| AAS | Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (analytical chemistry) |
| ADAS | Consultancy to land-based industries (UK) (www.adas.co.uk) |
| ADI | Acceptable Daily Intake (toxicology) |
| AOC | Assimilable Organic Carbon (water chemistry and biology) |
| AWWA | American Water Works Association (www.awwa.org) |
| AMP | Asset Management Plan |
| BAC | Biological Activated Carbon (water treatment) |
| BAF | Biological Aerated Filter (wastewater treatment) |
| BAP | Biodiversity Action Plan |
| BATNEEC | Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Costs |
| BBSRC | The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) (www.bbsrc.ac.uk) |
| BFP | Biofilm Formation Potential (water chemistry and biology) |
| BGS | British Geological Survey (www.bgs.ac.uk) |
| BOD5 | Biochemical Oxygen Demand (over a 5 day period) |
| BPEO | Best Practicable Environmental Option |
| BPU | Biocides and Pesticides Unit (part of HSE) |
| BSE | Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy |
| BSRIA | Building Services Research & Information Association (UK) |
| CABWI | Certification and Assessment Board for the Water Industry (UK) |
| CAP | Common Agricultural Policy (European Union) |
| CAPEX | Capital Expenditure investment |
| CBD | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| CCDC | Consultant in Communicable Disease Control |
| CCTV | Closed Circuit Television |
| CCW | Countryside Council for Wales (http://www.ccw.gov.uk) |
| CDSC | Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (UK) (www.phls.co.uk) |
| CEFAS | Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (UK) |
| CEH | Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK) (www.ceh.ac.uk) |
| CERC | Centre for Environmental Research and Consultancy (Coventry University, UK) |
| CEST | Centre for Exploitation of Science and Technology (UK) |
| CESWI | Civil Engineering Specification for the Water Industry (UK) |
| CFC | Chlorofluorocarbons |
| cfu | Colony Forming Unit (Microbiology) |
| CHEC | Commonwealth Human Ecology Council |
| CHIP | The Classification (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (UK) |
| CHP | Combined Heat and Power |
| CIEH | Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (UK) (www.cieh.org.uk) |
| CIRIA | Construction Industry Research and Information Association (UK) (www.ciria.org.uk) |
| CIS | Common Implementation Strategy (re EU Water Framework Directive) |
| CITES | Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora |
| CIWEM | Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (UK) (www.ciwem.org.uk) |
| CJD | Creutzfeld-Jakob's Disease |
| CLRC | Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (UK) |
| CMS | Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals |
| COD | Chemical Oxygen Demand (water chemistry) |
| COGAP | Code of Good Agricultural Practice |
| CORDIS | Community Research and Development Information Service (of the European Community) (www.cordis.lu) |
| CPA | Crop Protection Association (http://www.cropprotection.org.uk) |
| CPHM | Consultant in Public Health Medicine |
| CPRE | Council for the Protection of Rural England (www.cpre.org.uk) |
| CSO | Combined Sewer Overflow |
| CV | Check Valve (water engineering) |
| DAF | Dissolved Air Flotation (water and wastewater treatment) |
| DARD | Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) (www.dani.gov.uk) |
| DBP | Disinfection By-Product |
| DDT | An insecticide with the chemical name 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis-(4'-chlorophenyl)ethane |
| Defra | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK) (www.Defra.gov.uk) |
| DETR | Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (UK) to June 2001; replaced by Defra |
| DMA | District Meter Area (leakage control) |
| DO | Dissolved Oxygen (water chemistry) |
| DOC | Dissolved Organic Carbon (water chemistry) |
| DoH | Department of Health (UK) |
| DSI | Draft Statutory Instrument (England & Wales) |
| DSR | Draft (Northern Ireland) Statutory Rule |
| DSSI | Draft Scottish Stutory Instrument |
| DTI | Department of Trade and Industry (UK) |
| DTLR | Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (UK) (www.dtlr.gov.uk) |
| DVGW | Deutscher Verein des Gas-und Wasserfaches e.V (Bonn, Germany) |
| DWI | Drinking Water Inspectorate (UK) (www.dwi.gov.uk) |
| EA | Environment Agency (UK) (www.environment-agency.gov.uk) |
| EBCT | Empty Bed Contact Time (water treatment) |
| EC | European Community or Commision |
| ECAP | Eutrophication Control Action Plan |
| EHO | Environmental Health Officer (UK) |
| EHS | Environment and Heritage Service (www.doeni.gov.uk) |
| EMAS | Eco-Management and Audit Scheme |
| EMS | Environmental Management System |
| EN | English Nature (UK) (www.english-nature.org.uk) |
| EPA | Environment Protection Agency (US) |
| EPSRC | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK) (www.epsrc.ac.uk) |
| ESA | Environmentally Sensitive Area |
| ESRC | Economic and Social Research Council (UK) (www.esrc.ac.uk) |
| EQO | Environmental Quality Objective |
| EQS | Environmental Quality Standard |
| ERA | Environmental Risk Assessment |
| EU | European Union |
| EUREAU | European Union of National Associations of Water Suppliers and Waste Water Services |
| EWPCA | European Water Pollution Control Association (www.atv.de/ewpca/) |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization ( of the United Nations) |
| FWR | Foundation for Water Research (UK) (www.fwr.org) |
| GAC | Granular Activated Carbon (water treatment) |
| GATT | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade |
| GIS | Geographic Information System |
| GLV | Guideline Value (water quality standards) |
| GMO | Genetically Modified Organism |
| GWINTO | The Gas and Water Industry National Training Organisation (UK) (wwww.gwinto.co.uk) |
| HACCP | Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point |
| HAP | Habitat Action Plan |
| HMSO | Her Majesty's Stationery Office (UK) (www.hmso.gov.uk) |
| HPC | Heterotrophic Plate Count (water biology) |
| HSE | Health and Safety Executive (UK) |
| ICE | The Institution of Civil Engineers (UK) (www.ice.org.uk) |
| IFE | Institute of Freshwater Ecology (UK) Since 2000 CEH Windermere (www.ceh.ac.uk) |
| IFR | Institute for Food Research (UK) |
| IGER | Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (UK) (www.iger.bbsrc.ac.uk/igerweb/) |
| IH | Institute of Hydrology (UK) (www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/) Since 2000 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Wallingford. |
| ILO | International Labour Organisation |
| IPC | Integrated Pollution Control |
| IRC | International Water and Sanitation Centre (ww.irc.nl) |
| ISO | International Organization for Standardization |
| ITE | Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (UK) Since 2000 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) (www.ceh.ac.uk) |
| IUVA | International Ultra Violet Association (www.iuva.org) |
| IVEM | Institute for Virology and Environmental Microbiology. Since 2000 CEH Oxford (www.nerc-oxford.ac.uk/cehoxford/) |
| IWA | International Water Association (www.iwahq.org.uk) |
| IWO | Institution of Water Officers (UK) (www.iwo.org.uk) |
| IPPC | Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control |
| JNCC | Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK) (http://www.jncc.gov.uk) |
| LBAP | Local Biodiversity Action Plan |
| LEAP | Local Environment Agency Plan |
| LOAEL | Lowest observed adverse effect level (toxicology) |
| MAC | Mycobacterium avium complex or Maximum Admissible Concentration |
| MAFF | Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (UK) to June 2001; replaced by Defra |
| MAPPs | Ministerially Approved Pesticide Products (UK) |
| MCL | Maximum Contaminant Level (water quality standards) |
| MDPE | Medium Density Polyethylene (pressure pipe material) |
| mgd | Million gallons per day |
| MHRA | Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK) |
| mld | Megalitres per day |
| MNR | Marine Nature Reserve |
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheets |
| MTBE | Methyl-tert-butyl ether (water chemistry) |
| NAPL | Non Aqueous phase liquid |
| NAS | National Approval Scheme |
| NAW | National Assembly for Wales |
| NERC | Natural Environment Research Council (www.nerc.ac.uk) |
| NGO | Non Government Organisation |
| NI | Northern Ireland |
| NJUG | National Joint Utilities Group (UK) (www.njug.org.uk) |
| NNR | National Nature Reserve |
| NOAEL | No observed adverse effect level (toxicology) |
| Nox | Nitrogen Oxide (Air Quality) |
| NPL | National Physical Laboratory (UK) (www.npl.co.uk) |
| NSA | Nitrate Sensitive Area |
| NTU | Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (water chemistry) |
| NVZ | Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (water resource protection) |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (www.oecd.org) |
| OFWAT | Office of Water Services (UK) (www.ofwat.gov.uk) |
| OPEX | Operating Expenditure on a recurring annual basis |
| OSEC | On-Site Electrolytic Chlorination (water treatment) |
| OSPAR | Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic |
| OST | Office of Science and Technology (UK) (www.dti.gov.uk/ost/) |
| PAC | Powdered Activated Carbon (water treatment) |
| PAH | Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (water chemistry) |
| PAN | Pesticide Action Network (http://pan-uk.org) |
| PCV | Prescribed Concentration or Value (water quality standards) |
| pe | Population Equivalent (wastewater treatment) |
| PHLS | Public Health Laboratory Service (UK) (www.phls.co.uk) |
| PPCPs | Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products |
| ppm | parts per million (equivalent to milligrams per litre for water) |
| PRV | Pressure Reducing Valve (water distribution) |
| PSD | Pesticides Safety Directorate (Executive Agency of Defra) (http://www.pesticides.gov.uk) |
| psi | pounds per square inch |
| PTE | Potentially Toxic Element |
| PVC-U | Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (pressure pipe material) |
| RBC | Rotating Biological Contactor (wastewater treatment) |
| RBTS | Reed Bed Treatment System (wastewater treatment) |
| REACH | Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (EU Commission initiative) |
| RO | Reverse Osmosis (water treatment) |
| RSC | Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) (www.rsc.org) |
| RTC | Real Time Control |
| SAC | Special Areas of Conservation |
| SBR | Sequencing Batch Reactor (wastewater treatment) |
| SBWWI | Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries (UK) (www.sbwwi.co.uk) |
| SCADA | Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (system) |
| SCI | Society of Chemical Industry (UK) (www.soci.org) |
| SDWA | Safe Drinking Water Act (US legislation) |
| SAC | Special Area of Conservation |
| SAP | Species Action Plan |
| SEPA | Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (www.sepa.org.uk) |
| SI | Statutory Instrument (England & Wales) |
| SME | Small and Medium Sized Enterprises |
| SNH | Scottish National Heritage (http://www.snh.org.uk) |
| SNIFFER | Scottish and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research |
| SPA |
Special Protection Area or (Northern Ireland) Statutory Rule |
| SR | Service Reservoir (water distribution) |
| SRP | Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (water chemistry) |
| SS | Suspended Solids (wastewater composition) |
| SSI | Scottish Statutory Instrument |
| SSSI | Site of Special Scientific Interest |
| STW | Sewage Treatment Works |
| SWIG | Sensors for Water Interest Group (UK) (www.swig.org.uk) |
| TAD | Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion (wastewater sludge treatment) |
| tds | Total dissolved solids (water chemistry) or tonne of dried solids (sewage sludge) |
| THM | Trihalomethane (water chemistry) |
| TOC | Total Organic Carbon (water chemistry) |
| TWL | Top Water level (water reservoirs) |
| TZW | Technologiezentrum Wasser (Karlsruhr, Germany) |
| UKTAG | UK WFD Technical Advisory Group |
| UKWIR | United Kingdom Water Industry Research Ltd (http://www.ukwir.org) |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UWRAA | Urban Water Research Association of Australia |
| UWWTD | Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (EC legislation) |
| VFA | Volatile Fatty Acid (wastewater chemistry) |
| vlp | virus like particle (water biology) |
| VOC | Volatile Organic Compound |
| WaPUG | Wastewater Planning Users Group (www.wapug.org.uk) |
| WEDC | Water Engineering and Development Centre (Loughborough University, UK) |
| WEF | Water Environment Federation (USA) (www.wef.org) |
| WERF | Water Environment Research Foundation (USA) (www.werf.org) |
| WFD | Water Framework Directive |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WHOPES | World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme |
| WRAS | Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (UK) (www.wras.co.uk) |
| WRC | Water Research Commission (South Africa) (www.wrc.org.za) |
| WRc | Water Research Centre plc (UK) (www.wrcplc.co.uk) |
| WRF |
Water Research Foundation (formerly AWWARF www.waterresearchfoundation.org/) |
| WSAA | Water Services Association of Australia (www.wsaa.asn.au) |