Action Level or AL:
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded triggers treatment.

Adsorption works on the principle of adhesion. In our filtering process, organic contaminants are attracted to granular activated carbon and adhere to its surface by a combination of complex physical forces and chemical action. The process removes organic chemicals to non-detectable levels.

Aeration is the process of bringing air and water into contact in order to release volatile chemicals. In our air stripping process, packed aeration towers and blowers are used to remove volatile organics to non-detectable levels.

Inorganic contaminants: such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban water run off, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MLCGs as possible.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Microbiological contaminants: such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Micrograms per liter or ug/l: corresponds to one part liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion-ppb).

Milligrams per liter or mg/l: corresponds to one part liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million-ppm).

Nanograms per liter or ng/l: corresponds to one part liquid in one trillion parts of liquid (parts per trillion-ppt).

Non-Detects or ND: Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

Organic chemical contaminants: including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes, and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

Pesticides and herbicides: which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

Picocuries per liter or pCi/L: a measure of radioactivity in water.

Radioactive contaminants: which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production or mining activities.