Butte County Clerk of the Board

2008 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING CALENDAR

Appendix A

GLOSSARY

acre-foot. A volume of water that covers one acre to a depth of one foot. Equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,829 gallons.

activated sludge. The suspended solids, mostly microorganisms, present in the aeration tank of a sewage treatment plant. See activated sludge process.

activated sludge process. A form of secondary treatment of sewage that utilizes microorganisms in well-aerated wastewater to treat the wastewater.

adsorption. The process by which chemicals are held on the surface of a mineral or soil particle.

aeration. The addition of air (oxygen) to wastewater to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of the water at the level required to maintain the treatment process.

aerobic. Requiring oxygen; in environmental science, the application is to bacteria that require oxygen for growth. Compare anaerobic.

alluvial. Describes unconsolidated material such as sand, gravel, and silt which has been deposited by flowing water.

aquifer. An underground formation of rock or sediment which is saturated and sufficiently permeable to transmit economic quantities of water to a well or spring. In places, an aquifer is separated from other aquifers by widespread layers of less permeable sediment such as clay.

aquitard. A low-permeability underground formation.

amines. A family of compounds related to ammonia (NH₃).

ammonia. A chemical compound having the formula NH₃.

ammonification. A process carried out by bacteria in which organic compounds are degraded or mineralized with the release of ammonia (NH₃) into the environment.

ammonium. A chemical compound with the formula NH₄⁺ which is strongly adsorbed to soils and rarely detected below five feet below ground surface. Ammonium may be converted to nitrate through the process termed nitrification.

anaerobic. Pertaining to conditions of little or no free oxygen, and describing microorganisms that possess the ability to live without oxygen. Anaerobic conditions may exist in deeper portions of the vadose zone, where the soil is saturated, or where the ground surface is paved. Compare aerobic.

anion. A negatively charged ion.

anthropogenic. Created by man. As used, septic tank effluent and agricultural fertilizers are examples of anthropogenic sources of groundwater nitrate.

Aqua Resources Incorporated. A consulting firm who conducted a Chico-area nitrogen isotope composition study in 1985.

ARI. See Aqua Resources Incorporated.

artificial recharge. The deliberate addition of water to an aquifer, commonly by injection well or infiltration.

assimilative capacity. The ability of the soil to effectively degrade and/or disperse nitrate and other forms of nitrogen. The effective measure of the assimilative capacity for nitrate in groundwater is 45 mg/l of NO₃-N, which is the maximum contaminant level.

B

background concentration. The level of a chemical substance due to natural processes alone.

BCDEH. Butte County Department of Environmental Health.

best management practices. Techniques and practices that are accepted as the most effective and practical means to control pollutants or otherwise conserve water resources.

bgs. Below ground surface.

biochemical oxygen demand. A measurement of the strength of a wastewater in terms of its organic content.

blank. A quality control sample that is processed to detect contamination from extraneous sources.

blue-baby syndrome. See methemoglobinemia.

BMPs. See best management practices.

BOD, BOD₅. See biochemical oxygen demand.

breccia. A course-grained rock composed of angular broken rock fragments cemented together.

C

California Environmental Quality Act of 1970. An act that requires public agency decision makers to consider the environmental impacts of a proposed plan.

capital costs. Costs of construction and equipment. Capital costs are usually fixed, one-time expenses. Compare operating and maintenance costs.

carcinogen. A substance which tends to produce cancer in a living organism.

cation. A positively charged ion.

CEQA. See California Environmental Quality Act of 1970.

Chico Urban Area. The area affected by the state's prohibition order, located within the Chico Sphere of Influence line, including both incorporated and unincorporated area.

chlorination. The application of chlorine to water, generally for the purpose of disinfection. Coliform Bacterial Group. The coliform group consists of several types of bacteria. Fecal coliforms are a subgroup of this group used extensively to indicate animal, including human, pollution of natural waters. Fecal coliform do not cause disease in general, but since these bacteria reside in the intestinal tract of warm blooded animals, they are good indicators of the amount of pollution in water that may be attributed to animals or humans. Such pollution represents a clear potential danger that disease causing organisms are present.

cone of depression. The depression or drop in water level near a well, resulting from the pumping of that well.

confined aquifer. An aquifer in which ground water is confined or overlain by an impermeable or semi-permeable formation. Compare unconfined aquifer, semi-confined aquifer.

contaminant. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil.

cyanosis. See methemoglobinemia.

D

deep aquifer. In the Chico area, and for purposes of this study, a deep aquifer is a confined, highly permeable aquifer of black sand and/or course grained gravels, approximately 250 to 850 feet below ground surface. This aquifer is the source of municipal well water by California Water Service, and many higher yielding agricultural wells.

degradation. Chemical or biological breakdown of a complex compound into simpler compounds.

d¹⁵N (delta-15-N ). The ratio of the two naturally occurring isotopes of nitrogen. This is expressed as a ratio of ¹⁵N:¹⁴N multiplied by 1000.

denitrification. The biochemical conversion of dissolved nitrate and nitrite nitrogen in soil or water to nitrogen gas (N₂₎ or nitrous oxide gases (NO, N₂O)

denitrifying bacteria. Soil bacteria which, in anaerobic conditions, break down nitrates and nitrites in the soil, with evolution of nitrogen gas.

Department of Toxic Substances Control. The California state agency overseeing the cleanup of volatile organic compounds, but not groundwater nitrate, in the Chico area.

Department of Water Resources. The California state agency responsible for management of the water resources of the state, in cooperation with other agencies.

design flow. The flow of wastewater that a treatment facility is built to process efficiently, commonly expressed in millions of gallons per day (MGD).

DHS. See Department of Health Services.

diffusion. The movement of suspended or dissolved particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration as the result of random movement of individual particles.

dissolved oxygen. The amount of molecular oxygen (O₂) dissolved in water.

DO. See dissolved oxygen.

DTSC. See Department of Toxic Substances Control.

du , See dwelling unit.

dwelling unit. An individual residence, whether a house, apartment or mobile home.

DWR. See Department of Water Resources.

E

EC. See electrical conductivity.

EDU. See dwelling unit equivalent.

effluent. Water or other liquid flowing from a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant.

EIR. See environmental impact report.

electrolysis. The decomposition of a chemical compound by an electric current.

Electrical conductivity. The relative power of different substances of carrying an electric current, the conducting power of pure copper being taken as a standard.

environmental impact report. A public, informational document prepared on behalf of a public agency which addresses the effects of a project on the environment.

EPA. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

equivalent dwelling unit. See dwelling unit equivalent.

F

fanglomerates. Cemented alluvium.

feasibility study. A detailed technical, economic and/or legal review of a specific proposed project intended to identify all potential costs, benefits and problems.

fecal coliform. A type of bacteria whose natural habitat is the colon of warm-blooded mammals, including man.

filtration. The process of removing particulate matter from water by passing it through a porous medium.

force main. A sewer pipe that operates under pressure.

fresh water. Water that contains less than 1,000 mg/l total dissolved solids.

G

gpcd, GPCD. See gallons per capita per day.

gallons per capita per day. An expression of the average rate of domestic and commercial water usage per person per day..

GCUARPA. See Greater Chico Urban Area Redevelopment Project Area.

geophysical log. A detailed description of all underground features discovered during the drilling of a well, including types of formations encountered and their physical characteristics.

gpd. Gallons per day, a measure of flow.

gradient, down/up gradient. The general slope or inclination of the surface of a groundwater basin. Down gradient is in the direction of slope, or flow, of groundwater.

gray water. Wastewater other than sewage, such as sink, shower, or washing machine drainage.

Greater Chico Urban Area Redevelopment Project Area. That portion of the Chico Urban Area designated for redevelopment, including the improvement of public infrastructure such as sanitary sewers, storm drainage, and streets, through the use of available financing mechanisms intended to reduce the cost of such improvements to the citizenry.

groundwater, ground water. Water occurring beneath the earth's surface. For the most part, ground water occurs not as underground lakes or streams but as water within the pore spaces of sediments such as sand and gravel.

groundwater basin. An interconnected permeable geologic formation capable of storing a significant groundwater supply.

groundwater plume. A volume of contaminated groundwater that extends downward and outward from a specific source; the shape and movement of the mass of the contaminated water is affected by the local geology, materials present in the plume, and the flow characteristics of the area groundwater.

groundwater velocity. The rate of water movement through openings in rock or sediment.

grout. A mixture typically of cement and bentonite clay used to seal a well from possible surface contamination.

H

hardpan. A layer on or beneath the soil surface, usually composed of clay particles, sand, gravel or calcium carbonate, that is compacted and relatively impermeable.

hemoglobin. The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen absorbed in the lungs to the body tissues.

hydraulic conductivity. A measure of the rate at which water can move through a permeable medium.

hydraulic gradient. The slope of the water table at a particular point.

hydrologic cycle. The natural process by which water cycles from the atmosphere to the earth (via precipitation), and back to the atmosphere again (via evaporation and other processes).

hydrology. The study of the occurrence, distribution, circulation, and characteristics of natural waters of the earth.

hydrostratigraphic units. A stratigraphic interval below the groundwater table distinguished by unique hydrogeologic and geologic properties.

I

impermeable. Describes material or soil that does not allow, or allows only with great difficulty, the movement or passage of water. Compare permeable.

incorporated area. The area within the city limits of the City of Chico. Compare unincorporated area.

increment. See tax increment.

infiltration. The flow of water downward from the land surface into and through the upper soil layers. Also, the entrance of groundwater into septic tanks or sewer pipes.

infiltration and inflow. The entrance of groundwater into septic tanks or sewer pipes, typically through defective pipe joints or cracked pipe sections.

influent. Water or other liquid flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant.

injection well. A well used to inject or reinject fluids underground.

inorganic. Describes material that is of mineral origin. Specifically, describes chemical compounds that do not contain carbon and hydrogen. Compare organic.

interceptor. A relatively large pipe line that conveys municipal wastewater to a treatment plant.

intermediate aquifer. In the Chico area, a semi-confined aquifer ranging from 0 feet to approximately 600 feet bgs, composed mostly of cemented older alluvial deposits, unconsolidated sand and gravel deposits, and thick clayey layers. Recharge is from local streams, leakage from the shallow aquifer and, in the east, directly from surface percolation.

ion. An electrified atom or group of atoms, having either a positive or negative charge.

isotopes. Forms of an element with differing atomic masses due to variable numbers of neutrons.

JK

Kjeldahl nitrogen. The amount of nitrogen contained in organic material, a combination of organic nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen, as determined by a method developed by Johann Kjeldahl of Denmark (1849-1900).

L

lagoon. A pond used for the stabilization and decomposition of organic materials in wastewater.

total suspended solids. A measure of the amount of particulate matter that is suspended in a water sample, obtained by filtering a water sample of known volume.

land application. A method for the disposal of treated and disinfected wastewater in which it is sprayed over the ground to remove nutrients and promote the growth of vegetation.

landfill. A facility in which solid waste from municipal or industrial sources is disposed.

lateral. See sewer lateral.

leachate. The liquid that results from water collecting contaminants as it passes through waste materials.

leach field, drain field. The area of land into which a septic system drains.

lead agency. As used in California environmental law the public agency which has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project, and which directs the environmental review of that project.

lift station. A pumping facility which raises municipal sewerage to a higher elevation to allow for further gravity flow.

loading capacity. The greatest amount of chemical materials or thermal energy that can be added to a stream or aquifer without exceeding established water quality standards.

M

mass balance. An approach used to estimate pollutant releases to the environment. If the input mass and output mass are known and the chemical reactions within the process are considered, the difference between the known mass in and known mass out is considered to be the amount lost to the environment.

mass spectrometer. A sensitive device used for the analysis of organic materials in environmental samples.

maximum contaminant level. The highest level of a contaminant permissible in water in a public water system as set by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

MCL. See maximum contaminant level.

methemoglobinemia. A disease, typically in infants, caused by the incorporation of nitrates into blood hemoglobin forming a compound known as methemoglobin. When methemoglobin concentration becomes too high a victim of the disease presents symptoms of anoxia (low blood oxygen) including blue coloration of the skin. Young infants are particularly susceptible to the disease because of unique conditions in their immature intestinal tract.

microbiology. The study of microorganisms.

mg/l, mg/L. See milligrams per liter.

mgd, MGD. Million gallons per day, a measure of flow.

milligrams per liter. A measure of concentration of a dissolved substance. A concentration of 1 mg/l means that one milligram of a substance is dissolved in each liter of water. For practical purposes, this unit of measurement is equivalent to parts per million, or ppm.

mineralization. The conversion of an organic material to an inorganic form by microbial decomposition.

mitigation. Actions taken to lessen the actual or foreseen adverse environmental impact of a project or activity.

modeling. Use of mathematical equations to simulate and predict real events and processes.

monitoring well. A well used either to collect water samples for purposes of water quality testing, or to measure groundwater levels.

MOU. Memorandum of Understanding.

msl. Mean sea level, used as a standard index to compare surface water and groundwater levels.

municipal waste. Waste originating from a community. May be composed of domestic (sewage) and industrial wastewater.

N

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Established under the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Act provides for regulation and monitoring of municipal and industrial waste discharges through a permit system.

N₂. The gaseous form of nitrogen which makes up over 78% of the earth's atmosphere.

NH₃. See ammonia.

NH₄⁺. See ammonium.

nitrate. A chemical compound having the formula NO₃^- which can cause methemoglobinemia in infants.

nitrification. The two-step process by which ammonium is oxidized and converted into nitrate by microorganisms occurring primarily in surface soils.

nitrite. An oxidized nitrogen molecule with the chemical formula NO₂^-, which is formed from nitrate by microbial action in soil, water, or the human digestive tract.

nitrogen cyanosis. See methemoglobinemia.

nitrogen cycle. The continuous process of conversion of nitrogen from one form to another through a combination of biological, geological, and chemical transformations, whereby N₂ in the atmosphere is converted to forms usable by biota and ultimately returning to the atmosphere as N₂.

nitrogen fixation. The process by which specialized microorganisms chemically reduce atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) to amino acids and protein.

nitrosamines. A large and diverse family of synthetic and naturally occurring compounds, almost all of which are carcinogenic.

NO₂^-. See nitrite.

NO₃^-. See nitrate.

nonpoint source. A source of pollution that does not have a single point of origin. Pollution from a farmer's field or from urban street runoff falls in this category. Compare point source.

non-potable. Describes water that may contain objectionable pollution, contamination, minerals, or infective agents and is considered unsafe or unsuitable for drinking. Compare potable.

NPDES. See National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

NPS. See nonpoint source.

O

onsite wastewater management district. An entity formed to perform basic functions to ensure the proper operation and management of onsite systems. Typical functions include development of regulations for design, installation and operation; inspections; records maintenance; and enforcement.

operation and maintenance costs. The costs of operating a system such as a treatment plant or other facility. These costs are ongoing expenses, such as for repair or for employee salaries. Compare capital costs.

O & M costs. See operations and maintenance costs.

organic. Describes material that originates from plant or animal sources. Specifically, describes chemical compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. Compare inorganic.

organic nitrogen. The predominant form of nitrogen in non-agricultural soils.

outfall. The location where wastewater is released from a point source into a receiving body of water.

OWMD. See onsite wastewater management district.

oxidation pond. A pond into which sewage is placed to allow decomposition or mineralization by aerobic microorganisms.

P

parts per million. A measure of concentration of a dissolved substance. Compare milligrams per liter.

pathogen. A microorganism capable of causing disease.

percolation. The slow seepage of water into and through the ground.

permeability. The ease with which water and other fluids migrate through geological strata. Compare impermeability.

permeable. Describes material or soil that allows the movement or passage of water through it. Compare impermeable.

P. Phosphorus.

pH. A measure of the acidity of a solution. The pH of pure water is 7, which is taken to represent neutrality on the pH scale. A pH below 7 indicates acidity and a pH in excess of 7 indicates alkalinity.

plume. The area occupied by a groundwater contaminant after it has begun to spread, through diffusion or other forces, away from its point of origin.

point source. A stationary source or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged. Compare non-point source.

pollutant. Any substance introduced into the environment that adversely affects the usefulness of a resource.

pore space. The space between mineral grains in a porous medium.

potable. Describes water that is safe and satisfactory for drinking and cooking. Compare non-potable water.

potentiometric surface. The level to which water will rise in a well that penetrates an aquifer. In an unconfined aquifer, equivalent to the water table.

POTW. See publicly owned treatment works.

ppm. See parts per million.

precipitation. Atmospheric moisture, such as rain or snow, that falls to earth.

primary treatment. Initial stage of treatment of wastewater, primarily consisting of removal of settleable solids.

prohibition order. The 1990 order of the regional board requiring, in general, the abandonment of septic tanks in the Chico Urban Area due to nitrate contamination of groundwater.

publicly owned treatment works. Facilities for the treatment of domestic sewage that are owned and operated by a public body, typically a municipal government.

public water system. A system for the provision to the public of piped water intended for human consumption. Such system must have at least 15 service connections, or regularly serve an average of at least 25 individuals daily for at least 60 days out of the year.

purge water. The contents of a well discarded prior to extracting a sample, so as to accurately represent the contents of the aquifer at that point.

Q

QA/QC. See quality assurance/quality control.

quality assurance/quality control. All methods and procedures used to obtain accurate and reliable results from environmental sampling and analysis. Includes rules for when, where, and how samples are taken; the storage, preservation and transport of samples; and the use of blanks, duplicates, and split samples.

R

raw sewage. Wastewater that has not undergone any treatment for the removal of pollutants.

receiving waters. Bodies of water that receive runoff or wastewater discharges, such as streams, rivers, and lakes.

recharge. Process by which precipitation or applied water seeps or percolates into the groundwater system.

reclaimed water. Wastewater that has been treated and brought to a level of water quality that makes it suitable for further beneficial use.

Regional Water Quality Control Board. One of nine regional boards in California responsible for the protection of water resources, including groundwater.

remedial action plan. A formal plan of action for cleanup of a contaminated site.

reservoir. A natural or man-made holding area used to store, regulate, or control water.

residence time. The amount of time a specified volume of liquid or gas spends in a certain device. As used, the residence time for sewage undergoing treatment is the amount of time a specified volume of sewage stays in the septic tank or treatment facility.

runoff. That part of precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water that drains or flows off the land into streams or other surface waters.

RWQCB. See Regional Water Quality Control Board.

S

Safe Drinking Water Act. An Act passed by Congress in 1974 that establishes a cooperative program among local, state, and federal agencies to insure safe drinking water for consumers. It authorizes EPA to set drinking water standards (including maximum contaminant levels), and provides special protection to sole source aquifers.

salinity. The relative concentration of dissolved salts in water.

sampling variability. Differences among replicate samples taken to determine the level of a constituent in a larger whole.

sand filter. See recirculating sand filter and intermittent sand filter.

sanitary sewer. A pipe or network of pipes used to transport domestic, commercial, or industrial wastewater.

sanitary survey. An onsite inspection to assess the performance of onsite systems and the environmental conditions associated with their use.

saturated zone. The area below the water table where all open spaces are filled with water. Compare unsaturated zone.

secondary treatment. A stage of wastewater treatment wherein bacteria are used to break down organic materials and significantly reduce biochemical oxygen demand.

semi-confined aquifer. An aquifer that is partially confined or overlain by a formation of low permeability through which water can pass slowly. Compare confined aquifer, unconfined aquifer.

sewer collection system. The series of pipes connecting individual buildings to the headworks of a treatment plant.

sewer lateral. The portion of the sewer piping connecting a building waste disposal system and a sewer main or trunk line.

sewer mains, sewer main lines. A sewer pipe of intermediate size which connects a system of sewer laterals to a trunk line.

shallow aquifer. In the Chico area, an unconfined aquifer of limited storage capacity ranging from 0 feet bgs on the eastern side of the Chico Urban Area, to approximately 50 feet bgs on the west, consisting primarily of alluvial sand and gravel deposits. Recharge is mainly from direct surface percolation.

sludge. A general term used to designate a thick suspension of waste products having the consistency of paste or soft mud, such as the particulate waste collected during the treatment of sewage.

sole source aquifer. An aquifer that supplies 50 percent or more of the drinking water for an area.

spreading basin, spreading grounds. A man-made basin or series of basins designed to retain water for the purpose of recharging groundwater supplies.

static water level. The elevation or level of water in a well when the pump is not operating.

stratigraphy. The study of the origin and chronological successions of the earth's crust, including its structure and composition.

surface water. All water naturally open to the atmosphere, including rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, etc.

SWRCB. State Water Resources Control Board.

T

TDS. See total dissolved solids.

tertiary treatment. An advanced stage of wastewater treatment designed to remove nutrients or other constituents remaining after secondary treatment.

Title 22. That portion of the California Administrative Code which requires that producers of drinking water regularly monitor their wells and other sources of supply for various chemical constituents.

TKN. See Kjeldahl nitrogen.

topography. The detailed description of the surface features of an area, especially elevation and slope.

total dissolved solids. All of the dissolved solids in a sample of water, measured by evaporating the sample and weighing the residue.

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen. See Kjeldahl nitrogen.

Total N. See Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen.

total suspended solids. A measure of the amount of particulate matter that is suspended in a water sample, obtained by filtering a water sample of known volume.

transmissivity. The rate at which water is transmitted through an aquifer.

TDS. See total dissolved solids.

trunkline, trunk line. A relatively large diameter sewer pipe connecting a system of sewer mains to the treatment plant. In the City of Chico system, any public sewer pipe which has a diameter equal to or greater than fifteen inches.

TSS. See total suspended solids.

U

unconfined aquifer. An aquifer that does not have confining formations or layers. Compare confined aquifer, semi-confined aquifer.

unincorporated area. Areas of the County of Butte not within the limits of an incorporated city. Further, that portion of the Chico Urban Area not within the limits of the City of Chico.

unsaturated zone. The area between the land surface and water table in which pore spaces are not completely filled with water. Also known as the vadose zone. Compare saturated zone.

USGS. United States Geological Survey.

V

vadose zone. See unsaturated zone.

VOC. Volatile organic compound.

W

wastewater. The used water and solids that are the result of domestic or industrial uses of water Includes municipal waste or sewage.

wastewater collection system. See sewer collection system.

Water Pollution Control Plant. The sewer treatment plant operated by the City of Chico and located on River Road southwest of Chico.

water supply system. A facility designed for the distribution of potable water, typically including storage tanks and a network of pipes.

water table. The elevation or level of ground water. The upper surface of the saturated zone in an unconfined aquifer.

watershed. The land area that drains into a stream. An area that contributes runoff to a specific body of water. Same as drainage basin, hydrologic basin.

well. A bored, drilled, or driven shaft, or a dug hole, whose purpose is to reach underground water supplies.

WPCP. See Water Pollution Control Plant.

XYZ