BPU - Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities
CEQA - California Environmental Quality Act
CTR - California Toxics Rule
CTS - California tiger salamander
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) - A report required by the California Environ-mental Quality Act to describe the environmental impact of a proposed project.
EIR Certification - EIR adoption by a governing agency accepting the document as being complete and adequate according to the Calif. Environmental Quality Act.
General Plan - Required by State law, a General Plan is commonly referred to as a “blueprint” for where, how much and the type of growth planned for the future.
Graywater - Water that has been used for showering, clothes washing, and faucet uses. Kitchen sink and toilet water is excluded.
Infrastructure - Physical structures that form the foundation for development. Infrastructure includes: wastewater and water works, electric power, communications, transit and transportation facilities, and oil and gas pipelines and associated facilities.
IRWP (Incremental Recycled Water Program) - A program EIR that identifies recycled water disposal alternatives for Santa Rosa.
Master Plan - Identifies one or a combination of disposal alternatives (a “Program”) that best meets IRWP’s objectives and provides the basis for selecting a preferred Program by addressing engineering, environmental, and economic issues.
NCRWQCB - North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Regulating agency for water quality issues in this area.
NPDES - The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.
Program EIR - An Environmental Impact Report that is prepared on a series of actions that can be characterized as one large project.
Reclamation - The operation or process of changing the condition or characteristics of wastewater so that additional uses can be achieved.
Recycled Water - The California Water Code defines recycled water as "water which, as a result of treatment of waste, is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur." Regulations allow water managers to match water quality to specific reuse applications. This reduces the amount of fresh water required for non-potable uses, ensuring that the best and purest sources of water will be reserved for public drinking water.
Reverse Osmosis - A process of desalination where pressure is applied continuously to the feed-water, forcing water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. Water that passes through the membrane leaves the unit as cleaner water; most of the dissolved impurities remain behind.
Tertiary (or advanced treated) Treatment - Removes specific contaminants to meet California’s standard for unrestricted use of recycled water. Usually the process occurs after secondary and primary treatments. Also referred to as “filtered wastewater.”
Title 22 - The California Department of Health Services establishes water quality standards and treatment reliability criteria for water recycling under Title 22, Chapter 4, of the California Code of Regulations.
Wastewater - The used water and solids that flow to a treatment plant. Storm water, surface water and groundwater infiltration also may be included in the wastewater that enters a plant.