Glossary

Terms

Background levels

Background levels

Definition

Levels of substances or chemicals that are commonly found in the local environment.

Basel Convention

Basel Convention

Definition

An international environmental convention, which Australia ratified, for the control of trans-border movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
View Basel Convention website.

Benthic organisms (benthos)

Benthic organisms (benthos)

Definition

Plants and animals that dwell on or in the sediment at the bottom of a water body (ocean, lake, river, etc.)

Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation

Definition

The build-up of a substance in the body of living organisms.

Bioaugmentation

Bioaugmentation

Definition

A remediation method in which a group of natural or genetically engineered variant microorganisms is introduced (injected) to treat the contaminated soil or water.

Bioculture

Bioculture

Definition

A strain or line of cells (often of microorganisms) grown and maintained in an artificial environment.

Biodegradation

Biodegradation

Definition

The breaking down of compounds by biological processes including activity by microorganisms.

Biofouling

Biofouling

Definition

A build-up of biologically derived material - e.g. bacteria or fungal matter - leading to a restriction in flow.

Biological aerated filter (BAF)

Biological aerated filter (BAF)

Definition

A combination of filtration with biological carbon reduction (i.e., biodegradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and other organic compounds). BAF usually includes a reactor filled with filter media. The dual purpose of the media is to support highly active biomass that is attached to it and to filter suspended solids.

Biological barrier

Biological barrier

Definition

In the context of groundwater contamination remediation, it is an area where soil amendments have been injected or placed into the aquifer creating a flow-through bio active zone or barrier. These amendments could include nutrients, biological cultures and other supplements to foster biological degradation of the target contaminants dissolved in the groundwater flowing through the zone or barrier.

Biomass

Biomass

Definition

Total mass of all living material in a specific area, habitat or region.

Biome

Biome

Definition

A community of plants or animals extending over a large natural area.

Bioremediation

Bioremediation

Definition

Removal of organic contamination utilising naturally occurring or specifically engineered or introduced bacteria.

Biota

Biota

Definition

Any living organisms (flora and fauna).

BIP

See: Botany Industrial Park (BIP)

BIP containment line

BIP containment line

Definition

Groundwater containment line comprising a line of extraction wells installed near the western boundary of Botany Industrial Park (BIP), NSW, Australia.

Related Terms

See also: Botany Industrial Park (BIP)

Bore

Bore

Definition

A narrow, usually vertical hole drilled in soil/rock. Often bores may have wells installed in them to monitor or withdraw groundwater from an aquifer.

Related Terms

See also: Aquifer

Botany Industrial Park (BIP)

Botany Industrial Park (BIP)

Definition

The Botany Industrial Park (BIP) is situated in Sydney, NSW, Australia. It is occupied by three companies, Orica, Qenos and Huntsman, that have manufacturing facilities or operations onsite.

BP

See: Bundle piezometer

Brine solution

Brine solution

Definition

Dissolved at Orica Botany and used for production of chlorine and hydrogen.

Bund (bunded area)

Bund (bunded area)

Definition

A structure consisting of an impervious base and walls designed to contain spillage/leakage from stored liquid materials, typically installed around storage tanks.

Related Terms

See also: Impervious

Bundle piezometer

Bundle piezometer

Definition

A piezometer is a well with a short-slotted screen for measuring a potentiometric surface or elevation of the water table. Also used for collecting groundwater samples at a discrete depth. Piezometers are often installed in a bundle with wells installed at incremental depths.

Byproduct

Byproduct

Definition

Waste or extraneous material that is generated as a consequence of an industrial process.