Data quality, concepts and methodology: Basic definitions

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Capital expenditures include costs related to the acquisition and treatment, but not the distribution, of water. They include money spent to add, expand or upgrade physical assets such as property, buildings, machinery and process equipment/infrastructure, including capitalized costs related to waste treatment processes (that is, backwash processing and residuals disposal). They also include construction and engineering costs.

Conventional plants and direct filtration plants—Conventional plants apply coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and granular media filtration in the treatment process. The difference between conventional plants and direct filtration plants is the absence of sedimentation processes in direct filtration. ¹

Escherichia coli or E. coli refers to a bacterial species whose habitat is exclusively the intestinal tract of humans and warm-blooded animals. ²

Groundwater refers to water found in underground aquifers which supplies wells and springs. ³

Groundwater Under the Direct Influence (GUDI) of surface water refers to groundwater supply sources under conditions where microbial pathogens are able to travel from surface water to the groundwater source. ⁴

Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs include costs related to the acquisition and treatment, but not the distribution, of water. It includes materials (chemicals and replacement parts), labour (internal and external staff, including lab personnel), energy, waste disposal and residuals handling, analytical/sampling costs and any associated administration and service costs directly related to O&M (consultants and contractors). They also include costs related to waste treatment processes (that is, backwash processing and residuals disposal).

Raw water refers to water in its natural state, prior to any treatment. ⁵

Source water refers to water in its natural or raw state, prior to being withdrawn for treatment and distribution. ⁶

Surface water refers to water from sources open to the atmosphere such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs. ⁷

Total coliforms refers to a group of bacteria that are found in the intestinal tract of humans and warm-blooded animals, and also in the natural environment. ⁸

Treated water refers to water that has been treated and is ready to be conveyed to consumers. In this survey it also includes potable water conveyed by drinking water plants without treatment.

Turbidity refers to the cloudy appearance of water caused by the presence of tiny organic or inorganic particles. ⁹