Glossary
Wastewater Pollution : Origins, typology and regulatory framework

Self-purification

The natural ability of waterways to remove pollutants through biological and chemical processes.

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

A measure of the total amount of carbon from organic compounds present in a water sample, used to assess the organic load and the quality of the effluent.

Emerging contaminants

Contaminants recently detected in the environment that are bioactive and often unregulated, including pharmaceutical residues, personal care products, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand over 5 days (BOD5)

The amount of oxygen required for the biological degradation of organic matter in water over a five-day period.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

The amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic and inorganic matter present in water.

Wastewater

Wastewater resulting from domestic,...