| Backfill Zone: | The soil surrounding basement walls through which storm water may percolate into the foundation drain or weeping tile. |
| Backflow Valve: | A valve that allows one-way flow of sewage out of the home while blocking sewage from flowing into the basement. |
| Check Valve: | A valve that allows one-way flow of sewage. |
| Comprehensive Flood Proofing: | The concept of all-out flood proofing such that all possible means are taken to prevent basement flooding. |
| Downspouts: | Pipes connecting to the eavestroughs and discharging to the ground level, sometimes referred to as roof leaders. |
| Domestic Sewer: | An underground sewer system designed to receive waste water and transport it from homes to the sewage treatment plant. This system is not intended to receive weeping tile water. |
| Efflorescence: | Formation of white crystalline deposit on the face of concrete surfaces. |
| Footing: | A concrete base upon which basement walls are placed and also weeping tile is placed against. |
| Foundation Drain: | A special piping system that surrounds basement footing and is designed to receive water that has percolated down through the backfill zone. |
| Gate Valve: | A manually operated valve that isolates basement plumbing. Closing a gate valve will also prevent sewer backup from entering floor drains. |
| Impervious Surface: | A surface which does not allow water to pass through. |
| Percolating Water: | Storm water that passes through the backfill zone and into the weeping tile (much like water passes through a coffee filter). |
| Prioritized Flood Proofing: | A flood proofing concept where sources of flooding are first diagnosed and then a method of solving them is devised. |
| P-trap: | A discharge pipe found in sump pits where water drains from the sump pit into the domestic sewer. |
| Sewer Backup: | A condition which occurs when too much liquid is in the domestic sewer. The sewer flows into homes instead of out of homes. |
| Sewer Surcharge: | A condition which occurs when too much liquid is in the domestic sewer. |
| Splash Pad: | These are often concrete receptacles that receive water from downspouts. They help prevent erosion and move water away from the foundation. |
| Storm Sewer: | The underground sewer system designed to receive storm water or rainwater that has become runoff. This system carries water away to storm channels or the North Saskatchewan River. |
| Storm Water: | Rainwater that has reached the surface and has begun soaking into the ground or running off into the storm sewer. |
| Sump Pit: | A small pit located in houses such that it receives discharge from weeping tile. |
| Sump Pump: | A special pump designed for automatic operation. It pumps weeping tile water that accumulates in the sump pit. Most sump pumps are not intended to pump raw sewage. |
| Undisturbed Soil: | Soil that has not been disrupted by human activities. |
| Weeping Tile: | A special piping system that surrounds basement footing and is designed to receive water that has percolated down through the backfill zone. |
| Answers From Introduction Page: ( a=6, b=2, c=1, d=3, e=5, f=4, g=7 ) | |