Engineering English
1 Water Treatment /ˈwɔːtər ˈtriːtmənt/ Su arıtma
The combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes applied to improve the quality of a water source so that it meets standards for drinking, industrial, or environmental use.
Environmental Engineering Terms in English
Environmental Engineering English covers vocabulary for water, waste and air — treatment plants, emissions, remediation and environmental compliance. This free glossary lists the 60 most frequently used of the 298 Environmental Engineering terms in the Engineering English iOS app — each with IPA pronunciation and a working definition. In the app, every term also includes example sentences, translations in 21 languages, flashcards and AI conversation practice.
Environmental impact assessments, discharge permits and international guidelines are drafted and reviewed in English. Environmental engineers use this vocabulary to work with global consultancies, regulators and financing institutions that require English documentation.
Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How terms are selected and ranked · 🇹🇷 Türkçesi
Quick answer: The 10 most frequently used Environmental Engineering terms in English are Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Air Pollution, Water Main, Reverse Osmosis, Water Meter, Potable Water, Disinfection, Activated Sludge, Biological Treatment. The full Engineering English library contains 298 Environmental Engineering terms with pronunciation, example sentences, translations and flashcards.
The 60 most-used Environmental Engineering terms, ranked by frequency
2 Wastewater Treatment /ˈweɪstˌwɔːtər ˈtriːtmənt/ Atıksu arıtma
The engineered removal of organic matter, solids, nutrients, and pathogens from used water produced by households, industry, or drainage so it can be safely discharged or reused.
3 Air Pollution /eə pəˈluːʃn̩/ Hava kirliliği
The presence in the atmosphere of gases, particles, or biological agents at concentrations that harm human health, damage materials, or disturb ecosystems.
4 Water Main /ˈwɔː.tər meɪn/ Ana su borusu
A large-diameter pipe that conveys potable water from treatment plants or storage reservoirs to smaller distribution pipes serving individual properties.
5 Reverse Osmosis /rɪˈvɜːrs ɒzˈmoʊsɪs/ Ters ozmoz
Reverse osmosis is a membrane filtration process that removes ions, molecules, and larger particles from water by applying pressure to overcome osmotic pressure. It is widely used for desalination and advanced water purification.
6 Water Meter /ˈwɔːtər ˈmiːtər/ Su sayacı
A water meter is a device that measures the volume of water consumed by a residential, commercial, or industrial customer. It is used for billing and monitoring water usage patterns.
7 Potable Water /ˈpəʊtəbl̩ ˈwɔːtə/ İçme suyu
Water that has been treated and tested against health-based limits so it is safe for human consumption, cooking, and personal hygiene.
8 Disinfection /ˌdɪsɪnˈfekʃn̩/ Dezenfeksiyon
The deliberate inactivation or destruction of pathogenic micro-organisms in water or effluent using chemical agents, ultraviolet light, or ozone before the water is supplied or discharged.
9 Activated Sludge /ˈæktɪveɪtɪd slʌdʒ/ Aktif çamur
A suspension of micro-organisms kept in aerated reactors that consume dissolved organic pollutants in sewage and are then separated and partly returned to sustain the biomass.
10 Biological Treatment /ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkl̩ ˈtriːtmənt/ Biyolojik arıtma
Treatment that relies on bacteria and other micro-organisms to convert dissolved and colloidal pollutants into carbon dioxide, water, and additional cell mass that can be settled out.
11 Biochemical Oxygen Demand /ˌbaɪəʊˈkemɪkl̩ ˈɒksɪdʒən dɪˈmɑːnd/ Biyokimyasal oksijen ihtiyacı
The mass of dissolved oxygen consumed by micro-organisms while decomposing the organic matter in a water sample under standard conditions, usually over five days at twenty degrees Celsius.
12 Water Quality /ˈwɔːtə ˈkwɒlɪti/ Su kalitesi
The combined physical, chemical, biological, and radiological condition of a water body or supply, assessed against the requirements of a particular use such as drinking or aquatic life.
13 Particulate Matter /pɑːˈtɪkjʊlət ˈmætə/ Partikül madde
Microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in air, classified by aerodynamic diameter, that penetrate the respiratory system and reduce visibility.
14 Solid Waste /ˈsɒlɪd weɪst/ Katı atık
Discarded solid or semi-solid material arising from households, commerce, institutions, or industry that requires collection, treatment, or disposal.
15 Hazardous Waste /ˈhæzədəs weɪst/ Tehlikeli atık
Discarded material with properties such as toxicity, corrosivity, reactivity, or flammability that make it dangerous to health or the environment unless specially managed.
16 Landfill /ˈlændfɪl/ Düzenli depolama sahası
An engineered site where waste is deposited in cells on a sealing liner, compacted and covered, with systems that collect the liquid and gas generated as the waste degrades.
17 Environmental Impact Assessment /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəl ˈɪmpækt əˈsɛsmənt/ Çevresel Etki Değerlendirmesi
A formal study that predicts and evaluates the likely effects of a proposed project on air, water, soil, ecosystems and communities before approval is granted. Its findings guide decision-makers in choosing alternatives and required safeguards.
18 Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ Sürdürülebilirlik
The capacity of a system or activity to continue over the long term without exhausting resources or degrading the environment beyond recovery. In engineering it balances technical performance, economic cost and ecological limits.
19 Ecosystem /ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/ Ekosistem
A community of organisms together with the physical environment they interact with, linked by flows of energy, water and nutrients. Changes to one part of it propagate through the whole system.
20 Climate Change /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ İklim değişikliği
A long-term shift in average temperature, rainfall and extreme-event patterns, driven largely by greenhouse gases released from human activity. It changes the design loads and service conditions assumed for infrastructure.
21 Disinfection Byproducts /ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛkʃən ˈbaɪˌprɑdʌkts/ Dezenfeksiyon yan ürünleri
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are chemical compounds formed when disinfectants such as chlorine react with natural organic matter in water. They are regulated because some are carcinogenic and may pose health risks.
22 Granular Activated Carbon /ˈɡræn.jə.lər ˈæk.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd ˈkɑːr.bən/ Granül aktif karbon
A porous adsorptive material used in water treatment to remove organic compounds, taste, odor, and some disinfection byproducts.
23 Disinfection Residual /ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfek.ʃən rɪˈzɪdʒ.u.əl/ Dezenfeksiyon kalıntısı
The concentration of a disinfectant (e.g., chlorine) that remains in water after initial treatment to protect against microbial regrowth in the distribution system.
24 Distribution System /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən ˈsɪstəm/ Dağıtım sistemi
The network of pipes, pumps, valves, and storage facilities that deliver treated drinking water from the treatment plant to consumers.
25 Ultraviolet Disinfection /ˌʌltrəˈvaɪələt dɪsɪnˈfɪkʃən/ Ultraviyole dezenfeksiyon
Ultraviolet disinfection is a water treatment process that uses UV light to inactivate microorganisms by damaging their DNA. It is a chemical-free method commonly applied as a final disinfection step in drinking water plants.
26 Head Loss /hɛd lɒs/ Yük kaybı
Head loss is the reduction in total hydraulic head (pressure energy) as water flows through a pipe, fitting, or treatment unit due to friction and turbulence. It is a key parameter in pump sizing and system hydraulics.
27 Service Line /ˈsɜːrvɪs laɪn/ Servis hattı
A service line is the pipe that conveys water from the public water main to a building or property. It is typically owned and maintained by the property owner.
28 Fire Hydrant /ˈfaɪər ˈhaɪdrənt/ Yangın hidrantı
A fire hydrant is an above-ground fixture that allows firefighters to draw water from the municipal distribution system. It provides a high-flow connection for suppression operations.
29 Dissolved Oxygen /dɪˈzɒlvd ˈɒksɪdʒən/ Çözünmüş oksijen
The concentration of oxygen gas dissolved in water, essential for aquatic life and an indicator of water quality, often monitored to prevent corrosion in distribution systems.
30 Total Dissolved Solids /ˈtəʊtəl dɪˈzɒlvd ˈsɒlɪdz/ Toplam çözünmüş katılar
A measure of the combined content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in water, typically expressed in milligrams per liter.
31 Chlorine Demand /ˈklɔːriːn dɪˈmænd/ Klor ihtiyacı
Chlorine demand is the amount of chlorine consumed by reacting with organic matter, ammonia, and other reducing substances in water. It determines the chlorine dose required to achieve a desired disinfection residual.
32 Hydraulic Grade Line /haɪˈdrɔːlɪk ɡreɪd laɪn/ Hidrolik eğim çizgisi
The hydraulic grade line represents the elevation to which water would rise in a piezometer along a pipeline or channel. It indicates the pressure head at any point and is used to analyze system pressure and flow behavior.
33 pH /piː eɪtʃ/ PH
A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration that indicates how acidic or basic water is, ranging from 0 to 14.
34 Alkalinity /ˌælkəˈlɪnɪti/ Alkalinite
The capacity of water to neutralize acids, primarily from bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide ions, and a key parameter in water chemistry for buffering and corrosion control.
35 Clarifier /ˈklærɪfaɪər/ Durultucu
A large settling basin in which gravity separates suspended solids from water or wastewater, producing a clear overflow and a collected sludge layer. It is normally fitted with a rotating scraper mechanism that moves settled solids to a central hopper.
36 Hydraulic Retention Time /haɪˈdrɔːlɪk rɪˈtɛnʃən taɪm/ Hidrolik Bekletme Süresi
The average length of time a volume of water or wastewater remains inside a reactor, calculated as the reactor volume divided by the influent flow rate. It controls how long reactions such as biological oxidation or disinfection can proceed.
37 Solids Retention Time /ˈsɒlɪdz rɪˈtɛnʃən taɪm/ Katı Bekletme Süresi
The average time that biological solids stay in an activated sludge system, found by dividing the mass of solids in the reactor by the mass wasted each day. It determines which microbial populations, such as nitrifiers, can establish themselves.
38 Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids /mɪkst ˈlɪkər səˈspɛndɪd ˈsɒlɪdz/ Karışık Sıvı Askıda Katı Madde
The concentration of suspended solids in the aerated mixture of wastewater and biological floc within an activated sludge reactor, usually reported in milligrams per litre. It quantifies how much biomass is available to treat the incoming load.
39 Anaerobic Digestion /ˌænəˈroʊbɪk daɪˈdʒɛstʃən/ Anaerobik Çürütme
The biological breakdown of organic solids by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen, converting much of the material into methane-rich gas and a stabilised residue. In wastewater plants it reduces sludge mass, odour, and pathogen content.
40 Nitrification /ˌnaɪtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ Nitrifikasyon
The two-step aerobic biological oxidation of ammonium first to nitrite and then to nitrate by specialised autotrophic bacteria. It consumes considerable oxygen and alkalinity and is slow at low temperatures, which drives sludge age requirements.
41 Influent /ˈɪnfluənt/ Giriş Suyu
The raw water or wastewater entering a treatment plant or an individual process unit, before that stage has acted on it. Its flow rate and pollutant concentrations define the load the design must handle.
42 Continuous Emissions Monitoring System /kənˈtɪnjuəs ɪˈmɪʃənz ˈmɒnɪtərɪŋ ˈsɪstəm/ Sürekli Emisyon Ölçüm Sistemi
An integrated set of analyzers, sample conditioning equipment, and data acquisition hardware that measures pollutant concentrations and flow in a stack without interruption. Its recorded data are used to demonstrate permit compliance to regulators.
43 Carbon Monoxide /ˈkɑːbən mɒˈnɒksaɪd/ Karbon Monoksit
A colourless, odourless toxic gas formed when carbon-containing fuel burns with insufficient oxygen. In stack monitoring it serves both as a regulated pollutant and as a sensitive indicator of incomplete combustion.
44 Greenhouse Gas /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/ Sera Gazı
An atmospheric gas such as carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide that absorbs infrared radiation and traps heat near the Earth's surface. Facilities report their releases in carbon dioxide equivalent units.
45 Sanitary Landfill /ˈsænɪˌtɛri ˈlændfɪl/ Düzenli depolama sahası
An engineered waste disposal site where solid waste is spread in compacted layers, covered daily, and isolated from soil, groundwater and air by liners, drainage and gas control systems. It is designed, operated and monitored to prevent environmental contamination and public health hazards.
46 Corrective Action /kəˈrɛktɪv ˈækʃən/ Düzeltici Faaliyet
A documented measure taken to eliminate the cause of a detected non-conformity, exceedance or environmental incident so that it does not recur. It goes beyond immediate correction of the symptom.
47 Monitoring Well /ˈmɒnɪtərɪŋ wɛl/ İzleme Kuyusu
A purpose-built borehole fitted with a screened casing that allows repeated measurement of groundwater level, chemistry and gas at a defined depth. It is not intended for water supply.
48 Carbon Footprint /ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ Karbon Ayak İzi
The total greenhouse gases attributable to a person, organisation, product or activity, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent. It aggregates direct emissions and those embedded in energy and supply chains.
49 Raw Water /rɔː ˈwɔːtə/ Ham su
Untreated water taken directly from a river, lake, reservoir, or borehole before any purification stage has been applied to it.
50 Coagulation /kəʊˌæɡjʊˈleɪʃn̩/ Koagülasyon
A rapid-mix treatment step in which added chemicals neutralise the surface charge of fine suspended and colloidal particles so they can stick together instead of repelling one another.
51 Flocculation /ˌflɒkjʊˈleɪʃn̩/ Flokülasyon
The gentle stirring stage that lets destabilised particles collide and grow into larger, settleable clusters called floc before solids separation.
52 Sedimentation Tank /ˌsedɪmenˈteɪʃn̩ tæŋk/ Çökeltme tankı
A basin in which water is held at low velocity so that heavier suspended solids settle to the floor under gravity and are removed as sludge.
53 Sand Filter /sænd ˈfɪltə/ Kum filtresi
A treatment unit in which water passes through a graded bed of sand so that remaining fine particles are trapped within the pores and on the grain surfaces.
54 Chlorination /ˌklɔːrɪˈneɪʃn̩/ Klorlama
The addition of chlorine gas, hypochlorite, or chlorine dioxide to water in order to inactivate micro-organisms and maintain a protective residual through the distribution network.
55 Aeration Tank /eəˈreɪʃn̩ tæŋk/ Havalandırma havuzu
The reactor in a biological treatment plant where air or pure oxygen is injected into the mixed liquor so that micro-organisms can oxidise dissolved pollutants.
56 Primary Treatment /ˈpraɪməri ˈtriːtmənt/ Birincil arıtma
The first main stage of sewage treatment, in which settleable solids and floating material are removed physically by gravity separation without any biological conversion.
57 Secondary Treatment /ˈsekəndri ˈtriːtmənt/ İkincil arıtma
The biological stage of sewage treatment that removes dissolved and colloidal organic matter, normally followed by a clarifier that separates the biomass from the treated flow.
58 Chemical Oxygen Demand /ˈkemɪkl̩ ˈɒksɪdʒən dɪˈmɑːnd/ Kimyasal oksijen ihtiyacı
The oxygen equivalent of the organic and oxidisable inorganic matter in a sample, measured by strong chemical oxidation and reported within a few hours rather than days.
59 Total Suspended Solids /ˈtəʊtl̩ səˈspendɪd ˈsɒlɪdz/ Toplam askıda katı madde
The dry mass of particulate material retained on a standard filter from a known volume of water, expressed as a concentration and used to judge solids carry-over.
60 Effluent Standard /ˈefluənt ˈstændəd/ Deşarj standardı
A legally binding limit on the concentration or load of specified pollutants that treated water may contain when it is discharged to a sewer or a natural water body.
Environmental Engineering terms — frequently asked questions
What are the most common Environmental Engineering terms in English?
The 10 most frequently used Environmental Engineering terms in the Engineering English library are Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Air Pollution, Water Main, Reverse Osmosis, Water Meter, Potable Water, Disinfection, Activated Sludge, Biological Treatment. This page lists the top 60 of 298 terms, ranked by usage frequency.
How many Environmental Engineering terms are in the Engineering English app?
298. Each one includes an IPA pronunciation, a plain-English definition, a real example sentence and translations in 21 languages; the 60 most frequent are free to browse on this page.
How do you pronounce Environmental Engineering terms in English?
Every term on this page shows its IPA transcription — for example Water Treatment is pronounced /ˈwɔːtər ˈtriːtmənt/, Wastewater Treatment is /ˈweɪstˌwɔːtər ˈtriːtmənt/ and Air Pollution is /eə pəˈluːʃn̩/. The Engineering English app also plays audio for each term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
238 more Environmental Engineering terms in the app
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