AbatementElimination or reduction of polluting or hazardous substances (such as asbestos) by either removing them completely or lessening their effect through better waste management.
AbsorptionThe passage of one substance into or through another e.g., an operation in which one or more soluble components of a gas mixture are dissolved in a liquid.
Accident siteThe location of an unexpected occurrence, failure, or loss, either at a plant or along a transportation route, resulting in a release of hazardous materials.
Acid DepositionA complex chemical and atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds and other substances are transformed by chemical processes in the atmosphere, often far from the original sources, and then deposited on earth in either a wet or a dry form. The wet forms, popularly called “acid rain,” can fall as rain, snow, or fog. The dry forms are acidic gases or particulates.
Acid RainRain or other forms of precipitation that is unusually acidic.
Activated CarbonA highly adsorbent form of carbon used to remove odors and toxic substances from liquid or gaseous emissions. In waste treatment, it is used to remove dissolved organic matter from waste water. It is also used in motor vehicle evaporative control systems.
Activated SludgeResidue that results when primary effluent is mixed with bacteria-laden sludge and then agitated and aerated to promote biological treatment. This speeds breakdown of organic matter in raw sewage undergoing secondary wastewater treatment.
Active IngredientIn any pesticide product, the component that kills, or otherwise controls, target pests. Pesticides are regulated primarily on the basis of active ingredients.
Acute ExposureA single exposure to a toxic substance that results in severe biological harm or death. Acute exposures are usually characterized as lasting no longer than a day.
Acute ToxicityThe ability of a substance to cause poisonous effects resulting in severe biological harm or death soon after a single exposure or dose; also, any severe poisonous effect resulting from a single short-term exposure to a toxic substance.
AdaptationChanges in an organism’s structure or habit that help it adjust to its surroundings.
Add-on Control DeviceAn air pollution control device such as a carbon adsorber or incinerator that reduces the pollution in an exhaust gas. The control device usually does not affect the process being controlled and thus is “addon” technology as opposed to a scheme to control pollution by making some alteration to the basic process.
Adsorption1. Adhesion of molecules of gas, liquid, or dissolved solids to a surface.
2. An advanced method of treating wastes in which activated carbon removes organic matter from wastewater.
Advanced Wastewater TreatmentAny treatment of sewage that goes beyond the secondary or biological water treatment stage and includes the removal of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and a high percentage of suspended solids.
AerationA process that promotes biological degradation of organic water. The process may be passive (as when waste is exposed to air), or active (as when a mixing or bubbling device introduces the air).
AerobicLife or processes that require, or are not destroyed by, the presence of oxygen.
Aerobic CompostingA method of composting organic wastes using bacteria that need oxygen. This requires that the waste be exposed to air, either via turning or by forcing air through pipes that pass through the material.
Aerobic TreatmentProcess by which microbes decompose complex organic compounds in the presence of oxygen and use the liberated energy for reproduction and growth. Types of aerobic processes include extended aeration, trickling filtration, and rotating biological contactors.
AerosolA suspension of small liquid or solid particles in gas.
Afforestation
Planting new forests on lands that have not been recently forested.
Agricultural PollutionThe liquid and solid wastes from farming, including runoff and leaching of pesticides and fertilizers; erosion and dust from plowing; animal manure and carcasses; and crop residues and debris.
Air MassA widespread body of air that gains certain meteorological or polluted characteristics for example, a heat inversion or smokiness while standing in one location. The characteristics can change as the air mass moves away.
Air pollutionAir pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into Earth's atmosphere, causing diseases, allergies, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, or the natural or built environment. Air pollution may come from anthropogenic or natural sources.
Air Quality IndexIt is a numerical scale that indicates the level of pollution in air.
Airborne ParticulatesTotal suspended particulate matter found in the atmosphere as solid particles or liquid droplets. The chemical composition of particulates varies widely, depending on location and time of year. Airborne particulates include windblown dust, emissions from industrial processes, smoke from the burning of wood and coal, and the exhaust of motor vehicles.
AlgaeSimple rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters in relative proportion to the amounts of nutrients available. They can affect water quality adversely by lowering the dissolved oxygen in the water. Algae are food for fish and small aquatic animals.
AlluviumSoil or sediments deposited by a river or other running water.
Alternative EnergyEnergy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy as opposed to fossil fuels.
Alternative FibersFibers produced from non-wood sources for use in paper making.
Alternative FuelsTransportation fuels other than gasoline or diesel includes natural gas, methanol, and electricity.
Alternative TransportationModes of travel other than private cars, such as walking, bicycling, rollerblading, carpooling and transit.
Ambient airAny unconfined portion of the atmosphere: open air, surrounding air.
AnaerobicA life or process that occurs in, or is not destroyed by, the absence of oxygen.
Anaerobic DigestionA method of composting that does not require oxygen. This composting method produces methane. Also known as anaerobic composting.
Ancient ForestA forest that is typically older than 200 years with large trees, dense canopies and an abundance of diverse wildlife.
AquacultureThe controlled rearing of fish or shellfish by people or corporations who own the harvestable product, often involving the capture of the eggs or young of a species from wild sources, followed by rearing more intensively than possible in nature.
AquiferUnderground source of water.
Area Sown more than onceThis represents the areas on which crops are cultivated more than once during the agricultural year. This is obtained by deducting Net Area Sown from Total Cropped Area.
Area under Non-agricultural UsesThis includes all land occupied by buildings, roads and railways or under water, e.g. rivers and canals, and other land put to uses other than agriculture.
AshThe noncombustible solid by products of incineration or other burning process.
AssimilationThe ability of a body of water to purify itself of pollutants.
AtmosphereThe 500 km thick layer of air surrounding the earth which supports the existence of all flora and fauna.
Atomic EnergyEnergy released in nuclear reactions. When a neutron splits an atom's nucleus into smaller pieces it is called fission. When two nuclei are joined together under millions of degrees of heat it is called fusion.
AttenuationThe process by which a compound is reduced in concentration over time, through adsorption, degradation, dilution, or transformation.
Background levelAn average or expected amount of a substance or radioactive material in a specific environment, or typical amounts of substances that occur naturally in an environment.
BacteriaMicroscopic living organisms that can aid in pollution control by consuming or breaking down organic matter in sewage or by similarly acting on oil spills or other water pollutants. Bacteria in soil, water, or air can cause human, animal, and plant health problems.
Baghouse FilterLarge fabric bag, usually made of glass fibers, used to eliminate intermediate and large (greater than 20 microns in diameter) particles. This device operates in a way similar to the bag of an electric vacuum cleaner, passing the air and smaller particulate matter while entrapping the larger particulates.
Bar ScreenIn wastewater treatment, a device used to remove large solids.
Barren and Un-culturable LandThis includes all land covered by mountains, deserts, etc. Land which cannot be brought under cultivation except at an exorbitant cost is classified as unculturable whether such land is in isolated blocks or within cultivated holdings.
Basel ConventionAn international agreement on the control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, drawn up in March 1989 in Basel, Switzerland, with over 100 countries as signatories.
Bay
A bay is a body of water that is partly enclosed by land.
Benthic organismA form of aquatic plant or animal life found on or near the bottom of a stream, lake, or ocean.
Bio Degradable PlasticsDegradable plastics in which the degradation process results in lower – molecular- weight fragments produced by the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria,fungi and algae.
Bio ElementElement required by a living organism
BioaccumulativeSubstances that are very slowly metabolized or excreted by living organisms and thus increase in concentration with in the organisms as the organisms breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food.
BioassayUsing living organisms to measure the effect of a substance, factor, or condition by comparing before-and-after data; often used to mean cancer bioassays.
Biochemical oxygen demand or BODThe quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures for five days at 20 degrees Celsius, usually expressed as a concentration (e.g., mg/l).
Biodegradable MaterialAny organic material that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler, more stable com-pounds. Most organic wastes (e.g., food, paper) are biodegradable.
BiodegradationDecomposition or breakdown of a substance through the action of microorganisms (such as bacteria or fungi) or other natural physical processes (such as sunlight).
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as a pure fuel or as a fuel additive and is a legal fuel in commerce. It is typically produced through the reaction of a vegetable oil or animal fat with methanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield glycerin and biodiesel (chemically called methyl esters). It is an alternative fuel that can be used by itself or blended with petroleum diesel for use in diesel engines. Its use can result in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
Biodiversity
It refers to the variety and the variability among living organisms. These include diversity within species, between species, ecosystems etc.
Biogeography
A branch of geography that deals with the geographical distribution of animals and plants.
Biological ControlIn pest control, the use of animals and organisms that eat or otherwise kill or outcompete pests.
Biological MagnificationRefers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into a river or lake, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals, or humans. The substances become concentrated in tissues or internal organs as they move up the chain.
Biological OxidationThe way bacteria and microorganisms feed on and decompose complex organic materials; used in self-purification of water bodies and in activated sludge wastewater treatment.
Biological TreatmentA treatment technology that uses bacteria to consume waste and thus break down organic materials.
BiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.
BiomassAll the living material in a given area; often refers to vegetation. Also called Biota.
BiomonitoringThe use of living organisms to test the suitability of effluents for discharge into receiving waters and to test the quality of such waters downstream from the discharge.
BiotaPlants and animals in an environment. Some of these plants and animals might be sources of food, clothing, or medicines for people.
BiotechnologyTechniques that use living organisms or parts of organisms to produce a variety of products from medicines to industrial enzymes to improve plants or animals or to develop microorganisms for specific uses such as removing toxics from bodies of water or for pesticides.
Block Plantation
Tree plantation in compact blocks of more than 0.1 ha on lands outside recorded forest areas.
BluewaterCollectible water from rainfall; the water that falls on roofs and hard surfaces usually flowing into rivers and the sea and recharging the ground water. In nature the global average proportion of total rainfall that is blue water is about 40%. Blue water productivity in the garden can be increased by improving irrigation techniques, soil water storage, moderating the climate, using garden design and water-conserving plantings
Bottom AshRelatively coarse, noncombustible, generally toxic residue of incineration that accumulates on the grate of a furnace.
Brackish WaterA mixture of fresh and salt water.
CadmiumA heavy metal element that accumulates in the environment.
CancerAny one of a group of diseases that occur when cells in the body become abnormal and grow or multiply out of control.
Canopy
The cover of branches and foliage formed by the crowns of trees.
CAPCommunity Assistance Panel.
Car poolingGiving people lifts (in car); or, share same car to
same destination; to help reduce emissions and traffic.
Carbon adsorberAn add-on control device that uses activated carbon to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a gas stream. The VOCs are later recovered from the carbon.
Carbon budget measure
of carbon inputs and outputs for a particular activity.
Carbon credit A
market-driven way of reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions; it allows
an agent to benefit financially from an emission reduction. There are two forms
of carbon credit, those that are part of national and international trade and
those that are purchased by individuals. Internationally, to achieve Kyoto
Protocol objectives, ‘caps’ (limits) on participating country’s emissions are
established. To meet these limits countries, in turn, set ‘caps’ (allowances or
credits: 1 convertible and transferable credit = 1 metric tonne of CO2-e
emissions) for operators. Operators that meet the agreed ‘caps’ can then sell
unused credits to operators who exceed ‘caps’. Operators can then choose the
most cost-effective way of reducing emissions
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas with a density about 60% higher than that of air that is odorless at normally encountered concentrations. Carbon dioxide consists of a carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms.
Carbon monoxide (CO)A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion.
CarcinogenAny substance that can cause or contribute to the production of cancer.
CAS registry number
A unique number assigned to a substance or mixture by the American Chemical Society Abstracts Service.
Catalytic ConverterAn air pollution abatement device that removes pollutants from motor vehicle exhaust, either by oxidizing them into carbon dioxide and water or by reducing them to nitrogen and oxygen.
Catalytic incineratorA control device that oxidizes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by using a catalyst to promote the combustion process. Catalytic incinerators require lower temperatures than conventional thermal incinerators, yielding fuel and cost savings.
CellThe basic unit by which a landfill is developed. It is the general area where incoming waste is tipped, spread, compacted, and covered.
Cells1. In solid waste disposal, holes in which waste is dumped, compacted, and covered with layers of dirt on a daily basis.
2. The smallest structural part of living matter capable of functioning as an independent unit.
Central nervous system
The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)A measure of the oxygen required to oxidize all compounds in water, both organic and inorganic.
Chemical Substance
A chemical substance is a form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.
Chemical treatmentAny one of a variety of technologies that use chemicals or a variety of chemical processes to treat waste.
ChemocarA special vehicle for the collection of toxic and hazardous wastes from residences, shops, and institutions.
Chlorinated hydrocarbonsA category which includes a class of persistent, broad-spectrum insecticides that linger in the environment and accumulate in the food chain. Among them are DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, heptaclor, chlordane, lindane, endrin, mirex, hexachloride, and toxaphene. Trichloroethylene (TCE), used as an industrial solvent, is also a chlorinated hydrocarbon.
Chlorinated solventAn organic solvent containing chlorine atoms, e.g. methylene chloride and 1,1,1-trichloromethane, which is used in aerosol spray containers and in roadway paint.
ChlorinationThe application of chlorine to drinking water, sewage, or industrial waste to disinfect or to oxidize undesirable compounds.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)A family of inert, nontoxic, and easily liquefied chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, and insulation or as solvents and aerosol propellants. Because CFCs are not destroyed in the lower atmosphere, they drift into the upper atmosphere, where their chlorine components destroy ozone.
Chronic toxicityThe capacity of a substance to cause long-term poisonous human health effects.
Cleaner ProductionProcesses designed to reduce the wastes generated by production.
CleanupActions taken to deal with a release or threat of release of a hazardous substance that could affect humans, the environment, or both. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with the terms remedial action, removal action, response action or corrective action.
CoagulationA clumping of particles in wastewater to settle out impurities; often induced by chemicals such as lime, alum and iron salts.
Coliform indexA rating of the purity of water based on a count of fecal bacteria.
Coliform organismMicroorganisms found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. Their presence in water indicates fecal pollution and potentially dangerous bacterial contamination by disease causing microorganisms.
Combined sewersA sewer system that carries both sewage and storm water runoff. Normally, its entire flow goes to a waste treatment plant, but during a heavy storm the storm water volume may be so great as to cause overflows. When this happens untreated mixtures of storm water and sewage may flow into receiving waters. Storm water runoff may also carry toxic chemicals from industrial areas or streets into the sewer system.
CommingledMixed recyclables that are collected together after having been separated from mixed MSW.
ComminutionMechanical shredding or pulverizing of waste used in both solid waste management and wastewater treatment.
Communal CollectionA system of collection in which individuals bring their waste directly to a central point, from which it is collected.
CompactionReduction of the bulk of solid waste by rolling and tamping.
Composite LinerA liner system for a land-fill consisting of an engineered soil layer and a synthetic sheet of material.
CompostThe material resulting from com posting. Compost, also called humus, is a soil conditioner and in some instances is used as a fertilizer.
Compostable PlasticsPlastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2,Water,inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and leave no visible,distinguishable or toxic residue.
CompostingThe natural biological decomposition of organic material in the presence of air to form a humus-like material. Controlled methods of composting include mechanical mixing and aerating, ventilating the materials by dropping them through a vertical series of aerated chambers, or placing the compost in piles in the open air and mixing or turning it periodically.
ConcentrationThe amount of a substance present in a certain amount of soil, water, air, food, blood, hair, urine, breath, or any other media.
Construction and demolition debrisWaste generated by construction and demolition of buildings, such as bricks, concrete, drywall, lumber, miscellaneous metal parts and sheets, packaging materials, etc.
ContaminantA substance that is either present in an environment where it does not belong or is present at levels that might cause harmful (adverse) health effects.
Conventional systemsSewerage systems that have been traditionally used to collect municipal wastewater in gravity sewers and convey it to a central primary or secondary treatment plant prior to discharge to surface waters.
Cooling towerA structure that helps remove heat from water used as a coolant, e.g., in electric power generating plants.
CorrosionThe dissolving and wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction that occurs between water and the pipes that the water contacts or when chemicals touching a metal surface or when two metals are in contact.
Cover materialSoil used to cover compacted solid waste in a sanitary landfill.
Cropping IntensityIt is the ratio of Net Area Sown to the Total Cropped Area.
Cubic feet per minute (cfm)A measure of the volume of a substance flowing through air within a fixed period of time. With regard to indoor air, refers to the amount of air, in cubic feet, that is exchanged with indoor air in a minute’s time, or an air exchange rate.
Culturable Waste LandThis includes land available for cultivation, whether taken up or not taken up for cultivation once, but not cultivated during the last five years or more in succession including the current year for some reason or the other . Such land may be either fallow or covered with shrubs and jungles which are not put to any use. They may be accessible or unaccessible and may lie in isolated blocks or within cultivated holdings.
Current FallowsThis represents cropped area which is kept fallow during the current year.
Cyclone collectorA device that uses centrifugal force to pull large particles from polluted air.
Debt-for-Nature SwapA financial transaction in which a portion of a developing nation's foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for local investments in conservation measures.
DecomposersConsumers, mostly microbial, that change dead organic matter into minerals and heat.
DecompositionThe breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi; changes the chemical makeup and physical appearance of materials.
Deforestation The conversion of forested areas to non-forest land for agriculture,
urban use, development, or wasteland
DegradationThe process by which a chemical is reduced to a less complex form.
Delayed health effect
A disease or an injury that happens as a result of exposures that might have occurred in the past.
DematerialisationDecreasing the consumption of materials and resources while maintaining
quality of life
Dense Bamboo
Area having bamboo density of 51-200 bamboo clumps per hectare is termed as dense bamboo.
Dense Forest
All lands with a forest cover having a canopy density of 40 percent and above.
DesalinationProducing potable or recyclable water
by removing salts from salty or brackish water. This is done by three methods:
distillation/freezing; reverse osmosis using membranes and electrodialysis; ion
exchange. At present, all these methods are energy intensive.
DesertAn area that receives an average annual precipitation of less than 250 mm (9.8 in) or an area in which more water is lost than falls as precipitation.
DesertificationThe degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities.
DesertificationThe degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry
sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily
from human activities.
Detritivore Detritus feeder - animals and
plants that consume detritus (decomposing organic material), and in doing so
contribute to decomposition and the recycling of nutrients.
Detritus Non-living particulate organic
material (as opposed to dissolved organic material).
Developing countriesDevelopment of a country is
measured using a mix of economic factors (income per capita, GDP, degree of
modern infrastructure (both physical and institutional), degree of
industrialisation, proportion of economy devoted to agriculture and natural
resource extraction) and social factors (life expectancy, the rate of literacy,
poverty). The UN-produced Human Development Index (HDI) is a compound indicator
of the above statistics. There is a strong correlation between low income and
high population growth, both within and between countries. In developing
countries, there is low per capita income, widespread poverty, and low capital
formation. In developed countries there is continuous economic growth and a
relatively high standard of living. The term is value-laden and prescriptive,
as it implies a natural transition from "undeveloped" to
"developed" when such transitions can instead be imposed. Although
poverty and physical deprivation are clearly undesirable, it does not follow
that it is therefore desirable for "undeveloped" economies to move
towards affluent Western-style "developed" free market economies. The
terms "industrialised" and "non-industrialised" are no
different in this assumption.
Developing countriesDevelopment of a country is measured using a mix of economic factors income per capita, GDP, degree of modern infrastructure (both physical and institutional), degree of industrialisation, proportion of economy devoted to agriculture and natural resource extraction and social factors (life expectancy, the rate of literacy, poverty). The UN-produced Human Development Index (HDI) is a compound indicator of the above statistics. There is a strong correlation between low income and high population growth, both within and between countries. In developing countries, there is low per capita income, widespread poverty, and low capital formation. In developed countries there is continuous economic growth and a relatively high standard of living. The term is value-laden and prescriptive, as it implies a natural transition from "undeveloped" to "developed" when such transitions can instead be imposed. Although poverty and physical deprivation are clearly undesirable, it does not follow that it is therefore desirable for "undeveloped" economies to move towards affluent Western-style "developed" free market economies. The terms "industrialised" and "non-industrialised" are no different in this assumption.
Disease preventionMeasures used to prevent a disease or reduce its severity.
Ecological sustainability The
capacity of ecosystems to maintain their essential processes and function and
to retain their biological diversity without impoverishment
Emission factorThe relationship between the amount of pollution produced and the amount of raw material processed. For example, an emission factor for a blast furnace making iron would be the number of pounds of particulates per ton of raw material.
Emission standardThe maximum amount of airpolluting discharge legally allowed from a single source, mobile or stationary.
Endemic speciesUnique plant or animal species found only in that location.
Energy
- A property of all systems which can be turned into heat and measured in heat units.
- * available energy – energy with the potential to do work (exergy);
- * delivered energy – energy delivered to and used by a household, usually gas and electricity;
- * direct energy - the energy being currently used, used mostly at home (delivered energy) and for fuels used mainly for transport;
- * embodied energy - t the energy expended over the entire life cycle of a good or service OR the energy involved in the extraction of basic materials, processing/manufacture, transport and disposal of a product OR the energy required to provide a good or service;
- * geothermal energy – heat emitted from within the Earth’s crust as hot water or steam and used to generate electricity after transformation;
- * hydro energy – potential and kinetic energy of water used to generate electricity;
- * indirect energy – the energy generated in, and accounted for, by the wider economy as a consequence of an agent’s actions or demands;
- * kinetic energy - the energy possessed by a body because of its motion;
- * nuclear energy - energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion (also called atomic energy);
- * operational energy – the energy used in carrying out a particular operation;
- * potential energy – the energy possessed by a body as a result of its position or condition e.g. coiled springs and charged batteries have potential energy;
- * primary energy – forms of energy obtained directly from nature, the energy in raw fuels(electricity from the grid is not primary energy), used mostly in energy statistics when compiling energy balances;
- * solar energy – solar radiation used for hot water production and electricity generation (does not include passive solar energy to heat and cool buildings etc.);
- * secondary energy – primary energies are transformed in energy conversion processes to more convenient secondary forms such as electrical energy and cleaner fuels;
- * stationary energy – that energy that is other than transport fuels and fugitive emissions, used mostly for production of electricity but also for manufacturing and processing and in agriculture, fisheries etc.;
- * tidal/ocean/wave energy– mechanical energy from water movement used to generate electricity;
- * useful energy – available energy used to increase system production and efficiency;
- * wind energy – kinetic energy of wind used for electricity generation using turbines
Energy AccountingMeasuring value by the energy input required for a good or service. A form of accounting that builds in a measure of our impact on nature (rather than being restricted to human-based items).
Energy AuditA systematic gathering and analysis of energy use information that can be used to determine energy efficiency improvements. The Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3598:2000 Energy Audits defines three levels of audit.
Energy FootprintThe area required to provide or absorb the waste from coal, oil, gas, fuelwood, nuclear energy and hydropower: the Fossil Fuel Footprint is the area required to sequester the emitted CO2 taking into account CO2 absorption by the sea etc.
Energy ManagementA program of well-planned actions aimed at reducing energy use, recurrent energy costs, and detrimental greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy RecoveryThe productive extraction of energy, usually electricity or heat, from waste or materials that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
Energy-For-Land RatioThe amount of energy that can be produced per hectare of ecologically productive land. The units used are gigajoules per hectare and year, or GJ/ha/yr. For fossil fuel (calculated as CO2 assimilation) the ratio is 100 GJ/ha/yr.
Enhanced Greenhouse EffectThe increase in the natural greenhouse effect resulting from increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases due to emissions from human activities.
EnrichmentThe addition of nutrients from sewage effluent or agricultural runoff to surface water. This process greatly increases the growth potential of algae and aquatic plants.
Environment The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development, and survival of an organism.
Environment The external conditions, resources, stimuli etc. with which an organism interacts.
Environmental assessment A process whose breadth, depth, and type of analysis depend on the proposed project. EA evaluates a project’s potential environmental risks and impacts in its area of influence and identifies ways of improving project design and implementation by preventing, minimizing, mitigating, or compensating for adverse environmental impacts and by enhancing positive impacts.
Environmental auditAn independent assessment of the current status of a party’s compliance with applicable environmental requirements.
An independent evaluation of a party’s environmental compliance policies, practices, and controls.
Environmental FlowsRiver or creek water flows that are allocated for the maintenance of the waterway ecosystems.
Environmental IndicatorPhysical, chemical, biological or socio-economic measure that can be used to assess natural resources and environmental quality.
Environmental Movement Environmentalism are the conservation and green movements; a diverse scientific, social, and political movement. In general terms, environmentalists advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the natural environment through changes in public policy and individual behavior. In its recognition of humanity as a participant in ecosystems, the movement is centered around ecology, health, and human rights.
EpidemiologyThe study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine.
ErosionDisplacement of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other particles) usually by the agents of currents such as, wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity or by living organisms.
EstuaryA semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.
EstuarySemi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.
Ethical consumerismBuying things that are made ethically i.e. without harm to or exploitation of humans, animals or the natural environment. This generally entails favoring products and businesses that take account of the greater good in their operations.
EutrophicationThe slow aging process during which a lake, estuary, or bay evolves into a bog or marsh and eventually disappears. During the later stages of eutrophication the water body is choked by abundant plant life as the result of increased amounts of nutritive compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Human activities can accelerate the process.
EvapotranspirationThe loss of water from the soil both by evaporation and by transpiration from the plants growing in the soil.
ExposureA potential health threat to the living organisms in the environment due to the amount of radiation or pollutant present in the environment.
Fabric filterA cloth device that catches dust particles from industrial emissions.
Fallow Lands other than Current Fallows This includes all land which was taken up for cultivation but is temporarily out of cultivation for a period of not less than one year and not more than five years.
Farm ForestryThe practice of cultivating and managing trees in compact blocks on agriculture lands.
Fecal coliform bacteriaBacteria found in the intestinal tracts of mammals. Their presence in water or sludge is an indicator of pollution and possible contamination by pathogens.
Fertigate Apply
fertiliser through an irrigation system
FertilizerMaterials such as nitrogen and phosphorus that provide nutrients for plants. Commerciallysold fertilizers may contain other chemicals or may be in the form of processed sewage sludge.
FiltrationA treatment process, under the control of qualified operators, for removing solid matter from water by passing the water through porous media such as sand or a manmade filter. The process is often used to remove particles that contain pathogenic organisms
FlocculationThe process by which clumps of solids in water or sewage are made to increase in size by biological or chemical action so that they can be separated from the water.
FlowmeterA gauge that shows the speed of wastewater moving through a treatment plant also used to measure the speed of liquids moving through various industrial processes.
Flue gasVented air coming out of a chimney after combustion in the burner; can include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides, particles, and many chemical pollutants.
Flue gas desulfurization A technology that uses a sorbent, usually lime or limestone, to remove sulfur dioxide from the gases produced by burning fossil fuels. Flue gas desulfurization is currently the state-of-the-art technology in use by major sulfur dioxide emitters such as power plants.
FluoridesGaseous, solid or dissolved compounds containing fluorine that result from industrial processes; excessive amounts in food can lead to fluorosis.
Fly ashNoncombustible residual particles from the combustion process carried by flue gas.
Food Chain
A succession of organisms in an ecological community that constitutes a continuation of food energy from one organism to another as each consumes a lower member and in turn is preyed upon by a higher member.
Food webA network of food chains or feeding relationships by which energy and nutrients are passed on from one species of living organisms to another.
Forest AreaThe area recorded as a forest in the Government records. It is also referred to as 'recorded forest area'.
Forest Blank
A patch within a forest which bears few or no trees.
Forest Cover
All lands, more than one hectare in area, with a tree canopy density of more than 10 percent irrespective of ownership and legal status. Such lands may not necessarily be a recorded forest area. it also includes orchards, bamboo and palm.
Forest InventoryThe measurement of certain parameters of forests to assess the growing stand and stock and other characteristics of forests.
Fossil fuel
Coal, oil and natural gas. A fuel that’s been made by the decomposition of fossilised plants and animals.
Freshwater
Water containing no significant amounts of salt; potable water suitable for all normal uses cf. potable water.
Fugitive emissionsEmissions not caught by a capture system.
GalaxyA huge aggregate of stars held together by mutual gravitation.
GastropodsA class of mollusks that includes snails and slugs.
GDPGross Domestic Product.
Geiger counterAn electrical device that detects the presence of certain types of radioactivity.
GeneralistsSpecies that have broad adaptability; more likely to survive changes in habitat.
GeneratorA facility or mobile source that emits pollutants into the air or releases hazardous wastes into water or soil.
Genetic DiversityVariability in genetic or hereditary makeup among individuals within a single species.
Geographical Area The latest figures of geographical area of the State/Union Territories are those provided by the Office of the Surveyor General of India.
GraftingJoining one plant segment (the scion) to another (the stock: a root or an entire plant) so they grow together.
Granular activated carbon (GAC) treatmentA filtering system often used in small water systems and individual homes to remove organics. GAC can be highly effective in removing elevated levels of radon from water.
GrazerA herbivore that feeds upon grasses.
Green ArchitectureBuilding design that moves towards self-sufficiency sustainability by adopting circular metabolism.
Green DesignEnvironmentally sustainable design.
Green manureGreen manure -
A type of cover crop grown primarily to add nutrients and organic matter
to the soil.
Green Power Electricity generated from clean, renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, biomass and hydro power) and supplied through the grid.
Green ProductsProducts or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Green products or services may include, but are not limited to, those which contain recycled content, reduce waste, conserve energy or water, use less packaging, and reduce the amount of toxics disposed or consumed.
Green PurchasingPurchasing goods and services that minimise impacts on the environment and that are socially just.
Green WasteGreen organic material or green organics, sometimes referred to as "green wealth" plant material discarded as nonputrescible waste includes tree and shrub cuttings and prunings, grass clippings, leaves, natural (untreated) timber waste and weeds (noxious or otherwise).
Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect -
The process in which the emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere
warms a planet's surface.
Greenhouse EffectThe insulating effect of atmospheric greenhouse gases (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) that keeps the Earth's temperature about 60 °F (16 °C) warmer than it would be otherwise .
Greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas -
Components of the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases are those that absorb and emit infrared radiation in the wavelength range emitted by Earth. In order, the most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are:
- Water vapor (H
2O) - Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH
4) - Nitrous oxide (N
2O) - Ozone (O
3) - Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Gross Primary ProductionThe total amount of energy and nutrients transformed by plants into biomass or chemical energy.
GroundwaterWater beneath the earth's surface in the spaces between soil particles and between rock surfaces.
GroundwaterThe supply of fresh water found beneath the Earth’s surface (usually in aquifers), which is often used for supplying wells and springs. Because groundwater is a major source of drinking water, there is growing concern about areas where leaching agricultural or industrial pollutants or substances from leaking underground storage tanks are contaminating it.
GuildA group of species that fill similar ecological niches.
Habitat An ecological or environmental area that is
inhabited by a particular species.
Hard waste Household garbage which is not normally accepted
into rubbish bins by local councils, e.g. old stoves, mattresses.
Hazardous wastePotentially harmful substances that have been released or discarded into the environment.
HDPEHigh Density Poly Ethylene
Heat Energy derived from the motion of molecules; a
form of energy into which all other forms of energy may be degraded.
Heavy metalsMetallic elements with atomic number greater than 20, such as mercury and lead. They can damage living things at low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain.
Herbicide A chemical the kills or inhibits growth of a
plant.
Hill DistrictA district with more than 50 percent of its geographic area under 'hill talukas' based on criteria adopted by the Planning Commission for Hill Are and Western Ghats Development programmes.
HIPSHigh Impact Poly Styrene
Holding pondA pond or reservoir usually made of earth, built to store polluted runoff.
HomoclimeA region with the same climate as the one under investigation.
Horton overland flowThe tendency of
water to flow horizontally across land surfaces when rainfall has exceeded infiltration
capacity and depression
storage capacity.
House energyrating
- An assessment of the energy efficiency of residential house or unit designs
using a 5 star scale.
Household metabolismThe passage of
food, energy, water, goods, and waste through the household unit in a similar
way to the metabolic activity of an organism cf. industrial metabolism.
Hydrocarbons (HC)Chemical compounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen.
Hydrogen sulfide (HS)Gas emitted during organic decomposition and as a by-product of oil refining and burning. It smells like rotten eggs and in heavy concentration, can cause illness.
Hydrological cycleHydrological cycle (water
cycle) - The natural cycle of water from evaporation, transpiration in the
atmosphere, condensation (rain and snow), and flows back to the ocean
(e.g. rivers).
HydrosphereHydrosphere -
All the Earth's water; this would include water found in the sea, streams,
lakes and other waterbodies, the soil, groundwater, and in the air.
Important Bird Area (IBA)
Sites of importance to birds, identified by Birdlife International and International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau. The sites are identified for four groups of birds: regularly occurring migratory species which concentrate at and are dependent on particular sites either when breeding, or migration, or during the winter; globally threatened species (i.e species at risk of total extinction); species and sub-species threatened throughout all or parts of their range but not globally; species that have relatively small total world ranges with important populations in specific areas.
Inbreeding
Mating of close relatives resulting in increased genetic uniformity in the offspring.
Indicator speciesA species whose status provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and of other species in that ecosystem.
Industrial agriculture A form of modern farming that involves
industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops.
Industrial RevolutionA period in the late 18th and early 19th
centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation
had a profound effect on socioeconomic and cultural conditions.
InheritanceThe features of an organism are determined by a set of chromosomes. These originate in the parents and are passed on to an offspring during fertilization. It follows then that since chromosomes are inherited, all the features of an organism must be inherited.
InoculantsDominant microorganisms which may be added to a compost pile. Generally, these are not necessary as there are microorganisms living on all organic matter, so your pile already has these in it.
InsecticideA chemical substance used to kill insects.
In-situ
Maintenance or study of organisms within an organism's native environment.
In-situ conservationThe conservation of biodiversity within the evolutionary dynamic ecosystems of the original habitat or natural environment.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Using the best features of chemical, biological and cultural controls to reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides. It may include use of natural predators, chemical agents and crop rotations.
Integrated pest management (IPM)Combined use of biological, chemical, and cultivation methods in proper sequence and timing to keep the size of a pest population below the size that causes economically unacceptable loss of a crop or livestock animal.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Rights enabling an inventor to exclude imitators from the market for a certain period of time.
Intensive agricultureA system of maximum output of agricultural land through use of chemicals and machinery.
IntercroppingSystem of growing two or more crops on the same peace of land in rows simultaneously.
IntercroppingIntercropping - The agricultural practice of cultivating
two or more crops in the same space at the same time
Intraspecific competitionTwo or individual organisms of a single species trying to use the same limited resources in an ecosystem.
Intrinsic valueThe value of creatures and plants independent of human recognition and estimation of their worth.
Invasive speciesInvasive species are those that are introduced-intentionally or unintentionally-to an ecosystem in which they do not naturally appear and which threaten habitats, ecosystems, or native species. These species become invasive due to their high reproduction rates and by competing with and displacing native species, that naturally appear in that ecosystem.
InventoryOn-site collection of data on natural resources and their properties.
Island biogeographyThe study of the relationship between island area and species number. This idea has also been applied to isolated areas of habitat in continental areas which are effectively islands for many species. The extent to which habitat fragmentation may lead to extinction of species can be predicted from the relationship between number of species and island area.
kerbside collectionCollection of household recyclable materials (separated or co-mingled) that are left at the kerbside for collection by local council services.
keystone species A species that has a disproportionate effect on its environment relative to its abundance, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and help in determine the types and numbers of various others species in a community.
Kyoto Protocol An international agreement adopted in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The Protocol sets binding emission targets for developed countries that would reduce their emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels.
Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol - An international agreement adopted in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The Protocol sets binding emission targets for developed countries that would reduce their emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels.
Land under Miscellaneous Tree Crops, etc. This includes all cultivable land which is not included in ‘Net area sown’ but is put to some agricultural uses. Land under casuring trees, thatching grasses, bamboo bushes and other groves for fuel, etc. which are not included under ‘Orchards’ are classified under this category.
Land useLand-use change and forestry (LULUCF) - land uses and land-use changes can act either as sinks or as emission sources. It is estimated that approximately one-fifth of global emissions result from LULUCF activities. The Kyoto Protocol allows parties to receive emissions credit for certain LULUCF activities that reduce net emissions.
Land use planningA branch of public policy which encompasses various disciplines which seek to order and regulate the use of land in an efficient and ethical way.
LandfilSolid waste disposal in which refuse is buried between layers of soil, a method often used to reclaim low-lying ground; the word is sometimes used as a noun to refer to the waste itself.
Landfill(dump or tip and historically as a midden) - a site for the disposal of
waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment.
LandfillLandfill- Solid
waste disposal in which refuse is buried between layers of soil, a method
often used to reclaim low-lying ground; the word is sometimes used as a
noun to refer to the waste itself.
Landfill gasThe gas emissions from biodegrading waste in landfill, including CO2, CH4, and small amounts of nitrogen, oxygen with traces of toluene, benzene and vinyl chloride.
Landfill levyLevy applied at differential rates to municipal, commercial and industrial and prescribed wastes disposed to licensed landfills the levies used to foster the environmentally sustainable use of resources and best practice in waste management.
Landfill prohibition The banning of a certain material or product type from disposal to landfills. Occurs occasionally, for example, where a preferable waste management option is available.
LDPELow Density Poly Ethylene
Leachate(waste) - the mixture of water and
dissolved solids (possibly toxic) that accumulates as water passes through
waste and collects at the bottom of a landfill site.
LeachingThe movement of chemical in the upper layers of soil into lower layers or into groundwater by being dissolved in water.
Leaf area index (LAI) – the ratio of photosynthetic leaf area to ground area covered
(optimal for photosynthesis = 3-5). LAI is often optimised by shifts in leaf
angle, a form of solar tracking.
Life cycleAll stages of a product's development, from raw materials, manufacturing through to consumption and ultimate disposal.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) - an objective process to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a product, process, or activity. A means of identifying resource use and waste released to the environment, and to assess management options.
Life support systemsAccording to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the biophysical processes "that sustain the productivity, adaptability and capacity for renewal of lands, waters, and / or the biosphere as a whole."
LilacwaterRecycled water that is unsuitable for drinking.
Linear low-density polyethyleneAmember of the polyolefin family of
plastics. It is a strong and flexible plastic and usually used in film for
packaging, bags and for industrial products such as pressure pipe.
Linear metabolism Direct conversion of resources into wastes that are often sent directly to landfill
Lithosphere The solid outermost shell of a rocky planet.considered ideal for gardening and agricultural uses.
LLDPELinear Low Density Poly Ethylene
LoamA soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration
(about 40-40-20% concentration respectively), *locally
existing capacity - the total ecological production that is
found within a country’s territories. It is usually expressed in hectares based
on world average productivity.
Low entropy energyTo high-quality energy, or energy that is concentrated and available. Electricity is considered the energy carrier with the lowest entropy (i.e. highest quality) as it can be transformed into mechanical energy at efficiency rates well above 90%. In contrast, fossil fuel chemical energy can only be converted into mechanical energy at a typical efficiency rate of 25% (cars) to 50 percent (modern power plants). The chemical energy of biomass is of lower quality.
Mangrove CoverArea covered under mangrove vegetation as interpreted from remote sensing data. It is included in the forest cover.
Mangroves
Salt tolerant evergreen forest ecosystem found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical coastal and/or inter-tidal regions.
MetabolismThe conversion or breakdown of a substance from one form to another by a living organism.
MigrationMoving from one location to another.
Moderately Dense Forest
All lands with forest cover having a canopy density between 40 to 70%.
MulchMulch -
Any composted or non-composted organic material, excluding plastic, that
is suitable for placing on soil surfaces to restrict moisture loss from
the soil and to provide a source of nutrients to the soil.
Native species (or Indigenous species)A species that occurs naturally in a given region or ecosystem.
Net Area Sown This represents the total area sown with crops and orchards. Area sown more than once in the same year is counted only once.
Net Change (in Forest Cover))The sum of positive and negative changes in forest cover over a period of two assessment for a given area.
Non Forest Land
Land without forest cover.
Non-point-source pollution
Pollution that enters water through run-off from farmland, forestland, and urban areas. It cannot be determined exactly where this pollution comes from.
NPWSShort for National Parks and Wildlife Service, which works under the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to manage and maintain State-owned national parks and nature reserves and protect and preserve Ireland’s native animals and plants.
Nymph
A larval phase of an aquatic insect.
Open Forest
Lands with forest cover having a canopy density between 10 to 40 %.
Organic 1. Referring to or derived from living organisms.
2. In chemistry, any compound containing carbon.
Organic chemicals/compoundsAnimal or plant produced substances containing mainly carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
OrganophosphatesPesticide chemicals that contain phosphorus used to control insects. They are short-lived but some can be toxic when first applied.
OutfallThe place where an effluent is discharged into receiving waters.
OverburdenThe rock and soil cleared away before mining.
Overland flowA land application technique that cleanses waste by allowing it to flow over a sloped surface. As the water flows over the surface, the contaminants are removed. The water is collected at the bottom of the slope for reuse.
Oxidation1. The addition of oxygen which breaks down organic waste or chemicals such as cyanides, phenols, and organic sulfur compounds in sewage by bacterial and chemical means.
2. Oxygen combining with other elements.
3. The process in chemistry whereby electrons are removed from a molecule.
Oxidation pondA man made lake or body of water in which liquid waste is consumed by bacteria. It is used most frequently with other water treatment processes. An oxidation pond is basically the same as a sewage lagoon.
OzoneFound in two layers of the atmosphere, the troposphere and the stratosphere. In the troposphere (the layer extending 7 to 10 miles up from the Earth’s surface), ozone is a chemical oxidant and major component of photo chemical smog. In the stratosphere (the atmospheric layer beginning 7 to 10 miles above the Earth’s surface), ozone is a form of oxygen found naturally that provides a protective layer shielding the Earth from the harmful health effects of ultraviolet radiation on humans and the environment.
Ozone depletionDestruction of the stratospheric ozone layer that shields the Earth from ultraviolet radiation harmful to biological life. This destruction of ozone is caused by the breakdown of certain chlorine or bromine containing compounds (chlorofluorocarbons or halons) that break down when they reach the stratosphere and catalytically destroy ozone molecules.
ParticulatesFine liquid or solid particles such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or smog found in air or emissions.
PathogenicCapable of causing disease.
PathogensMicroorganisms that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans, other animals and plants. They may be bacteria, viruses or parasites are found in sewage, in runoff from animal farms or rural areas populated with domestic or wild animals, and in water used for swimming. Fish and shellfish contaminated by pathogens, or the contaminated water itself, can cause serious illness.
PercolationThe movement of water downward and radially through the subsurface soil layers, usually continuing downward to the groundwater.
Permanent Pasture and other Grazing Land This includes all grazing land whether it is permanent pasture and meadows or not. Village common grazing land is included under this heading.
PermeabilityThe rate at which liquids pass through soil or other materials in a specified direction.
PermitAn authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by an approved agency to implement the requirements of an environmental regulation; e.g. a permit to operate a wastewater treatment plant or to operate a facility that may generate harmful emissions.
PersistenceRefers to the length of time a compound, once introduced into the environment stays there. A compound may persist for less than a second or indefinitely.
PesticideSubstance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Also, any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. Pesticides can accumulate in the food chain or contaminate the environment if misused.
pHA measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid or solid material.
PhenolOrganic compounds that are byproducts of petroleum refining, tanning, textile, dye, and resin manufacturing. Low concentrations cause taste and odor problems in water; higher concentrations can kill aquatic life and humans.
PhosphatesCertain chemical compounds containing phosphorus.
PhosphorusAn essential chemical food element that can contribute to the sophistication of lakes and other water bodies. Increased phosphorus levels result from discharge of phosphorus containing materials into surface waters.
Photochemical oxidantsAir pollutants formed by the action of sunlight on oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons.
PhotosynthesisThe manufacture of carbohydrates and oxygen by plants from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll, using sunlight as an energy source.
Physical and chemical treatmentProcesses generally used in large-scale wastewater treatment facilities. Physical processes may involve air stripping or filtration. Chemical treatment includes coagulation, chlorination or ozone addition. The term can also refer to treatment of toxic materials in surface waters and groundwater, oil spills and some methods of dealing with hazardous materials on or in the ground.
Physiographic Zone
A physiographic zone constitutes geographical areas that exhibit broad similarities in Factors like physiography, climate, vegetations responsible for the growth of tree vegetation.
PhytoplanktonThat portion of the plankton community comprised of tiny plants e.g. algae, diatoms.
PhytotoxicSomething that harms plants.
Plume1. Visible or measurable discharge of a contaminant from a given point of origin; can be visible or thermal in water or visible in the air as, for example, a plume of smoke.
2. The area of measurable and potentially harmful radiation leaking from a damaged reactor.
3. The distance from a toxic release considered dangerous for those exposed to the leaking fumes.
Point sourceA stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged or emitted; any single identifiable source of pollution e.g. a pipe, ditch, ship, ore pit or factory smokestack.
PollutantGenerally, the presence of matter or energy whose nature, location, or quantity produces undesired environmental effects. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, for example, the term is defined as the man-made or man-induced alteration of the physical, biological, and radio logical integrity of water.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)A group of toxic, persistent chemicals used in transformers and capacitors for insulating purposes and in gas pipeline systems as a lubricant.
PolyelectrolytesSynthetic chemicals that help solids to clump during sewage treatment.
PolymersThe basic molecular ingredients in plastic.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)A tough, environmentally indestructible plastic that releases hydrochloric acid when burned.
PopulationA group or number of people living within a specified area or sharing similar characteristics (such as occupation or age).
Potable waterWater that is safe for drinking and cooking.
ppm/ppbParts per million/parts per billion, a way of expressing tiny concentrations of pollutants in air, water, soil, human tissue and food and or other products.
PrecipitatorsAir pollution control devices that collect particles from an emission.
PrecursorIn photo chemical terminology, a compound such as a volatile organic compound (VOC) that “precedes” an oxidant. Precursors react in sunlight to form ozone or other photo chemical oxidants.
PretreatmentProcesses used to reduce, eliminate or alter the nature of wastewater pollutants from non domestic sources before they are discharged into publicly owned treatment works.
PreventionMeasures taken to minimize the release of wastes to the environment.
Primary wastewater treatmentFirst steps in wastewater treatment; screens and sedimentation tanks are used to remove most materials that float or will settle. Primary treatment results in the removal of about 30% of carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) from domestic sewage.
Protected ForestAn area notified under the provisions of the India Forest Act or other State Forest Acts, having limited degree of protection. In protect forest all activities are permitted unless prohibited.
Pure BambooAre having bamboo density of 200 or more bamboo clumps per hectare is termed as pure bamboo.
PutrescibleAble to rot quickly enough to cause odors and attract flies.
PyrolysisDecomposition of a chemical by extreme heat.
RadiationAny form of energy propagated as rays, waves or streams of energetic particles. The term is frequently used in relation to the emission of rays from the nucleus of an atom.
Radiative forcingChanges in the energy balance of the earth-atmosphere system in response to a change in factors such as greenhouse gases, land-use change, or solar radiation. Positive radiative forcing increases the temperature of the lower atmosphere, which in turn increases temperatures at the Earth's surface. Negative radiative forcing cools the lower atmosphere. Radiative forcing is most commonly measured in units of watts per square meter (W/m2).
RadiobiologyThe study of the effects of radiation on living things.
Radon A common radioactive gas emitted from ordinary soils and rock. Radon has no smell, taste or colour and can seep into homes, building up to dangerous levels if there is not enough ventilation. Being exposed to high levels of radon gas over a long period of time increases the risk of developing lung cancer. For more information on how to check radon levels see our radiation section.
Rain gardenAn engineered area for the collection, infiltration and evapotranspiration of rainwater runoff, mostly from impervious surfaces; it reduces rain runoff by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground (as opposed to flowing into storm drains and surface waters which can cause erosion, water pollution, flooding, and diminished groundwater). They can also absorb water contaminants that would otherwise end up in water bodies. The terminology arose in Maryland, USA in 1990s as a more marketable expression for bioremediation.
Rainwater harvesting Collecting rainwater either in storages or the soil mostly close to where it falls; the attempt to increase rainwater productivity by storing it in pondages, wetlands etc., and helping to avoid the need for infrastructure to bring water from elsewhere. Practiced on a large scale upstream this reduces available water downstream.
Rangeland A region where grasing or browsing livestock is the main land use.
Raw materialsMaterials that are extracted from the ground and processed e.g. bauxite is processed into aluminium
Raw sewageUntreated wastewater.
Real-time data
information that is delivered immediately after collection. There is no delay in the timeliness of the information provided. Real-time data is often used for navigation or tracking.
Receiving watersA river, lake, ocean, stream or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged.
Reclaimed water Water taken from a waste (effluent) stream and purified to a level suitable for further use.
Recorded Forest Area
Geographic areas recorded as forests in Government records.
Recovered material(waste) material that would have otherwise been disposed of as waste or used for energy recovery, but has instead been collected and recovered (reclaimed) as a material input thus avoiding the use of new primary materials.
Recovery rate(waste) the recovery rate is the percentage of materials consumed that is recovered for recycling.
RecyclablesStrictly, all materials that may be recycled, but this may include the recyclable containers and paper/cardboard component of kerbside waste (excluding garden organics).
Recycle/reuseThe process of minimizing the generation of waste by recovering usable products that might otherwise become wastes. Examples are the recycling of aluminum cans, waste paper and bottles.
Red tideA proliferation of a marine plankton that is toxic and often fatal to fish. This natural phenomenon may be stimulated by the addition of nutrients. A tide can be called red, green, or brown depending on the coloration of the plankton.
Refuse Another name for waste.
Remote sensingThe acquisition and processing of information about a distant object or phenomenon without any physical contact; often done from satellites.
RenewableAn energy source that can be easily replenished i.e. solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower. Renewable energy sources can be used to produce secondary energy sources including electricity and hydrogen.
Reserved Forests
An area so constituted under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act or other State Forest Acts, having full degree of protection. In reserved forests all activities are prohibited unless permitted.
ResidualAmount of a pollutant remaining in the environment after a natural or technological process has taken place e.g., the sludge remaining after initial wastewater treatment, or particulates remaining in air after the air passes through a scrubbing or other pollutant removal process.
ResistanceFor plants and animals, the ability to withstand poor environmental conditions or attacks by chemicals or disease. The ability may be inborn or developed.
Resource recoveryThe process of obtaining matter or energy from materials formerly discarded.
Reverse osmosisA water treatment process used in small water systems by adding pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane, Reverse osmosis removes most drinking water contaminants. It is also used in wastewater treatment. Large-scale reverse osmosis plants are now being developed.
RiskThe probability that something will cause injury or harm.
Risk assessmentThe qualitative and quantitative evaluation performed in an effort to define the risk posed to human health or the environment by the presence or potential presence and use of specific pollutants.
River basinThe portion of land drained by a river and the streams that flow into it. The quality of a river basin affects the quality of water, so efforts to protect and improve water quality must often include plans for managing river basins.
RubbishSolid waste, excluding wood waste and ashes, from homes, institutions, and workplaces.
RunoffThe part of precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water that runs off the land into streams or other surface water; can carry pollutants from the air and land into the receiving waters.
SalinityThe degree of salt in water.
SaltsMinerals that water picks up as it passes through the air and over and under the ground and as it is used by households and industry.
Sand filtersDevices that remove some suspended solids from sewage. Air and bacteria decompose additional wastes filtering through the sand so that cleaner water drains from the bed.
Sanitary sewersUnderground pipes that carry off only domestic or industrial waste, not stormwater.
Sanitation
Sanitation is the process of keeping places clean and healthy, especially by providing a sewage system and a clean water supply.
ScreeningUse of screens to remove coarse floating and suspended solids from sewage.
ScrubberAn air pollution device that uses a spray of water or reactant or a dry process to trap pollutants in emissions.
Secondary wastewater treatmentThe second step in most publicly owned water treatment systems, in which bacteria consume the organic parts of the waste. It is accomplished by bringing together waste, bacteria and oxygen in trickling filters or in the activated sludge process. This treatment removes floating and settle-able solids and about 90% of the oxygen-demanding substances and suspended solids. Disinfection is the final stage of secondary treatment.
SedimentationLetting solids settle out of wastewater by gravity during wastewater treatment.
Sedimentation tanksHolding areas for wastewater in which floating wastes are skimmed off and settled solids are removed for disposal.
SedimentsSoil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. Sediments pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and clouding the water so that needed sunlight may not reach aquatic plants. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.
Septic tankAn underground storage tank for wastes from homes having no sewer line to a treatment plant. The wastes go directly from the home to the tank, where the organic waste is decomposed by bacteria and the sludge settles to the bottom. The effluent flows out of the tank into the ground through drains; the sludge is pumped out periodically.
Settleable solidsMaterial heavy enough to sink to the bottom of a wastewater treatment tank.
Settling tankA holding area for wastewater in which heavier particles sink to the bottom for removal and disposal.
SewageThe waste and wastewater produced by residential and commercial establishments and discharged into sewers.
Sewage sludgeSludge produced at a municipal treatment works.
SewerA channel that carries wastewater and stormwater runoff from the source to a treatment plant or receiving stream. Sanitary sewers carry household, industrial and commercial wastes. Storm sewers carry runoff from rain or snow. Combined sewers are used for both purposes.
SiltFine particles of sand or rock that can be picked up by the air or water and deposited as sediment.
SitingThe process of choosing a location for a facility.
SkimmingUsing a machine to remove oil or scum from the surface of the water.
Slow sand filtrationTreatment process involving passage of raw water through a bed of sand at low velocity that results in the substantial removal of chemical and biological contaminants.
SludgeA semisolid residue from any of a number of air or water treatment processes. Sludge can be a hazardous waste.
SlurryA watery mixture of insoluble matter that results from some pollution control techniques.
SmelterA facility that melts or fuses ore, often with an accompanying chemical change, to separate the metal. Emissions from smelters are known to cause pollution.
SmogFog made heavier and darker by smoke. Air pollution associated with oxidants.
SmokeParticles suspended in air after incomplete combustion of materials.
Solid waste disposalThe final placement of refuse that is not salvaged or recycled.
Solid waste management1. Entire process of storage, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of solid wastes by any person engaging in such process as a business, or by any government agency, city, municipal authority or any combination thereof.
2. Supervised handling of waste materials from their source through recovery processes to disposal.
Solid wastesNon liquid, non soluble materials, ranging from municipal garbage to industrial wastes, that contain complex, and sometimes hazardous, substances. Solid wastes include sewage sludge, agricultural refuse, demolition wastes, and mining residues. Technically, solid wastes also refer to liquids and gases in containers.
Solidification and stabilizationRemoval of wastewater from a waste or changing it chemically to make the waste less permeable and less susceptible to transport by water.
Solvent1. Substance (usually liquid) capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances.
2. A liquid capable of dissolving or dispersing another substance (for example, acetone or mineral spirits).
Special populationsPeople who might be more sensitive or susceptible to exposure to hazardous substances because of factors such as age, occupation, sex, or behaviors (for example, cigarette smoking). Children, pregnant women, and older people are often considered special populations.
SpeciesPopulations of animals that possess common characteristics and freely inter-breed in nature and produce fertile offspring.
StabilizationConversion of the active organic matter in sludge into inert, harmless material.
Stable airA mass of air that is not moving normally so that it holds rather than disperses pollutants.
StackA chimney or smokestack; a vertical pipe that discharges used air.
Stack effectUsed air as in a chimney, that moves upward because it is warmer than the surrounding atmosphere.
StatisticsA branch of mathematics that deals with collecting, reviewing, summarizing, and interpreting data or information. Statistics are used to determine whether differences between study groups are meaningful.
Strip miningA process that uses machines to scrape soil or rock away from mineral deposits just under the earth’s surface.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)A heavy, pungent, colorless, gaseous air pollutant formed primarily by processes involving fossil fuel combustion.
SumpA pit or tank that catches liquid runoff for drainage or disposal.
Surface waterWater on the surface of the earth, such as in lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and springs.
SurfactantA surface-active agent used in detergents to cause lathering.
Suspended solidsSmall particles of solid pollutants that float on the surface of or are suspended in sewage or other liquids. They resist removal by conventional means.
Sustainability -Sustainability -
The Brundtland definition is ‘Sustainable development is development that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs’.
TailingsResidue of raw materials or waste separated out during the processing of crops or mineral ores.
TeratogenA substance that causes defects in development between conception and birth. A teratogen is a substance that causes a structural or functional birth defect.
Tertiary wastewater treatmentAdvanced cleaning of wastewater that goes beyond the secondary or biological stage to remove nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and most biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids.
Thermal pollution.Discharge of heated water from industrial processes that can affect the life processes of aquatic organisms.
Total Cropped AreaThis represents the total area sown once and/or more than once in a particular year, i.e. the area is counted as many times as there are sowings in a year. This total area is known as gross cropped area.
Total Cultivable AreaThis consists of net area sown, current fallows, fallow lands other than current fallows, culturable waste and land under miscellaneous tree crops.
Total Cultivated AreaThis consists of net area sown and current fallows.
Total suspended solids (TSS)A measure of the suspended solids in wastewater, effluent, or water bodies.
Total Un-Cultivable AreaIt is the area arrived at by deducting the total cultivable area from the total reported area.
Total Un-Cultivated AreaIt is the area arrived at by deducting the total cultivated area from the total reported area.
ToxicPoisonous or harmful to the body (ecotoxic relates to damage to the environment).
Toxic agentChemical or physical (for example, radiation, heat, cold, microwaves) agents that, under certain circumstances of exposure, can cause harmful effects to living organisms.
Toxic pollutantsMaterials contaminating the environment that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them. The quantities and length of exposure necessary to cause these effects can vary widely.
Toxic substanceA chemical or mixture that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.
ToxicityThe degree of danger posed by a substance to animal or plant life.
ToxicologyThe study of the harmful effects of substances on humans or animals.
ToxinA poisonous substance that can either be natural (produced by plants, animals or bacteria) or manufactured.
Trichloroethylene (TCE)A stable, low-boiling point colorless liquid, toxic by inhalation. TCE is used as a solvent, as a metal degreasing agent and in other industrial applications.
Trickling filterA coarse biological treatment system in which wastewater trickles over a bed of stones or other material covered with bacterial growth. The bacteria break down the organic waste in the sewage and produce clean water.
Tropical CycloneStorms of various intensities that form over warm tropical and subtropical waters; classified according to intensity and degree of organization and including tropical disturbances, tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
Tropical stormA warm-core tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind (1 minute mean) ranges from 34 to 63 knots (62.4-116 kilometers per hour).
TsunamiA shallow water progressive wave, potentially catastrophic, caused by an underwater earthquake or volcano that can rise to great heights and catastrophically inundate shore lands.
TumorAn abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive. Tumors perform no useful body function. Tumors can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Turbidity1. Haziness in air caused by the presence of particles and pollutants.
2. A similar cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic matter.
Unclassed Forests
An area recorded as forest but not included in reserved or protected forest category. Ownership status of such forests varies from state to state.
Underground storage tankA tank located wholly or partially under ground that is designed to hold gasoline or other petroleum products or chemical solutions.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeThe UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) were established at the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Kyoto Protocol was then formulated by the UNFCCC and sets specific timelines and timetables for reducing industrialized nations’ GHG emissions and allows some international trading in carbon credits. For more information visi
UpstreamThose processes necessary before a particular activity is completed e.g. for a manufactured product this would be the extraction, transport of materials etc. needed prior to the process of manufacture cf. downstream.
Urban Heat Islandthe tendency for urban areas to have warmer air temperatures than the surrounding rural landscape, due to the low albedo of streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and buildings. These surfaces absorb solar radiation during the day and release it at night, resulting in higher night temperatures.
Urban metabolismThe functional flow of materials and energy required by cities.
Urban runoffStorm water from city streets and adjacent domestic or commercial properties that may carry pollutants of various kinds into sewer systems or receiving waters.
VaccineA preparation intended to produce immunity to a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies.
VaporThe gaseous phase of substances that are liquid or solid at atmospheric temperature and pressure, e.g., steam.
Vapor capture systemAny combination of hoods and ventilation system that captures or contains organic vapors so that they may be directed to an abatement or recovery device.
Vector1. An organism, often an insect or rodent, that carries disease.
2. An object (e.g., plasmids, viruses or other bacteria) used to transport genes into a host cell. A gene is placed in the vector; the vector then “infects” the bacterium.
velowaycycle track; cycleway; contrasts with freeway.
VermicompostVermicomposting is the process of having redworms and other decomposer organisms process our organic waste and turn it into a great natural fertilizer.
Very Dense ForestLands with forest cover having a canopy density of 70 percent and above.
VinylA type of plastic (usually PVC) used to make products such as fruit juice bottles, credit cards, pipes and hoses.
Vinyl chlorideA chemical compound used in producing some plastics that is believed to be carcinogenic.
Virtual waterThe volume of water required to produce a commodity or service. First coined by Professor J.A. Allan of the University of London in the early 1990s, though this is now more widely known as cf. embedded (embodied) water.
Visual waste auditVisual waste audit -
Observing, estimating and recording data on waste streams and practices
without physical weighing.
VolatileDescription of any substance that evaporates readily.
Volatile organic compoundMolecules containing carbon and differing proportions of other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine and chlorine. With sunlight and heat they form ground-level ozone
VulnerabilityThe degree of loss to a given element or set of elements within the area affected by a hazard. It is expressed on a scale of 0 (no loss) to 1 (total loss). Also, a set of conditions and processes resulting from physical, social, economic, and environmental factors, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards.
WasteAny matter, whether liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, which is discharged, emitted, or deposited in the environment in such volume, constituency or manner as to cause an alteration of the environment.
Waste disposalThe activity to get rid of the wastes either by putting the same in a landfill or incinerated or recycled etc.
Waste ReductionMeasures to reduce the amount of waste generated by an individual, household or organisation.
Waste WaterUsed water; generally not suitable for drinking.
WastewaterSpent or used water from individual homes, communities, farms or industries that contains dissolved or suspended matter.
Wastewater operations and maintenanceActions taken after construction to ensure that facilities constructed to treat wastewater will be properly operated, maintained and managed to achieve efficiency levels and prescribed effluent levels in an optimum manner.
Wastewater treatment plantA facility containing a series of tanks, screens, filters and other processes by which pollutants are removed from water.
Wastewater treatment streamThe continuous movement of wastes from generator to treater and disposer.
Water consumption
Water consumption - in water accounting: distributed water use self-extracted water use reuse water use - distributed water supplied to other users - in-stream use (where applicable).
Water cycle
water cycle (hydrological cycle) passage of the water between the oceans and waterbodies, land and atmosphere.
Water FootprintThe total volume of freshwater that is required in a given period to perform a particular task or to produce the goods and services consumed at any level of the action hierarchy. Country water footprint is a concept introduced by Hoekstra in 2002 as a consumption-based indicator of water use in a country – the volume of water needed to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of a country.
Water intensity
Volume of water used per unit of production or service delivery; this is generally further reduced to monetary unit return per given volume of water used. Essentially equivalent to water productivity.
Water PollutionAny physical or chemical change in surface water or ground water that can harm living organisms or make water unfit for certain uses.
Water quality criteriaSpecific levels of water quality that, if reached are expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use. The criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that would make the water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish production and industrial processes.
Water ResourcesWater in various forms, such as groundwater, surface water, snow and ice, at present in the land phase of the hydro-logical cycle—some parts may be renewable seasonally, but others may be effectively mined.
Water restrictions
Mandatory staged restrictions on the use of water, which are relative to water storage levels.
Water treatmentThe process of converting raw untreated water to a public water supply safe for human consumption; can involve, variously, screening, initial disinfection, clarification, filtration, pH correction and final disinfection.
WatershedThe land area that drains into a stream.
WetlandsAn area that is regularly saturated by surface water or groundwater and is subsequently characterized by a prevalence of vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.Examples include swamps, bogs, fens, marshes,and estuaries.
Xylem
Tissue in the vascular system of plants that moves water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to the leaves; composed of various cell types including tracheids and vessel elements. Plant tissue type that conducts water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.
ZebroidA hybrid animal that results from breeding zebras and horses.
Zero emissionsAn engine, motor or other energy source that does not produce any gas or release any harmful gases directly into the environment.
Zero waste
Turning waste into resource; the redesign of resource-use so that waste can ultimately be reduced to zero; ensuring that by-products are used elsewhere and goods are recycled, in emulation of the cycling of wastes in nature.
Zone of saturation
Lower soil layers where all spaces are filled with water.