The process where chemicals in a gas or liquid are attracted to a solid, such as activated carbon, and held in a thin layer at the surface of the solid.

A chemical, aluminum sulfate, added to drinking water to neutralize negative charges on particles so that they will clump together and settle more rapidly; also added to wastewater to remove phosphoru [..]

When drinking water is treated by filtration, the filter eventually becomes clogged with particles.  The water is then pumped back through the filter (backwash) to flush out the particles.  The washwa [..]

A group of microscopic organisms, shaped like commas, rods, spheres or spirals found almost everywhere in air, water, soil and plants and animals.  Some bacteria cause disease, but most do not.

A finished drinking water or wastewater which has had chlorine added to kill disease-causing organisms.

A chemical added to drinking water and wastewater to kill disease-causing organisms.

Having made water clear by reducing the number of particles.  In water treatment, this is the sedimentation step.  In wastewater treatment, this occurs in the primary clarifier and the secondary clari [..]

The process in which the negative charge on particles is neutralized, usually by addition of positive charges such as those provided by alum.  The neutralization of particles allows them to clump toge [..]

As applied here, consumption refers to the use of water for drinking.

The addition of something that makes water, for example, impure or unsuitable for a particular use.