Water Treatment Glossary
Understanding water treatment starts with knowing the terminology. This glossary covers 15 key terms and concepts to help you make informed decisions.
C
- Carbon Filtration
- A method of water purification using activated carbon to remove contaminants, chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through chemical adsorption.
- Chloramine
- A disinfectant used by many water utilities, formed by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine is more stable than chlorine but requires specialized filtration for removal.
G
- GPG (Grains Per Gallon)
- A unit used to measure water hardness. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate. Water above 7 GPG is considered hard.
H
- Hard Water
- Water containing high concentrations of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. Hard water causes scale buildup in pipes and appliances and reduces soap effectiveness.
I
- Iron Filtration
- Water treatment specifically designed to remove iron from well water or municipal supplies. Excess iron causes orange staining, metallic taste, and can harbor iron bacteria.
P
- Point-of-Use (POU) Filter
- A water treatment device installed at a single water outlet, such as a kitchen faucet or refrigerator line, to provide filtered water at that specific location.
- PPM (Parts Per Million)
- A unit of measurement used to describe the concentration of contaminants or minerals in water. One ppm equals one milligram per liter of water.
R
- Reverse Osmosis (RO)
- A water purification process that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water. RO systems typically remove 95-99% of dissolved contaminants.
S
- Sediment Filter
- A pre-filter that removes suspended solids like sand, silt, rust, and debris from water. Sediment filters protect downstream filtration equipment and improve water clarity.
T
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- A measure of the combined content of all inorganic and organic substances in water, expressed in parts per million (ppm). Higher TDS levels can indicate poor water quality or mineral content.
U
- UV Disinfection
- Ultraviolet water treatment that destroys bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms by disrupting their DNA. UV systems provide chemical-free disinfection without altering water taste.
W
- Water Conditioner
- A device that alters the behavior of minerals in water without removing them. Conditioners prevent scale buildup through electromagnetic or template-assisted crystallization methods.
- Water pH
- A scale from 0 to 14 measuring how acidic or alkaline water is. A pH of 7 is neutral. Most drinking water should fall between 6.5 and 8.5 for safety and taste.
- Water Softener
- A filtration system that removes calcium and magnesium from hard water through ion exchange. Soft water extends appliance life, reduces scale buildup, and improves soap effectiveness.
- Whole House Filtration
- A point-of-entry water treatment system installed on the main water line that filters all water entering a home, providing clean water at every tap and appliance.
Have Questions About Water Treatment?
Our team at HydraGen Essentials LLC is happy to explain any of these terms in context of your specific situation.
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