Sustainability Principles and Practice
Fourth Edition
aggregate
Coarse particles of rock, used in concrete and paving.
bioswale
A vegetated linear depression used to cleanse and infiltrate stormwater.
blackwater
Wastewater from toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers.
compaction
A process in which particles of soil are pushed together and the pore spaces between them are reduced in size or closed off.
compost
Decomposed organic matter which has been broken down by microorganisms in a controlled environment.
constructed wetland
A wetland feature engineered to use natural processes of plants, soils, and bacteria living in association with wetland plant roots for the purpose of water or wastewater treatment.
critical root zone
The area around a tree within which soil must be protected from excavation or compaction; also known as the tree protection zone.
ecoregion
A physical area with a particular combination of environmental conditions, including climate, topography, geology, and vegetation.
erosion
A process in which rock or soil is loosened, removed, and transported from one place to another by the action of water, wind, or other natural agents.
integrated pest management (IPM)
An ecologically based strategy which controls insects with minimal use of pesticides.
Living Machine
A proprietary biological wastewater treatment system which use a series of tanks containing communities of bacteria, plants, and animals.
membrane bioreactor
A compact device for wastewater treatment consisting of a series of tanks where bacteria living on membranes break down nutrients.
mulch
A layer of organic material spread over the surface of soil.
open graded
Aggregate all of which is within the same size range.
rain garden
A planted depression in the landscape where stormwater runoff collects temporarily as it infiltrates into the soil below.
residence time
The average amount of time that a substance spends in a particular reservoir.
stormwater
Water that falls as rain.
swale
A linear drainage channel with a vegetated surface.