Glossary of Well Water Terms
Acidic
Water that is acidic has a pH value below 7.0. Water that is very acidic can cause problems for your well water system, ranging from damage to pumps to line corrosion.
Activated Carbon
The best available technology (according to the EPA) to remove tastes, odor, chlorine, chloramines and some organics from water. Activated carbon can be in block, granulated, or powdered form. It’s a highly porous, adsorbent material so is commonly used to filter harmful contaminants from contaminated water.
Aeration
The process of adding air (or oxygen) to a water supply for the purpose of oxidation. Aeration is frequently used to remove iron, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide from water.
Alkaline
Water that is alkaline has a pH value above 7.0. Similar to highly acidic water, water that is highly alkaline (8.5) can cause the water to be slimy and have a fishy odor.
Aquifer
Aquifers are sources of water flowing through bedrock or trapped in stone, sand, gravel, and other geological formations underground.
Artesian Wells
These are wells that are under pressure – an aquifer that is under heavy rocks will produce water that rises above the well head causing water to overflow.
Backflow
When water in a pipe or line flows in the opposite direction opposite to normal. This is often due to back siphonage or the flow of contaminated water into a potable water system.
Backwash
Reverse solution flow through a system. Backwashing cleans and resettles the filter bed.
Bacteria
Unicellular microorganisms. Some bacteria are helpful, others harmful. There are many different types of bacteria found in drinking water.
Balanced Water
Water that has a pH of 7.0 and is neither corrosive nor scaling.
Brine
Water with a high concentration of salt.
Bypass
A connection or a valve system that allows untreated water to flow to a water system while a water softener or filter regenerates, backwashes, or is being serviced. It can also refer to a special water line installed to provide untreated water to a particular tap (i.e., a sill cock).
Casing
The steel pipe that is placed around the borehole to keep it from collapsing in on itself. The casing helps prevent contamination by keeping the well separate from surface water.
Chemical Feeder
A mechanical pump used to pump chemicals such as chlorine or polyphosphate into a water system.
Chlorine
A very toxic biocide that is widely used in the disinfection of water to kill bacteria and algae. For water treatment, it is also used to oxidize iron, manganese, and sulphur.
Flow Rate
The volume of liquid which passes through a given filter within a given time. Flow rate is usually expressed in terms of gallons per minute. If the flow rate is greater than it should be, the water may not be completely filtered.
GPD
Gallons per day.
GAC
Granular activated carbon. A water filtration option that removes certain chemicals, particularly organic chemicals, from water as well as offensive odors or tastes and chlorine.
GPG
Grains per gallon. A common measurement for water hardness. Equal to 17.1 parts per million.
Greywater
Wastewater that does not contain solids from laundry facilities, kitchen sinks, showers, bathtubs, and other sources.
Ground Water
The term describes all subsurface water. Well water, in other words. It can be found in aquifers as deep as several miles. Water that moves downward in the ground, which recharges springs and aquifers. The higher portion of the groundwater zone is called the water table.
Hardness
The concentration of calcium and magnesium salts in the water. Water hardness is responsible for most scale formation in pipes and water heaters. Hardness is usually expressed in grains per gallon, parts per million, or milligrams per liter, all as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Hard Water
Hard water is water that has high mineral content (one grain per gallon or more, as calcium carbonate equivalent). Hard water is formed when water goes through deposits of limestone and chalk which has a high level of calcium and magnesium carbonates.
Hydrogen Sulfide
A corrosive and flammable gas produced from decaying organic matter.
Lime
A white caustic alkaline substance consisting of calcium oxide.
Lime Scale
Hard water scale containing a high percentage of calcium carbonate. It’s a hard, off-white, chalky deposit.
Maximum Contaminant Level
The MCL is the highest amount of contaminants you can have in your drinking water without becoming ill. This level is determined by the EPA.
Mineral
A term applied to inorganic substances and ions found in water.
Operating Pressure
The range of pressure that a water system is designed to function (usually 40-60 psi). Expressed as pounds per square inch (PSI).
Osmosis
The spontaneous flow of water from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution through a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis causes the stronger solution to become more diluted.
pH (Potential of Hydrogen)
A measure of the acidity of water. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14 with pH 0 = very acidic; pH 7 = neutral; pH 14= very basic (alkaline). The CT Department of Public Health recommends that your water well have a pH between 6.4 and 10.
PPB
Parts per billion.
PPM
Parts per million
Pressure Drop
A decrease in water pressure during its flow. This may be due to internal friction between molecules of water, and external friction due to irregularities or roughness in surfaces past which the water flows.
Pressure Switch
Connected to your electrical line, this supplies power to your well pump and turns it on when your tank needs to be filled with water.
PSI
Pounds per square inch (pressure).
Raw Water
Unfiltered, unsterilized, untreated water from wells or other sources. Raw water can be extremely dangerous, please read about raw water.
Resin
Synthetic organic ion exchange material used to remove dissolved salts from water.
Reverse Osmosis
A process for the removal of dissolved solids from water, in which pressure is used to force the water through a semi-permeable membrane, which will accept the water but reject any other contaminants and dissolved materials. Reverse osmosis is a popular and effective drinking water treatment that purifies water.
Soft Water
Any water with hardness minerals less than 85 PPM, expressed as calcium carbonate.
Suspended Solids
Small, solid particles which are suspended in water. It is used as an indicator of water quality.
Total Dissolved Solids
The accumulated total of all solids that might be dissolved in water.
Turbidity
Turbidity is the cloudiness of water caused by a large number of individual particles. It can look like mud, stirred-up sediment, silt, clay, etc.
Ultraviolet Disinfection
The use of ultraviolet light to destroy bacteria.
Well Cap
The top part of your well that covers the borehole. If this becomes submerged or comes loose, your well could become contaminated.
Yield
The amount of water your well can provide your home. Yield is measured in gallons per minute.
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