plastics, and metals at a wastewater treatment plant.
• Sedimentation

  The settling out of suspended particles and floc on sewage liquor.
• Sewage liquor

  A mixture of raw or settled wastewater and suspended solids.
• Sewage sludge

  The semi-liquid slurry residue from the wastewater treatment process.