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Effluent vs Runoff - What's the difference?

effluent | runoff |

As nouns the difference between effluent and runoff

is that effluent is a stream that flows out, such as from a lake or reservoir; an outflow; effluence while runoff is that portion of precipitation or irrigation on an area which does not infiltrate or evaporate, but instead is discharged from the area.

As an adjective effluent

is flowing out; outflowing.

effluent

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Flowing out; outflowing.
  • * Parnell
    • Effluent beams.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A stream that flows out, such as from a lake or reservoir; an outflow; effluence.
  • Sewage water that has been (partially) treated, and is released into a natural body of water; a flow of any liquid waste.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-14, volume=411, issue=8891, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= It's a gas , passage=One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination.}}

    runoff

    English

    (wikipedia runoff)

    Alternative forms

    * run-off

    Noun

  • That portion of precipitation or irrigation on an area which does not infiltrate or evaporate, but instead is discharged from the area.
  • Dissolved chemicals, etc, included in such water.
    • The runoff of nitrates is poisoning the lake.
  • A second or further round of an indecisive election, after other candidates (often all but the last two) have been eliminated,
    • There will now be a runoff as neither front runner received more than 50% of the vote.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 23 , author=Angelique Chrisafis , title=François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage= It is one of the left's best ever results and will raise momentum for next month's final runoff where only the two candidates will compete against each other.}}

    Derived terms

    * surface runoff