agua en alta/en baja

English translation: high-level / low-level water network

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:agua en alta/en baja
English translation:high-level / low-level water network
Entered by: Maria Karra

10:09 Jul 15, 2008
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Environment & Ecology / Water treatment and supply
Spanish term or phrase: agua en alta/en baja
I am translating a text promoting a company that manages and treats water supplies. The terms in question appear as follows:

La entrega de agua ***en alta*** está condicionada por la orografía del terreno y por la distancia entre las tomas, instalaciones de potabilización o desalinización y las redes de suministro.

El abastecimiento y distribución de agua ***en baja*** es competencia de los Ayuntamientos.

"abastecimiento en alta" appears in the glossaries as "high-capacity water supply", which is certainly not right in this context.

I have found the following forum, http://cienciasambientales.com/mod.php?mod=forum&op=threadvi... where these definitions are given:

Las tuberías que conducen el agua desde el punto de la captación hasta la Estación de Tratamiento de Agua Potable (ETAP) y /o depósito de cabecera pasando o no por depósitos intermedios hasta el depósito de distribución se denomina red en alta.
El Abastecimiento se divide en alta y en baja. el primero ya lo he definido en el mensaje anterior y en cuanto a la red en baja es el conjunto de tuberías o conducciones que distribuyen el agua desde el depósito hasta la acometida del consumidor.

These seem quite credible to me, and I have looked at various Spanish refs that back this up. But I cannot find an equivalent in English. Any ideas?

Spanish from Spain for UK English. Thanks in advance!
Rebecca Hendry
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:18
1) from the point of capture 2) to consumers (via the mains)
Explanation:
the explanations you found are correct, the same was explained to me over the telephone by the customer when I translated a UNESCO report called "GOBERNABILIDAD DEL AGUA EN LA COMUNIDAD AUTÓNOMA DEL PAIS VASCO". You can vary the translation according to the context; the ones I suggest are for the context you quote.

by "the point of capture" I mean the reservoir or wherever the water is extracted from.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2008-07-15 15:40:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the customer (a Basque) told me the English terms are as follows:

la red en alta = high level network
la red en baja = low level network

When I researched these on Google I found out that in the "high level network" the water is fed by gravity from reservoirs at an altitude in the mountains (using the "head of water" to avoid the need for pumping), and that seems to be where the term comes from.

As I mentioned, you can adapt the translation according to the context. Here is a sample paragraph from the job I did:

(Original text:)
El consumo de agua para uso industrial prevé un aumento de la demanda actual hasta 105 hm³ anuales en el horizonte 2015. Si se expresan las demandas conectadas a ***red en alta***, la cifra alcanzaría los 130 hm³ anuales en el supuesto de que el porcentaje de incontrolados se mantuviera constante.

(Translation:)
From the current consumption of water for industrial use we can forecast an increase in demand to 105 Hm³ per annum by 2015. If we expressed the demand connected to the ***high-level network (between the catchment and the water works)***, the figure would go up to 130 Hm³ per annum, assuming a constant percentage of "unchecked" cubic meterage (i.e. losses from the high-level network through various causes).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 days (2008-07-22 07:55:24 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

hi Rebecca, you need to edit the glossary entry please to change the first "low" to "high". I tried but could only delete, not enter text -- I think you need to do it due to the length of the entry. Have a wonderful day!
Selected response from:

Bubo Coroman (X)
Grading comment
Thank you all for your excellent answers. In the end, I used an amalgamation of various terms based around "high level network" and "low level network" with an explanation in brackets afterwards, similar to the solution used by Deborah here. I think the translation used by others will depend very much on the type of text being translated (i.e. for expert readers or for the general public) and my glossary entry will reflect this (although this is a great example of where a glossary entry isn't enough, and people really need to look at all the excellent references and ideas given here).

Thanks again everyone for all your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1untreated, raw water / treated, delivered water
rodwilliamyoung
5Raw water intake and treatment system/treated water distribution system or Before works/After works
slothm
4raw (massive) water supply / end-user water supply
hedapen
4upstream/downstream
Muriel Vasconcellos
41) from the point of capture 2) to consumers (via the mains)
Bubo Coroman (X)
3(water supply system) / water distribution system
Nikki Graham
1upper-level water supply; lower-level...
Carol Gullidge


  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
upper-level water supply; lower-level...


Explanation:
purely a guess to get the ball rolling

The Water Supply and Distribution System of the Nabataean City of ...a stable water supply and may be posited as a key reason behind the many centuries of ..... supplemented from large, upper-level reservoirs in the ...
journals.cambridge.org/production/action/cjoGetFulltext?fulltextid=302831 - Similar pages

PROTECTING GROUNDWATER-SOURCE DRINKING-WATER SUPPLY THROUGH ...Lessons include information on groundwater, water supply systems, ... source inventory as a class project in an upper-level Environmental Planning course. ...


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2008-07-15 10:24:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


Forget that last ref: I think the level refers to the course, not the water supply!

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
untreated, raw water / treated, delivered water


Explanation:
It looks like the "alta" and "baja" refer to water that is brought into and sent out of a treatment plant.


    Reference: http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/pdf/sdwa.pdf
    Reference: http://www.durangogov.org/dynamic_stuff/ipacket/data/1/May_0...
rodwilliamyoung
United States
Local time: 13:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Leopoldo Gurman: Coincido con la propuesta, pero por lo que pude ver, no sólo va a la planta de tratamiento, sino que puede ser enviada "en bruto" a grandes consumidores (industrias en su mayor parte).
2 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
(water supply system) / water distribution system


Explanation:
I have the folloiwng in my notes, although, on second thoughts, I don't think they are 100% accurate because the water supply network/system actually refers to the entire process from catchment to consumer.

abastecimiento de agua en alta = water supply network (for distribution) (suministro de agua a las compañias que a su vez la distribuyen a la red domiciliaria)
abastecimiento en baja = domestic water supply (compañias que distribuyen a la red domiciliaria)

I am pretty sure that water distribution system will work fine for the agua en baja (actually, domestic is probably OK too), but I haven't been able to pinpoint an acceptable term for "en alta" yet and I must get on with my own work.

HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-07-15 11:38:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Some interesting links:

http://www.epa.gov/glossary/wterms.html

http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t23c26.pdf

and an idea for "agua en alta":

"raw water transmission system"
construction and maintenance of the raw water storage system; and construction and maintenance of the raw water transmission system by which water is delivered to the water treatment plants.
http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/pwwu/water/resources/index.htm

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-07-15 11:40:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or "raw water supply system"

The existing raw water supply system is divided into two separate parts; the Eldorado Springs Pipeline that delivers water to the North Water Treatment Plant (NWTP) and the Community Ditch/Marshall Lake system that delivers water to the Howard Berry Water Treatment Facility (SWTP). An interconnect between these two facilities would greatly improve the ability to balance raw water supplies and treatment capacity. It also has the benefits of reducing conveyance losses, increasing raw water yields and adding flexibility to treatment operations and maintenance.
http://www.ci.louisville.co.us/council/agendainfo2004/3augus...


    Reference: http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=S...
    Reference: http://www.answers.com/topic/municipal-water-system?cat=tech...
Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 43
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Raw water intake and treatment system/treated water distribution system or Before works/After works


Explanation:
There are two different systems.

1.- Agua en alta means:
Suction, transfer and treatment of raw water plus storage of the treated water.
This system is the responsability of the Company.

2.- Agua en baja means:
Distribution system for the treated water.
This system is the responsability of the Town-hall.

Apparently there is no short cut expression in English. May I suggest:
Before works/after works

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-07-15 12:55:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

transfer raw water to the treatment plant; they supply water to sections of a distribution system where it is not possible to supply it by gravity; http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/igs/farminvestguide_attac...
Raw water intake
http://www.pdhengineer.com/Course Web/Civil Courses/design_o...


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-07-15 12:59:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/DW/publications/ontap/tech_brief...


slothm
Local time: 17:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 20
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
raw (massive) water supply / end-user water supply


Explanation:
Son términos habituales en la planificación hidrológica en España:
Agua en alta: distribución de agua bruta a grandes consumidores (ej. municipios). Su captación, regulación, almacenamiento y transporte corresponde al Estado - Confederaciones Hidrográficas - o Comunidades Autónomas.
No he encontrado los términos traducidos como tal, incluso he visto que lo dejan tal cual en algún texto en inglés (ver ejemplo), pero la definición que doy trata de reflejar lo que es una y otra: suministro de agua bruta a consumidores "masivos" y suministro a usuario final (incluiría el doméstico, municipal, comercial...) que puede ser tras tratamiento (todos los anteriores, de uso potable) o no (regadío).
Agua en baja: distribución de agua potabilizada a los consumidores finales (abastecimiento domiciliario, industrial y comercial urbano, municipal e institucional y riego privado). Su almacenamiento y distribución corre a cargo de Ayuntamientos, Mancomunidades y Consorcios (agua potable) y Comunidades de Regantes (regadío). De todas formas, he pedido opinión a la Plataforma del Agua del Observatorio de Sostenibilidad en España (segunda referencia web)

Example sentence(s):
  • They are supply enterprises that distribute water called "agua en alta" to water stores and/or to towns (Joint ECE/Eurostat Work Session on Methodological Issues of Environmental Statistics, Ottawa Oct. 2001)

    Reference: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2001/10/env/wp.11.e.pdf
    Reference: http://www.sostenibilidad-es.org/ose/plantillas/plataformas/...
hedapen
Local time: 21:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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1 day 12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
upstream/downstream


Explanation:
The decree at the link below speaks about supplying water upstream to the "zona gaditana"
http://www.iustel.com/v2/diario_del_derecho/noticia.asp?ref_...

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 13:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 182
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
1) from the point of capture 2) to consumers (via the mains)


Explanation:
the explanations you found are correct, the same was explained to me over the telephone by the customer when I translated a UNESCO report called "GOBERNABILIDAD DEL AGUA EN LA COMUNIDAD AUTÓNOMA DEL PAIS VASCO". You can vary the translation according to the context; the ones I suggest are for the context you quote.

by "the point of capture" I mean the reservoir or wherever the water is extracted from.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2008-07-15 15:40:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the customer (a Basque) told me the English terms are as follows:

la red en alta = high level network
la red en baja = low level network

When I researched these on Google I found out that in the "high level network" the water is fed by gravity from reservoirs at an altitude in the mountains (using the "head of water" to avoid the need for pumping), and that seems to be where the term comes from.

As I mentioned, you can adapt the translation according to the context. Here is a sample paragraph from the job I did:

(Original text:)
El consumo de agua para uso industrial prevé un aumento de la demanda actual hasta 105 hm³ anuales en el horizonte 2015. Si se expresan las demandas conectadas a ***red en alta***, la cifra alcanzaría los 130 hm³ anuales en el supuesto de que el porcentaje de incontrolados se mantuviera constante.

(Translation:)
From the current consumption of water for industrial use we can forecast an increase in demand to 105 Hm³ per annum by 2015. If we expressed the demand connected to the ***high-level network (between the catchment and the water works)***, the figure would go up to 130 Hm³ per annum, assuming a constant percentage of "unchecked" cubic meterage (i.e. losses from the high-level network through various causes).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 days (2008-07-22 07:55:24 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

hi Rebecca, you need to edit the glossary entry please to change the first "low" to "high". I tried but could only delete, not enter text -- I think you need to do it due to the length of the entry. Have a wonderful day!

Bubo Coroman (X)
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 145
Grading comment
Thank you all for your excellent answers. In the end, I used an amalgamation of various terms based around "high level network" and "low level network" with an explanation in brackets afterwards, similar to the solution used by Deborah here. I think the translation used by others will depend very much on the type of text being translated (i.e. for expert readers or for the general public) and my glossary entry will reflect this (although this is a great example of where a glossary entry isn't enough, and people really need to look at all the excellent references and ideas given here).

Thanks again everyone for all your help!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Oops! Thanks Deborah! That's what happens when you enter terms into the glossary when you haven't had your cup of tea yet in the morning! It won't let me edit it either, I'll ask a mod. Have a great day!

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