The terms "sluice gate" and "slide gate" are used interchangeably in the water/wastewater control industry.

A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate. For example, a millrace is a sluice that channels water toward a water mill.

A sluice gate is traditionally a wooden or metal plate which slides in grooves in the sides of the channel. Sluice gates are commonly used to control water levels and flow rates in rivers and canals. They are also used in wastewater treatment plants and to recover minerals in mining operations.

A sluice/slide gate is a double-faced valve consisting of an open frame and a slide. Examples of where this type of valve is used include controlling flow (water and wastewater) at openings in tank walls and at ends of pipes. The term "slide gate" has been adopted for use by series of standards (C561, American Water Works Association) C561 is the standard for Fabricated Stainless Steel Slide (Sluice) Gates. This standard was approved in January of 2004.

This standard describes fabricated stainless stell sluice/slide gates with full aperture closure, designed for either seating or unseating head, or both, in ordinary water supply service. The stainless steel gates have non-metallic seat/seals, which may be of self-adjusting design. Some sluice gate manufacturers use ultra high molecular weight(UHMW) polyethelene seat/seals, to allow ease of movement and eliminate friction.