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Symbols and Acronyms

Updated in April 2008

The following is a recently updated collection of symbols and acronyms commonly used by operators and engineers in the wastewater treatment field. 

These resources are part of WEF's Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Study Guide (2007) which is available for purchase.

View symbols and acronyms below, or pick a glossary letter to look up a specific word:

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A Area
A2/O Anaerobic/anoxic/oxic
AC Alternating current
A/O Anoxic/oxic
ADF Average daily flow
AlCl3 Aluminum chloride
Al2(SO4)3 Aluminum sulfate
ASD Adjustable speed drives
ASM Activated sludge models
ASM2 Activated sludge models, second model
ASM3 Activated sludge models, third model
ATAD Autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion
AST Activated sludge treatment
ATS Automatic transfer switch
Ax Anoxic
AxSF Anoxic step feed
B Y-axis intercept
BACT Best available control technology
BEPs Best efficiency points
BF/AS Biofilter/activated sludge
BFP Belt filter press
BioP Biological phosphorus
BMPs Best management practices
BNR Biological nutrient removal
BOD Biochemical oxygen demand
BOD5 Five-day biochemical oxygen demand
BOT build–own–transfer
BOOT build–own–operate–transfer
BPR Biological phosphorus removal
BrCl Bromine chloride
BTU British thermal unit
CH3COOH Acetic acid
C2H4O3 Peracetic acid
C Carbon
CAD Computer-aided design
CaO Calcium oxide
CaCO3 Calcium carbonate
Ca(OH2) Calcium hydroxide
Ca(OCl)2 · 4 H2O Calcium hypochlorite
CAS Conventional activated sludge
CBOD Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand
CBOD5 Five-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFD Computational fluid dynamics
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CFU Colony forming units
CH4 Methane
Cl2 Chlorine
ClO2 Chlorine dioxide
CM Corrective maintenance
CMMS Computerized maintenance management systems
CMOM Capacity, management, operation, and maintenance
C:N carbon-to-nitrogen ratio
CPE Comprehensive performance evaluation
CPU Central processing unit
CO Carbon monoxide
CO2 Carbon dioxide
COD Chemical oxygen demand
CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPVC Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
CSO Combined sewer overflow
CST Capillary suction time
CSTR Completely stirred tank reactor
CT Contact time
CWA Clean Water Act
CWSRF Clean Water State Revolving Fund
D Diameter
D Dose
DAF Dissolved air flotation
dB Decibels
DBO Design–build–operate
DBP Disinfection byproduct
DC Direct current
DCS Distributed control systems
DDD dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane
DDE dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
DMR Discharge monitoring report
dN Denitrification
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid
DO Dissolved oxygen
DOB Depth of blanket
E Efficiency
EBPR Enhanced biological phosphorus removal
ED50 Effective dose at the 50% level
EDMS Electronic document management system
EHS Extremely hazardous substances
EH&S Environmental Health and Safety
EM Electromotive force
EMP Energy management plan
EMS Environmental management system
EPAM Emulsion polyacrylamide
EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
EQ Exceptional quality
U.S. EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
F:M Food-to-microorganism ratio
FAC Free available chlorine
Fe Iron
FeCl2 Ferrous chloride
FeCl3 Ferric chloride
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FF/SG Fixed-film and suspended growth processes
FOG Fats, oil, and grease
FR Federal Regulations
FRP Fiberglass-reinforced plastic
FSS Fixed suspended solids
FWA Flow-weighted average
GAC Granular activated carbon
GBT Gravity belt thickener
GC Gas chromatography
GFI Ground fault interrupter
GIS Geographic information system
GPS-X General purpose simulator
GS General service
H Head
H2 Hydrogen
HAZCOM Hazardous Communication Standard
H/O/A Hand-off-auto
HCO3-2
Biocarbonate
H2CO3 Carbonic acid
H2O Water
H2O2 Hydrogen peroxide
H2SO4 Sulfuric acid
H2S Hydrogen sulfide
H3PO4 Phosphoric Acid
HCl Hydrochloric acid
HDPE High-density polyethylene
HGL Hydraulic grade line
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
hL Headloss
HLR Hydraulic loading rate
HOBr Hypobromous acid
HOCl Hypochlorous acid
HP Horsepower
HPO High-purity oxygen
HRMS Human resources management system
HRT Hydraulic residence (retention) time
HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
I Intensity of UV radiation
I&C Instrumentation and control
IFAS Integrated fixed-film activated sludge
IMLR Internal mixed-liquor recirculation
ISO International Organization for Standardization
ISV Initial settling velocity
IT Information technology
IUs Industrial users
k Rate constant
KMnO4 Potassium permanganate
KVAR Kilovar
LAN Local area network
LiCl Lithium chloride
LIF Laser-induced fluorescence
LC50 Lethal concentration at the 50% level
LDA Laser Doppler anemometry
LE Ludzack–Ettinger
LEL Lower explosivity limit
LIMS Laboratory information management systems
µ Biomass growth rate
m Slope of straight line
M Mass
MBRs Membrane bioreactors
MCCs Motor control center
MCRT Mean cell residence time
MgNH4PO4 Magnesium ammonium phosphate
MIS Management information system
ML Mixed liquor
mLE Modified Ludzack–Ettinger
MLR Mixed-liquor recycle
MLSS Mixed-liquor suspended solids
MLVSS Mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids
MMR Mumps, Measles, and Rubella
MPN Most probable number
MS Mass spectrometry
MSDS Material safety data sheet
N Speed
N/dN Nitrify/denitrify
N2 Nitrogen
NaCl Sodium chloride
Na2Al2O4 Sodium aluminate
Na2CO3 Sodium carbonate
Na2SO3 Sodium sulfite
NaClO2 Sodium chlorite
NaHCO3 Sodium bicarbonate
NaOCl Sodium hypochlorite
NaOH Sodium hydroxide
NaS2O5 Sodium metabisulfite
NBOD Nitrogenous biochemical oxygen demand
NEC National Electric Code
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NH3 Ammonia
NH3-N Ammonia as nitrogen
NH4+
Ammonia ion
NH4HCO3 Ammonium bicarbonate
NH4OH Ammonium hydroxide
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NO2-2
Nitrite
NO3-2
Nitrate
NO, NO2, and NOx Nitrogen oxides
NOD Nitrogenous oxygen demand
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPSH Net positive suction head
NTU Nephelometric turbidity unit
O&M Operations and maintenance
O2 Molecular or free oxygen
O3 Ozone
OCI-2 Hypochlorite ion
OCP Operator control panel
OD Oxygen demand
ORP Oxidation–reduction potential
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Act
OTE Oxygen transfer efficiency
OTR Oxygen transfer rate
OUR Oxygen uptake rate
Ox Aerobic or oxic
ρ Density
P Phosphorus
P3 Public–private partnerships
Patm Absolute atmospheric pressure
P&IDs Process and instrumentation drawings
PAM Polyacrylamide
PB Brake power
PM Wire or motor power
Pvp Fluid vapor pressure
PW Water power
PAOs Phosphorus-accumulating organisms
PAC Powdered activated carbon
PCs Personal computers
PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls
PCS Process control system
PD Positive displacement
PDA Personal digital assistant
PDM Predictive maintenance
PELs Permissible exposure limits
PFC Power factor correction
PFRP Processes to further reduce pathogens
PLCs Programmable logic controllers
PM Preventive maintenance
PMP Planned maintenance program
PMS Personnel management system
PO4-2
Phosphate
POs Purchase orders
POTWs Publicly owned treatment works
PP Polypropylene
PPE Personal protective equipment
P/PM Predictive/preventive maintenance
PSA Pressure swing adsorption
PSRPs Processes to significantly reduce pathogens
PRV Pressure-reducing valve
PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene
PUCs Public utilities commissions
PVC Polyvinyl chloride
PVDF Fluorinated polyvinylidene
Q Volumetric flowrate
Q Sludge heating requirement
QS Solids loading rate
QWW Wastewater flow
QA Quality assurance
QAP Quality assurance plan
QAPP Quality assurance project plan
QAU Quality assurance unit
QC Quality control
QRAS Return activated sludge flow
QWAS Waste activated sludge flow
RAS Return activated sludge
RBCs Rotating biological contactors
RCM Reliability centered maintenance
RCFA Root-cause failure analysis
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RDT Rotary drum thickeners
RF/AS Roughing filter / Activated sludge
RFP Request for proposal
RFQ Request for qualifications
RMP Risk management program
RNA Ribonucleic acid
RTDs Resistance temperature detectors
S Solids or sludge mass flowrate
SA Surface area
SAE Standard aeration (electrical) efficiency
SAR Sodium adsorption ratio
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome
SBOD Soluble biochemical oxygen demand
SBR Sequencing batch reactors
SCADA Supervisory control and data acquisition
SCBA Self-contained breathing apparatus
SF Safety factor
SIK Timer, indicator, and control
SIU Significant industrial user
SK Spulkraft
SLA Service level agreement
SLR Solids loading rate
SMR Self-monitoring report
SNDN Simultaneous nitrification/denitrification
SO2 Sulfur dioxide
SOL Soluble organic loading
SOPs Standard operating procedures
SOTR Standard oxygen transfer rate
SOUR Specific oxygen uptake rate
SP Soluble phosphorus
SPCC Spill prevention and countermeasures control
SPDES State Pollution Discharge Elimination System
SRF State Revolving Fund
SRT Solids residence (retention) time
SS Suspended solids
SSO Sanitary sewer overflow
SSV Settled sludge volume
SVI Sludge volume index
SWD Side-water depth
T Temperature
T Turbidity
TD Tetanus and diphtheria
TDH Total dynamic head
TDS Total dissolved solids
TF Trickling filter
TF/AS Trickling filter/activated sludge
TF/RBC Trickling filter/rotating biological contactor
TF/SC Trickling filter/solids contact
THM Trihalomethane
TIMS Training information management system
TKN Total Kjeldahl nitrogen
TOC Total organic carbon
TOD Total oxygen demand
TOL Total organic loading
TP Total phosphorus
TPAD Temperature-phased anaerobic digestion
TR Turnover rate
TRE Toxicity reduction evaluation
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
TS Total solids
TSS Total suspended solids
U Fluid velocity
U Heat transfer coefficient
UASB Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor
UEL Upper explosive limit
UPS Uninterruptible power system
UV Ultraviolet
V Voltage
V Volume
v2/2g Velocity head
VA:ALK Volatile acid-to-alkalinity ratio
VAR Vector attraction reduction
VFA Volatile fatty acid
VOC Volatile organic compound
VFDs Variable frequency drives
VS Volatile solids
VSA Vacuum swing adsorption
VSS Volatile suspended solids
W Watts
W Weight
W/WW ITA Water and Wastewater Instrumentation Testing Association
ω Rotational speed
WAN Wide area network
WAS Waste activated sludge
WWTPs Wastewater treatment plants