Natural Mineral Water : Water obtained from natural source and bottled without altering the natural composition of water, confirming to BIS:13428:1998 Standards of BIS [ Bureau of Indian Standards]   

Ozonization – a method of sanitizing water by using ozone which is made by forcing compressed air through a high voltage arc into the water

Packaged  Drinking Water : Water obtained from any source and treated as per listed processes and confirming to BIS:14543:1998 Standards of BIS [ Bureau of Indian Standards ]

PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate : Considered as one of the most ideal medium to pack drinking water  (250 ml to 20 litres)

Permanent hardness – hardness due to sulfates, chlorides and/or nitrates of calcium and/or magnesium. This hardness cannot be removed by heating as can temporary hardness.

PFA: Prevention of food adulteration. A government agency responsible for quality control check over food and beverage industry, governed under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act [ PFA ] 1954    

pH – a number denoting alkalinity or acidity. Numbers below 7.0 indicate acidity, which increases as numbers become smaller. Numbers above 7.0 indicate alkalinity, which increases as numbers become larger. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14; the neutral point is 7. The pH scale is logarithmic, that is, as the scale moves away from 7.0 each whole number is ten times more acid. Thus, pH 4.0 is ten times more acid than pH 5.0, and pH 6.0 is 100 times more acid than pH 5.0. The values above 7.0 become more alkaline by the same logarithmic progression.

Potable water – drinking water covered under BIS 10500:1991 drinking water of Bureau of Indian Standards.  

ppm – abbreviation for parts per million. equivalent to mg/liter.

Pure water –Water free from physical,chemical and microbiological impurities.

Radiological quality - the amount of radioactive materials a substances possesses.

Recycled wastewater – waste and sewage water that has been filtered and processed for reuse.
 
Reverse osmosis – process by which water is reduced to a non-mineral state by passing through a plastic membrane under pressure, which separates the water from other elements.

Soft water – water sufficiently free enough of calcium and magnesium salts that no curd will form when soap is used. Soft water may not be healthful for drinking, as it does not contain certain beneficial minerals and has high level of sodium ions. 

TDS : Total Dissolved solids,measured in Mg/litre.  

Temporary hardness – hardness caused by bicarbonates of calcium and/or magnesium, which can be reduced by heating the water. When heated, the bicarbonate ion is converted to a carbonate ion. The carbonate ion reacts with calcium and magnesium ions and precipitates as insoluble calcium and magnesium salts. The precipitate is deposited as scale in hot water heaters, hot water pipes and cooking utensils.

Trace – less that 0.01 ppm.
 
Turbidity – suspended, undissolved materials in water, such as finely divided particles of sand, clay or microscopic organisms, which give color or cloudiness to the water. Turbidity can be removed by filtration.
 
Ultraviolet ray [UV]– invisible rays beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum.

Water sample – quantity of water drawn from any source, for testing. 

Water treatment – a process intended to achieve one or more of the following: remove impurities such as colour, turbidity, odour; eliminate health hazards such as toxic chemicals and disease causing microorganisms and viruses; make water more satisfactory for specific purposes.

FACT FILE: WATER

All The Water In The World
WHERE  & IN WHAT FORM  [estimated]