Water Terms Glossary
Understand the terms water treatment professionals use.
When considering water treatment solutions, understanding common terminology helps you compare options and ask informed questions. This glossary clarifies the terms you will hear from any water treatment company.
Common Water Treatment Terms
- Hardness — The concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals in water. Hardness is typically measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or parts per million (ppm). In Pike and Wayne Counties, most wells test between 10-25 GPG.
- GPG — Grains per gallon. This is a common unit for measuring water hardness. One GPG is equivalent to 17.1 parts per million.
- Regeneration — The process an ion-exchange water softener uses to flush accumulated hardness minerals from its resin bed, typically using a brine solution.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO) — A water purification technology that uses pressure to force water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane, rejecting dissolved solids and contaminants.
- TDS — Total Dissolved Solids. This measurement indicates the concentration of all dissolved inorganic and organic substances in water.
- pH — A scale measuring the acidity or alkalinity of water. A pH value below 7 indicates acidity, while a value above 7 indicates alkalinity. Acidic well water (pH below 6.5) is widespread across Pike and Wayne Counties.
- PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. These are synthetic chemicals known for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. They are often referred to as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment and human body.