The amount of water a pump will put out or a tank will hold.
CARCINOGEN
Any substance, which tends to produce cancer in an organism.
CARTRIDGE
A replaceable porous filtering element.
CARTRIDGE - DEPTH TYPE
A filter cartridge with a medium not less than three-fourths inch (3/4”) thick that relies on penetration of particulates into the medium to achieve their removal.
CARTRIDGE - SURFACE TYPE
A filter cartridge with a medium less than three-fourths inch (3/4”) thick that relies on the retention of particulates on the surface of the cartridge to achieve their removal.
CATIONS
See ion.
CAVITATION
A condition that occurs in pumps when the water/liquid entering the pump is changed from a liquid state to a gaseous state and back to liquid that is generally caused by too high of flow rate or from pipe that is too small for the flow rate. The formation of vapor bubbles in areas of low pressure in a liquid.
CAVITATION DAMAGE
The pitting or wearing away of a solid surface caused by the collapse of vapor bubbles created by low pressure prior to the damage.
CELLULASE
An enzyme, which causes the decomposition of cellulose.
CELLULOSE ACETATE
A synthetic polymer derived from naturally occurring cellulose and widely used in the fabrication of membranes. The polymers used for reverse osmosis membranes may be diacetate, triacetate or blends of these materials.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
A force that tends to move something from the center to the outside of a rotating body.
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP
A type of kinetic energy pump using centrifugal force(slinging motion) to accomplish it's work. A pump containing a rotation impeller or rotating vanes mounted on a shaft in a casing and turned by a power source. The rotating impeller uses centrifugal force to deliver water in a steady stream.
CENTRIFUGE
A mechanical device that uses centrifugal or rotational forces to separate solids from liquids.
CHANNELING
The greater flow of liquid through passages of lower resistance which can occur in fixed beds or columns of particles (carbon, etc.) due to non-uniform packing, irregular sizes and shapes of the particles, gas pockets, wall effects and other causes.
CHECK VALVE
A device that keeps water/liquid flowing one way through a pump or piping system
CHEMICAL FEEDER
Any device to feed chemicals, but usually one feeding alum, acid, filter aid, algaecide, or soda ash. Included in this category are proportioning pumps, injector type feeders, pot type feeders, operating from a pressure differential, and dry type feeders.
CHLORAMINES
Chemical complexes formed from the reaction between ammonia and chlorine. They are presently being used to disinfect municipal water supplies because unlike chlorine, they don't combine with organics in the water to form potentially dangerous carcinogens such as trihalomethanes (THM). Retains its bactericidal qualities for a longer time than free chlorine does. Chloramines can exist in three forms, the proportions of which depend on the physical and chemical properties of the water: Monochloramine; Dichloramine; Nitrogen Trichloride. Water containing chloramines must not be used for fish or kidney dialysis applications.
CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS
A group of organic chemicals formed by reacting petroleum-derived chemicals with chlorine. Such chemicals include pesticides (insecticides) and herbicides and are frequently potent carcinogens.
CHLORINATOR
A device to feed, regulate the flow, and measure the amount of chlorine gas introduced into the water being treated.
CHLORINE
An element, normally a gas, which is liquefied under pressure and stored in steel cylinders. Used as a disinfectant and algaecide when it is introduced in water solution into a pool or spa. A very toxic biocide. A halogen element isolated as a heavy irritating greenish-yellow gas of pungent odor, used as a bleach, oxidizing agent, and a disinfectant in water purification.
COAGULANT
A chemical which causes dispersed colloidal particles to become destabilized, thereby aiding in their removal during municipal water treatment. Aluminum and iron salts are commonly used for this purpose.
COAGULATION
A practice common in municipal water treatment in which a chemical (coagulant), most commonly alum, is added to water in order to destabilize colloidal particles by neutralization of their electrical charges. Coagulation is used, together with flocculation, as a process for colloid removal.
COD
Chemical oxygen demand
COLLOIDAL MINERAL/COLLOID
Un-dissolved, sub micron-sized, suspended particles which are well dispersed in a solution and will not readily settle out on standing. Most colloidal minerals are held in suspension by their tiny size and/or a static electrical charge. Many colloidal minerals claim to be organic due to the fact that they come from prehistoric mineral deposits such as humic shale and that some of the minerals are bound to carbon.
COMPACTION
The undesirable physical compression of a reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration membrane which results in reduced flux rates. The phenomenon is accelerated at higher temperatures and pressures.
CONCENTRATE
The portion of a feed stream that retains the ions, organics and suspended particles that were rejected during the cross flow filtration or purification process. Associated with water cooled distillers and reverse osmosis systems.
CONCENTRIC
The shape of a pipe or fitting meaning perfectly round.
CONDENSATE
Water obtained through distillation by evaporation and subsequent condensation.
CONDUCTIVITY
A measure of the ability of an aqueous substance to transmit an electric current. The conductivity imparted to water by dissolved solids is a function of both the amount and composition of the salts and the temperature of the water.
CORROSION
The etching or oxidation of a material by chemical action.
CORROSION RESISTANT MATERIAL
A material with exceptional resistance to the corrosion factors to which it is subjected.
CROSS CONNECTION
An unprotected connection between a domestic water system and any pool or other non-potable water whereby back flow to the domestic system could occur. Appropriate protection may be vacuum breakers, air gaps or other methods.