Rural LWM
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Glossary

Technical terms and definitions commonly used in Liquid Waste Management planning and implementation.

15th FC
15th Finance Commission - A constitutional body whose grants to local governments can be used for LWM infrastructure.
BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand - A measure of the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water.
COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand - A measure of the oxygen required to oxidize organic and inorganic compounds in water.
DEP
Drain End Point - The terminal point of a drainage system where greywater collects and treatment solutions are implemented.
DEWATS
Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems - Small-scale, community-level treatment systems that process wastewater locally. Designed for capacities ranging from 20 to 500 KLD.
DPR
Detailed Project Report - A comprehensive document containing technical specifications, cost estimates, and implementation plans for LWM infrastructure.
Greywater
Wastewater generated from domestic activities like washing, bathing, and cooking, excluding toilet waste. Kitchen greywater typically has higher organic load compared to bathroom or laundry water.
GWM
Greywater Management - The collection, treatment, and safe disposal or reuse of greywater from households and communities.
KLD
Kiloliters per Day - A unit of measurement for water flow or treatment capacity. 1 KLD equals 1000 liters per day.
Leach Pit
An underground structure that allows liquid waste to percolate into the surrounding soil while retaining solids. Suitable for capacities ranging from 0.5 to 10 KLD.
LWM
Liquid Waste Management - The collection, treatment, and disposal or reuse of liquid waste including greywater and blackwater in rural areas.
MGNREGA
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act - A government program that provides funding for labor-intensive infrastructure works, including LWM construction.
ODF Plus
Open Defecation Free Plus - A status that includes ODF sustainability plus solid and liquid waste management, achieved through proper LWM implementation.
OSS
On-site Sanitation Systems - Sanitation facilities located on the premises where waste is generated, such as soak pits, leach pits, and septic tanks.
SBM(G)
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) - The rural component of India's Clean India Mission focused on sanitation, including liquid waste management under Phase II.
SDE
Standard Design Estimator - An online tool for generating design estimates and specifications for various LWM solutions based on capacity requirements.
Soak Pit
A covered, porous-walled chamber that allows wastewater to slowly soak into the ground. Suitable for household-level applications with capacities from 0.25 to 1 KLD.
TSS
Total Suspended Solids - The total amount of solid particles suspended in water that can be trapped by a filter, measured during water quality analysis.
VAP
Village Action Plan - A detailed plan for implementing LWM solutions in a specific village, including DEP locations, design capacities, cost estimates, and geo-tagged site information.
WASH
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene - A collective term for activities and interventions related to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices.
WSP
Waste Stabilization Ponds - Large, shallow basins that use natural processes to treat wastewater through sunlight, algae, and bacteria. Designed for community-level capacities from 20 to 500 KLD.