Absorption: Assimilation of molecules throughout the bulk of a solid or liquid, such as gases absorbed into water.

Adsorption: Accumulation of molecules on the surface of a solid or liquid — as in activated carbon filters capturing chlorine and organics.

Alkaline: Describes water with a pH greater than 7; buffers acidity but may increase scale formation in heating systems.

Alkalinity: Water’s ability to neutralize acids and resist pH change. High alkalinity prevents corrosion but promotes scale.

Anion: A negatively charged ion, such as chloride (Cl-) or bicarbonate (HCO3-)

Backwash: The process of reversing water flow through a filter media to clean it by removing accumulated particles.

Biofilm: A slimy layer of microorganisms adhering to wet surfaces such as pipes, tanks, and filters. In NAC systems, CO₂ microbubbles disrupt biofilm growth, reducing contamination and maintenance needs.

Brine: A strong solution of salt, typically sodium chloride, used to regenerate the resin in an ion-exchange water softener.

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃): Main component of scale; forms when hardness minerals precipitate during heating or pressure changes.

Catalytic Carbon: Enhanced activated carbon that accelerates chemical breakdown of chloramines and organic compounds — used in ScaleX Pro filters.

Cation: A positively charged ion, such as calcium (CA2+) or magnesium (MG2+)

Chloramines: Combination of chlorine and ammonia used as disinfectant; persistent oxidant that corrodes rubber and metal components.

Chlorine: A chemical element (Cl) used in water treatment as a disinfectant to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It’s essential for public health but can create taste, odor, and corrosion issues in foodservice equipment.

Coagulation: The initial stage of conventional water treatment where chemicals, called coagulants, are added to cause small particles to clump together.

Disinfection by-products (DBPs): Unwanted chemical compounds that can form when disinfectants like chlorine react with natural organic matter in the water.

Effluent: The water leaving a treatment system or process.

Electrical Conductivity (EC): A measure of water's ability to conduct an electrical current, which is directly related to the concentration of dissolved ions.

Feedwater: The untreated water entering a treatment system.

Flocculation: The gentle stirring process that follows coagulation, which promotes the formation of larger, visible clumps called floc.

Flow Rate: Volume of water passing through a system per unit time (e.g., gallons per minute). Affects contact time and filter performance.

Grains per Gallon (gpg): Hardness unit: 1 grain (64.8 mg) CaCO₃ per U.S. gallon. 1 gpg = 17.1 ppm. Convert ppm ÷ 17.1. Example: 180 ppm = 10.5 gpg.

Hardness: The concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. Temporary hardness (Ca(HCO₃)₂) can be removed by boiling; permanent hardness (from sulfates and chlorides) cannot.

Influent: The water entering a water treatment device or plant.

Ion Exchange: Traditional softening process replacing calcium/magnesium with sodium or hydrogen ions — alters pH and TDS.

MGD: Abbreviation for "million gallons per day," used to measure the volume of water treated at municipal plants.

Micron: Unit of measurement for filter pore size. Smaller micron ratings remove finer particles but may restrict flow. 1 µm filters remove most bacteria and cysts.

NAC (Nucleation Assisted Crystallization): Chemical-free process converting hardness ions into stable, non-scaling crystals. Core of ScaleX Pro’s FILTERSORB® SP3 media.

NSF Certification: Third-party assurance that a product meets strict safety, material, and performance standards for drinking water treatment.

Oxidation: A chemical reaction that adds oxygen or removes electrons from a substance. It is used in water treatment to break down contaminants.

Parts Per Million (ppm): Unit used to express very dilute concentrations of minerals or pollutants in water.

Pathogen: A disease-causing microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, or protozoan.

Permanent Hardness: Caused by calcium and magnesium sulfates, chlorides, or silicates that cannot be removed by heat. Typically treated with NAC or ion-exchange systems.

pH: Measure of hydrogen ion concentration; indicates acidity or alkalinity. Ideal water for coffee and ice = pH 7.1 – 7.5.

Point-of-Entry (POE): A water treatment system installed on the main water line entering a building.

Point-of-Use (POU): A water treatment system installed at a single tap, such as under a kitchen sink.

Potable Water: Water that is safe for human consumption.

Reverse Osmosis (RO): A membrane process that removes dissolved minerals, salts, and other contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane.

Scale: Hard mineral buildup primarily composed of calcium carbonate. Reduces heat transfer efficiency and causes corrosion under deposits.

Sediment: Solid particles (rust, sand, silt) suspended in water — removed by pre-filtration before NAC treatment.

Sedimentation: A physical process where flocculated particles settle out of the water due to gravity.

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): Sum of all dissolved minerals, salts, and metals in water. High TDS can cause taste issues or conductivity errors.

Temporary Hardness: Caused by calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO₃)₂); removed by boiling or NAC treatment, which converts dissolved ions into harmless micro-crystals.

Turbidity: Cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles; measured in NTU. Indicates poor filtration or contamination.

Ultrafiltration (UF): Membrane process that removes fine solids and bacteria (0.01 – 0.1 µm pore size) while retaining minerals.

Wastewater: Used water and water-carried solids from a community that flow to a treatment plant. 

Zero Waste Filtration: Systems that operate without flushing or wastewater discharge — such as NAC and catalytic carbon systems used in ScaleX Pro.