Glossary: Pesticide Storage and Handling

These terms may help you make more accurate assessments when completing the Pesticide Storage and Handling Fact/Worksheet. They may also help clarify some of the terms used.

Air gap: An air space (open space) between the fill hose and the spray tank water level, representing one way to prevent backflow of liquids into a well or water supply.

Anti-backflow (anti-backsiphoning) device: A check valve or other mechanical device to prevent the unwanted reverse flow of liquids back down a water supply pipe into a well.

Backflow: The unwanted reverse flow of liquids in a piping system.

Backflow prevention device: (See anti-backflow device.)

Backsiphonage: Backflow caused by formation of a vacuum in a water supply pipe.

Closed handling system: A system for transferring pesticides or fertilizers directly from container to application equipment that minimizes the chance of exposure to the handler or environment.

Cross-connection: A link or channel between pipes, wells, fixtures, or tanks carrying contaminated water and those carrying potable (safe for drinking) water. Contaminated water, if at higher pressure, enters the potable water system.

Micrograms per liter (ug/L): The weight of a substance measured in micrograms contained in one liter. It is equivalent to 1 part per billion in liquid measure.

Milligrams per liter (mg/L): The weight of a substance measured in milligrams contained in one liter. It is equivalent to 1 part per million in liquid measure.

Parts per billion (ppb): A measurement of concentration of one unit of material dispersed in one billion total units.

Parts per million (ppm): A measurement of concentration of one unit of material dispersed in one million total units.

Pesticide: Typically, a chemical used as a management tool to control a plant disease, insect, or weed. Pesticides include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and rodenticides.

Rinsate: Rinse water from cleaning pesticide or fertilizer container.

Secondary containment: Impermeable floor and walls around a chemical storage area that allow pesticide recovery and minimize the amount of chemical seeping into the ground or running offsite in case of a spill or leak.

Wash water: Solution containing very low concentrations of chemicals resulting from cleaning application equipment.