Glossary of Terms
Benthic organisms
Organisms that live on or at the bottom of water bodies for most of their adult life cycle, such as clams, lobsters, and crayfish.
Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation is the general term describing a process by which certain chemicals are taken up by a plant or animal either directly from exposure to a contaminated medium (soil, sediment, water) or by eating food containing the chemical. Compounds of a certain type can accumulate in living things when they are taken up and stored faster than they are broken down (metabolized) or excreted. Certain compounds are easily broken down and do not bioaccumulate. Related terms are bioconcentration and biomagnification.
Bioconcentration
Bioconcentration is the general term describing a process by which chemicals are absorbed by an animal or plant to levels higher than the surrounding environment.
Biomagnification
Biomagnification refers to the process in which chemical levels in plants or animals increase from transfer through the food web (e.g., predators have greater concentrations of a particular chemical than their prey).
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
The amount of oxygen used by microorganisms in the breakdown or decay of organic matter in a water body.
Biological parameters
Measures related to the plant and animal life of the water body, such as fish species diversity and abundance, or the presence or absence of indicator fishes, aquatic invertebrates, or aquatic plants.
Biodiversity
The variety of life forms in a given area. Diversity can be categorized in terms of the number of species (or taxa), the variety in the area's plant and animal communities, the genetic variability of the animals, or a combination of these elements.
B.C. Water Quality Guidelines
Guidelines that apply across British Columbia and represent safe levels of substances for the protection of a given water use, including drinking water, aquatic life, recreation and agricultural uses.
Chemical parameters
Substances such as metals, dissolved nutrients, oils, and pesticides, as well as chemical properties of the aquatic system such as dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, and acid neutralizing capacity.
Community
All the groups of organisms living together in the same area, usually interacting or depending on each other for existence.
Compliance monitoring
Monitoring to ensure immediate statutory requirements are met.
Contaminant
A material added by humans or natural activities that may, in sufficient concentrations, render the environment unacceptable for plants and animals in the region. The mere presence of these materials is not necessarily harmful.
Conventional parameters
These refer to general water quality parameters such as pH, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, nutrients and fecal coliform.
Diffuser (Multi-port)
A specially designed pipe, with multiple ports or openings along its length, that permits the rapid dilution of discharged wastewater.
Diffusion
Movement of suspended or dissolved particles from a more concentrated to a less concentrated area. The process tends to distribute the particles more uniformly.
Disinfection
Any process that destroys or removes disease-causing organisms such as viruses, bacteria or protozoa from wastewater. Examples include ultraviolet irradiation or chlorination.
Effluent
Treated or untreated liquid waste material that is discharged into the environment from a point source, such as a wastewater treatment plant or an industrial facility.
Emerging Chemical
Any chemical that has recently been identified as having the potential to negatively affect the environment. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, along with brominated flame retardents are examples of emerging chemicals.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
Chemicals that may interfere with the normal functioning of the hormone system of people and wildlife, producing a wide range of adverse effects including reproductive, developmental and behavioural problems.
Fecal coliform
A type of bacteria that comes from the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans and ducks, and can cause disease if ingested in sufficient amounts. Fecal coliforms are often used as indicators of potential risks to human health.
Flow rate
The rate, usually in litres per hour, at which wastewater passes through the treatment facility.
Metals
Include total and dissolved metals such as aluminum, mercury, silver and zinc that occur naturally or come from human sources such as mercury from dental uses.
Natural community
A distinct and reoccurring assemblage of populations of plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, and viruses naturally associated with each other and their physical environment.
Nutrients
Any inorganic or organic substance needed by plants and animals for nutrition and growth (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus). In water resources, excessive amounts of nutrients can lead to degradation of water quality by promoting excessive growth, accumulation, and subsequent decay of plants, especially algae.
Oceanographic Model
A computer program that simulates how the water moves around the outfalls. The model is generated using location-specific current, tide and weather data and is used to predict the path of the effluent plumes.
Organic chemicals
Chemicals found in many household products such as cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products.
Organic substances
Substances which contain carbon atoms and carbon-carbon bonds.
Organochlorine pesticides
Insecticides such as DDT that can remain in the environment long after application. Many have been banned because of concerns about environmental impact and human health.
Outfall
Pipe through which wastewater (sewage, stormwater, industrial effluent, etc) is discharged to a receiving body of water.
Parameter
Numerical information used as input to a water quality model or estimated by a water quality model. Also used as a synonym for compound or analyte (i.e., a substance for which chemical, physical or biological test is conducted).
Phenolic compounds
Compounds that occur naturally from the decomposition of aquatic vegetation or that are manufactured and used in disinfectants, biocides, preservatives, dyes, pesticides and medical and industrial chemicals.
Phenols
Organic compounds that are byproducts of petroleum refining, tanning, and textile, dye, and resin manufacturing.
Phylum/phyla
One of the major divisions of the animal kingdom. Phyla represent the largest generally accepted groupings of animals and other living things with certain evolutionary traits, e.g. phylum Mollusca (molluscs such as clams, oysters, snails).
Physical parameters
General conditions such as temperature, flow, sediment characteristics and water colour.
Polychaete
A class of annelid (segmented) worms, generally marine, with a pair of fleshy protrusions on each body segment that bear many bristles.
PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
Industrial chemicals once widely used in Canada and the US and Europe in electrical equipment, heat exchangers, hydraulic systems and several other specialized applications. Although banned since 1985, they do not readily break down and may remain in the environment for a very long time.
PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
Substances that occur through incomplete burning of organic substances such as wood, and are also manufactured and used in medicines or to make dyes, plastics and pesticides.
Priority substances
Substances, such as metals and organic chemicals, that were selected for monitoring based on numerous governmental agency lists of substances of potential concern.
Primary treatment
The first level of wastewater treatment. It uses settling and skimming to remove solids, floating materials, and pathogens.
Receiving waters
A river, lake, ocean, stream or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged.
Reference stations
Stations situated well outside the areas of influence of the outfalls that have similar physical characteristics (e.g. depth, type of sea floor, sea life) to the outfall sampling stations and provide areas to compare observations and assess effects.
Sanitary sewers
Underground pipes that carry only domestic or industrial waste, not storm water.
Secondary treatment
A level of wastewater treatment beyond primary treatment. It typically involves biological reduction in concentrations of particulate and dissolved oxygen-demanding pollutants.
Sediment
Particles and/or clumps of particles of sand, clay, silt, and plant or animal matter carried or deposited by water.
Sediment quality guidelines
Guidelines based on levels (estimated or measured) of toxic substances found in the sediment where biological effects could occur. Generally stated in two ways: predicted safe levels of substances to protect aquatic life from adverse effects of toxic substances; and levels which, if exceeded, could cause effects on aquatic life.
Semi-volatile organics
These are substances used in vinyl plastic, perfumes (as a fixative), nail polish, time-release coatings on pharmaceutical products, lubricants, adhesives and weather stripping.
Sewage
The waste and wastewater produced by residential, commercial and industrial sources that is discharged into sewers.
Source control
A practice, method, or technology used to reduce pollution from a source before it enters the wastewater stream. Source control focuses on reducing or eliminating contaminants before they enter the sewer system rather than treating them after they have been mixed with other wastes.
Surface water
The layer of water at the surface of the ocean. In this case, surface water samples around the outfalls are collected to monitor if fecal coliforms are present and in what quantity.
Suspended solids
Organic and inorganic particles, such as solids from wastewater, sand, clay, and mud that are suspended and carried in water.
Taxa richness
The number of different species or taxa that are found in an assemblage, community, or sample.
Tertiary treatment
A level of sewage treatment that is additional to secondary treatment by further reducing the level of nutrients or targeting a specific chemical or group of substances.
Tidal currents
Horizontal movement of water caused by gravitational interactions between the sun, moon and the earth.
Total dissolved solids (TDS)
The amount of dissolved substances, such as salts or minerals, in water remaining after evaporating the water and weighing the residue.
Total suspended solids (TSS)
Solids in water that can be trapped by a filter. TSS can include a wide variety of organic and inorganic material, such as silt, decaying plant and animal matter, industrial wastes, and sewage. High concentrations can lower water quality by absorbing light, making the water warmer and reducing its ability to hold oxygen necessary for aquatic life. Because aquatic plants also receive less light, photosynthesis decreases and less oxygen is produced
Treated wastewater
Wastewater that has been subjected to one or more physical, chemical, or biological processes designed to reduce solids, nutrients or other substances and contaminants typically found in effluent.
Van Veen grab
A stainless-steel scoop that takes large samples in soft bottom ocean or river floors. The Van Veen grab is used to obtain samples of sediment on the ocean bottom from the sampling sites.
Volatile organics
Emitted as gases from a wide array of products, including paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, glues and adhesives.
Wastewater
Wastewater includes the water and wastes that are flushed down the toilet and that drains from bathtubs, sinks, washing machines and many other domestic sources (i.e. also known as sewage). Businesses and industries also produce wastewater. In heavy rainfall events, storm water may end up as part of the wastewater stream.
Water pollution
The presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water's quality.
Water column
The vertical section of water between the surface of the ocean and the ocean bottom.