Next page Previous page

watercourse

a. A natural or artificial channel for the passage of water, as a river,
canal, flume, or drainage tunnel.
b. A subsurface opening or passage in rocks through which groundwater
flows.

water creep

The movement of water under or around a structure, such as a dam, built on
a semipermeable foundation. See also:piping

water curb

See:garland

water cushion

A water load pumped into drill pipe during a drill-stem test to retard
fillup and prevent collapse of pipe under sudden pressure changes.
Wheeler, R.R.

water-cutoff core barrel

A core barrel having a device in its head part that closes and stops the
flow of drill-circulation liquid when a core block occurs in the inner
tube of the core barrel. Long

water cycle

See:hydrologic cycle

water dam

A permanent stopping to seal off a large body or feeder of water. It
consists usually of a block of concrete between two brick end walls and
these are extended well into the surrounding ground. The contact points
and all breaks in the strata are sealed by cement injection. The various
pipes, pressure gages, etc., may be left through the stopping.
Nelson

watered

Eng. Containing much water--full of springs or feeders; e.g., heavily
watered mines, heavily watered measures, etc.

waterfinder

See:divining rod

water flush

A system of well boring in which percussive drills are used in connection
with water forced down to the bottom of the hole through the drill rods.
This water jet makes the tools cut better and washes the detritus up out
of the hole.

water gage

a. An instrument for measuring the difference in pressure produced by a
ventilating fan or air current. See also:manometer
b. An instrument for measuring the ventilation pressure. One-inch
(2.54-cm) water gage is equivalent to a pressure of 62.5/12 = 5.2 psi
(35.85 kPa). See also:inclined water gage; total ventilating pressure.
Nelson
c. A measure of ventilating pressure, expressed in terms of the height of
a column of water. BS, 8
d. A device that measures the pressure at which water is discharged by a
pump or the volume of water flowing through a pipe or other conductor.
Long
e. An instrument used to measure the depth or quantity of water, such as
in a steam boiler or water storage tank. Long
f. A manometer used with a Pitot tube to indicate air pressure.
Pryor, 3

water garland

See:garland

water gel

a. An explosive material containing substantial portions of water,
oxidizers, and fuel, plus a cross-linking agent. FR 249
b. An explosive material containing substantial portions of water,
oxidizers and fuel, plus a cross-linking agent. Syn:slurry

water gin

Scot. A gin actuated by a water wheel.

water glass

A concentrated and viscous solution of sodium silicate or potassium
silicate in water. Used as an adhesive, a binder, a protective coating, in
waterproofing cement, and in bleaching. Colorless; amorphous; Na2
O.XSiO2 , in which X = 3 to 5; deliquescent. Syn:waterglass;
soluble glass; liquid glass. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 2

waterglass

See:water glass

water grade

a. An entry inclination that is just sufficient to drain off water.
b. A grade determined by keeping the working place nearly parallel to the
edge of a pool of water standing upon its floor. Water grade is sometimes
incorrectly called water level. CF:water level

water groove

See:waterway

water hauler

a. One who collects in a water box (car) water that accumulates in low
places--at the mine entrance, along haulageways, or at the working
face--bailing it into a car with a bucket or using a small hand pump. Also
called waterman; water monkey; water tender. DOT
b. A laborer who hauls water cars into a mine to supply water for
sprinkling haulage roads and working places. DOT

water hoist

A simple method of disposing of mine water using tanks with an engine or a
motor on the surface. The machinery can be easily repaired and the plant
is in no danger of being flooded. The high cost of this system and the
fact that the shaft cannot be used for other purposes while water is being
hoisted are important disadvantages. Water is delivered intermittently and
at a decreasing rate as the depth of hoisting increases. This method is
less economical than pumping but is useful as an emergency measure in
reclaiming a flooded mine. See also:drainage

water-holding capacity

The smallest value to which the water content of a soil can be reduced by
gravity drainage. ASCE