Containing or resembling sodium chloride or similar salts.

See “salt water”.

(1) The concentration of dissolved salts in water.

(2) The total dissolved solids in water after all carbonates and organic matter have been oxidized.

The accumulation of salts in a soil to the extent that plant growth is inhibited, usually occurring as a result of excessive irrigation in an arid area. Also spelled “salination”.

A class of ionic compounds formed by the combination of an acid and a base, of which sodium chloride is one of the most common examples.

The amount of dissolved substances that are able to pass through a reverse osmosis membrane.

In reverse osmosis, the ratio of salts removed to the original salt concentration.

Water containing a dissolved salt concentration greater than 10,000 mg/L.

The intrusion of salt water into a body of fresh surface water or groundwater.

A procedure in which salt is added to a solution to cause an organic compound to precipitate so that it can be physically removed.

Vapour in equilibrium with water at the boiling temperature, containing no liquid.

A mineral deposit or precipitate that forms on the interior surface of process equipment or water lines as a result of a heating or other physical or chemical change.

See “Silt Density Index”.

General term for sea or ocean water, with a typical total dissolved solids concentration of 35,000 mg/L.

The removal of settleable suspended solids from water or wastewater by gravity in a quiescent basin or clarifier.

(1) Crystalline particles added to a supersaturated solution to induce precipitation.

(2) Well-digested sludge used to seed a sludge digester.

A membrane that does not have measurable pores, but through which smaller molecules can pass.

Heat measurable by temperature alone.

The space surrounding the tube bundle and contained by the pressure vessel of a heat exchanger. Generally for a condenser the shell side is where the condensing vapour is contained. For liquid-liquid heat exchangers the fluid which is less likely to foul or scale occupies the shell side.

(SDI) A measure of the fouling tendency of water based on the timed flow of a liquid through a membrane filter at a constant pressure.

A gas turbine which is operating without heat recovery from the exhaust gases.

Ion exchange water softening process in which sodium on the ion exchange resin is exchanged for hardness and other ions in water. Sodium chloride is commonly used as the regenerant.

An alkaline metallic element which is water soluble and commonly used as a sequestering or dispersing agent.

Caustic soda. Chemical formula is NaOH.

A crystalline form of sulfur dioxide used to remove chlorine. Chemical formula is Na₂S₂O₅.

Any water containing less than 17.1 mg/L (1 gpg) of calcium or magnesium expressed as calcium carbonate.

Treatment process that involves the removal of calcium and magnesium ions from water.

Pond used to accomplish evaporation via direct solar heating.

A distillation device that utilizes solar energy.

A mathematical representation of a treatment system that defines the amount of solids entering and exiting each unit treatment process.

The amount of a substance that can dissolve in a solution under a given set of conditions.

The equilibrium constant that describes the reaction by which a precipitate dissolves in pure water to form its constituent ions.

Capable of being dissolved in a fluid.

A substance dissolved in a fluid.

A liquid that contains dissolved solute.

Liquid capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more substances.

Term used to describe compounds with solubility ranges from near zero to a few thousand milligrams per litre.

The measure of electrical conductance of water or a water solution, and the reciprocal of specific resistance. Usually stated in micromhos per cm.

1) The total energy consumed per unit volume of desalinated water.

2) The total of a specific type of energy, such as electricity, consumed per unit volume of desalinated water.

A measure of total ionized solids concentration determined by the resistance of a one cm cube of water to the passage of electricity under standard conditions.

Wastes from the regeneration of an ion exchange system.

One of several units of a flash evaporator, each of which operates at a successively lower pressure.

A widely accepted “standard” total dissolved solids concentration of approximately 36,000 mg/L, considered to be typical of most seawaters.

A solution whose strength or reacting value per unit volume is known.

A boiler which uses steam as the heat source so as to produce clean steam which cannot be contaminated by the heating steam.

Index used to determine the saturation point of calcium carbonate in seawater or other highly saline water.

Apparatus used in distillation.

Standard temperature and pressure.

An acid that approaches 100 percent ionization in dilute solutions.

Ion exchange using a cationic resin that contains exchangeable functional groups derived from a strong acid.

Ion exchange using an anionic resin that contains exchangeable functional groups.

An evaporator where steam enters a tube bundle submerged in the fluid to be boiled.

The divalent, negative SO₄ anion, or an ester containing the anion. Also spelled “sulfate”.

The divalent, negative S anion, or a salt containing the anion.

A flammable, nonmetallic element with many commercial uses. Also spelled “sulfur”. Chemical symbol is S.

Steam with additional heat added after vaporization, increasing its temperature and energy.

A solution containing more of a dissolved substance that is usually possible at equilibrium.

Brackish water that may be used for drinking even though it may not meet potable water standards.

Seawater reverse osmosis.