Glossary

Terms

RAP

See: Remediation Action Plan (RAP)

Reactive iron barrier

Reactive iron barrier

Definition

A remediation process used to break down chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC) in the groundwater . The flow-through barrier is created by backfilling a trench excavated into the aquifer with granules of iron or by injecting very small iron particles (typically in a paste or solution) into the aquifer through a line of injection wells. The barrier is constructed perpendicular (at 90º angles) to the groundwater flow direction, so the groundwater must flow through the barrier. As this happens the contaminants in the groundwater react with the iron and are destroyed.

Related Terms

See also: Aquifer, Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC), Groundwater

Recharge

Recharge

Definition

The addition of water to an aquifer by a natural process such as addition of water at the ground surface, or by an artificial system such as addition through a well.

Related Terms

See also: Aquifer

Remediation Action Plan (RAP)

Remediation Action Plan (RAP)

Definition

A formal document that describes the contamination of a site and the means in which it is planned for that contamination to be treated or managed, and the means in which the remedial work will be validated to ensure the treatment goals are achieved.

Residue

Residue

Definition

Material that remains in the spaces between soil particles (pore spaces) or attached to the surface of the soil particles.

Reverse osmosis (RO)

Reverse osmosis (RO)

Definition

A process for the removal of dissolved ions from water in which pressure is used to force the water through a semi-permeable membrane which will transmit the water but filter our most other dissolved materials. RO is one of the water treatment processes used in the Botany GTP.

Related Terms

See also: GTP

Risk assessment

Risk assessment

Definition

An evaluation of risk which estimates the relationship between exposure to a harmful substance and the likelihood that harm will result from that exposure. Risk assessments are generally expressed as the estimated chance per million that a person, exposed over some period of time (e.g. a 70 year lifetime) and some specified concentration of exposure, will experience a certain effect.

RO

See: Reverse osmosis (RO)

Runoff

Runoff

Definition

Water that moves over the land surface/ground (e.g. streams, channels) that does not evaporate or infiltrate.