ENVI SCI 8

• Absorption: The passage of one substance into or through another
• Absorption (of light): A process by which light is taken up by another material
• Acid: A substance that has a pH of less than 7 and can lower the pH value of water or soils to be harmful to growth of crops
• Acre-foot (AF): A quantity or volume of water covering one acre to a depth of one foot; equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons
• Activated Carbon: Adsorptive particles or granules of carbon obtained by heating carbon, with a high capacity to selectively remove certain trace and soluble materials, including many contaminants, from water
• Active Management Area (AMA): Five areas in the state - Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson, and Santa Cruz - where the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Code recognized the need to manage finite groundwater resources
• Acute: Occurring over a short period of time; used to describe brief exposures and effects which appear promptly after exposure
• Acute Exposure: A single exposure to a toxic substance which may result in severe biological harm or death, usually lasting no longer than a day
• Acute Toxicity: The ability of a substance to cause poisonous effects resulting in severe biological harm or death soon after a single exposure or dose
• Adsorbent: The material (activated carbon) responsible for removing undesirable substances in the adsorption process
• Adsorption: The adhesion of molecules of gas, liquid, or dissolved solids to a surface
• Advection: The horizontal transfer of heat or matter in the atmosphere
• Adverse Health Effect: Any effect resulting in a change in body function or cell structure that might lead to disease or health problems
• Aeration: The process of adding air to water by passing air through water or passing water through air
• Aerobic: Requires air or oxygen to function
• Air Binding: A situation where air enters the filter media, harmful to filtration and backwash processes
• Air Gap: An open vertical drop that separates a drinking water supply to be protected from another water system to prevent contamination
• Air Quality Division (AQD) of ADEQ: Protects and enhances public health and the environment of Arizona by controlling sources of air pollution
• Air Quality Index (AQI): An index for reporting daily air quality, focusing on health effects from breathing polluted air
• Air Quality Standards: The level of pollutants prescribed by regulations not to be exceeded during a given time in a defined area
• Air Sparging: An in-situ treatment technology that uses injected air to help remove harmful vapors from polluted soil and groundwater
• Air Stripping: A treatment system that removes VOCs from contaminated groundwater or surface water by forcing air through the water to evaporate the compounds
• Airshed: A geographical area where local topography and meteorology limit the dispersion of pollutants away from the area
• Alluvial: Relating to mud and/or sand deposited by flowing water after a heavy rain storm
• Ambient Air: Outside air in the environment
• Ambient Temperature: Temperature of the surrounding air or other medium
• Anaerobic: To function without air or oxygen
• Anhydrous: Free from water
• Aquifer: An underground rock formation composed of materials like sand, soil, or gravel, that can store groundwater and supply it to wells and springs
• Aquifer Protection Permit (APP): Protects all groundwater for drinking water use and ensures discharges do not exceed drinking water standards
• Aquifer Water Quality Standard (AWQS): State of Arizona maximum levels for contaminants in groundwater designated for drinking water use
• Aquitard: A geologic formation that creates an underground barrier to the flow of groundwater
• Area A: Part of the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area where specific pollution control programs are in place for ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter
• Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.): Where the official rules of the state of Arizona are published
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ): Executive agency mandated to enforce and administer the state’s environmental laws and regulations
• Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS): Promotes and protects the health of Arizona's children and adults
• Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR): Safeguards the health, safety, and economic welfare of the public by protecting, conserving, and enhancing Arizona's water supplies
• Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA): Non-profit corporation composed of mayors and council members representing various cities, protecting water supplies
• Arizona Pollution Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES): Point source discharge permitting program in Arizona
• Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency (ARRA): Responsible for the conduct of a statewide radiological health and safety program