- Información de interés
Glossary of terms
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
Biological wastewater treatment process based on cultivating a certain type of microorganism in the water mass in a flocculated form. These can eliminate carbonated and/or nitrogenated organic matter from water.
BANK DETAILS
Refers to the bank account number (20 digits) associated with a bank order on billing.
CIN/SUBCIN
Is our Customer Identification Number. It is a reference number assigned by the company to a customer when the latter signs a water supply contract. Each customer has one CIN but may have many subCINs depending on how many contracts they have, or have had, with the company. This number is very useful as it allows us to find a customer almost immediately.
CO-GENERATION
The combined production of thermal and electrical energy
COLLECTOR
Very large pipe within the sewage network that collects rainwater and wastewater to be channelled to a treatment plant
COMPOSTING
Controlled biological process for converting and re-vamping organic components from sub products and waste to produce a stable, hygienic product not unlike a mineral rich vegetable soil: compost.
CUSTOMER
The customer of the service is an individual or a company that has formalized a contract of water supply with the water company.
CUSTOMER READING CARD
This card is left for you to fill in when the official operator has not been able to access your metre. The customer should take the reading and send the result to the water company following the instructions given on the card itself.
DWTP
Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Facilities in which water is made drinkable, i.e.: suitable for human consumption.
ELIMINATING NITRATES
Treatment used to eliminate nitrates from water converting it into nitrogen which then dissipates in the atmosphere as a gas.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Public statement, formally documented by top management, on active intentions and principles within the company with reference to environmental issues.
ESTIMATED METRE READING
This reading is used fro billing purposes when it has not been possible to access the metre to make a real reading. There can be several reasons why we cannot make a real reading:
- Metre within the building and no access.
- Metre room locked and nobody to permit access.
- Metre breakdown.
- Sometimes, in some municipalities, the billing period comes before the established reading schedule.
METRE
Is a mechanical measuring device that registers the water consumed by the customer.
QUALITY POLICY
General intentions and company tendencies related to quality as formally stated by top management.
REAL METRE READING
This reading is taken directly from the water metre. It may have been taken by an official operator or by the customer.
SECONDARY TREATMENT
This includes chemical processes and, especially biological ones, that can eliminate up to 90% of all organic mater. We use bacteria that act within our large tanks that, stirred up, help the water to re-oxygenate. The bacteria feed on the polluting organic mater and then are separated from the water due to a new process called desilting. There are several different types of secondary treatment: activated sludge, prolonged aeration, bacterial beds...
SLUDGE, SLURRY
A pasty waste product with a variable water content coming from wastewater treatment processes.
TERTIARY TREATMENT
Additional processes to eliminate organic mater by over 95% as well as other nitrogen and phosphorous compounds which are hardly affected by simpler methods and promote the growth of weeds that drain the water of oxygen. Nitrogen is eliminated biologically through microorganisms that absorb nitrogen or convert it into gas. Phosphorous may be eliminated in the same way or by adding chemicals in the form of reagents.
WWTP
Wastewater Treatment Plant. A facility dedicated to reducing the polluting content in wastewater before discharging it into the natural environment.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
A set of operations necessary when eliminating pollutants dissolved or in suspension in wastewater, that allows us to discharge the produce in continental or sea water, or reuse it for other purposes.