Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

What equipment is most likely found at the headworks of a pond wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)?

1. Mechanical fine screen

2. Manual bar screen

3. Comminutor

4. Rotary drum filter

The correct answer is: Manual bar screen

At a pond wastewater treatment plant, headworks typically serve as the entry point where initial screening and treatment steps occur to remove large solids and debris from the incoming wastewater. A manual bar screen is likely to be found at this location because it allows for the physical removal of larger materials, such as sticks, leaves, and other debris that could interfere with the down-stream processes if allowed to enter the treatment system. The manual bar screen consists of a series of bars spaced apart, allowing wastewater to pass through while capturing unwanted solids. The operator must periodically clean the screen by manually removing the accumulated debris, ensuring that flow is not obstructed and that the downstream processes can function properly. In contrast, while mechanical fine screens, comminutors, and rotary drum filters may be utilized in various wastewater treatment setups, they serve different purposes or are found further along in the treatment process. Mechanical fine screens tend to handle smaller particles and are often automated, while comminutors grind solids into smaller pieces, and rotary drum filters focus on fine particle separation. Thus, the manual bar screen is the most appropriate choice for equipment found at the headworks of a wastewater treatment plant.