Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

What forms of solids are commonly removed by wastewater treatment plants?

1. Only organic solids

2. Only inorganic solids

3. Total, dissolved, suspended, organic, and inorganic

4. Only total solids

The correct answer is: Total, dissolved, suspended, organic, and inorganic

Wastewater treatment plants are designed to effectively remove a variety of solids from wastewater to ensure that the treated effluent is safe for discharge or reuse. The correct choice encompasses all forms of solids present in wastewater, recognizing their classification into total, dissolved, suspended, organic, and inorganic phases. Total solids represent all solid materials found in wastewater, including both suspended and dissolved forms. Suspended solids are those that do not dissolve in water and can be physically removed through processes such as sedimentation or filtration. Dissolved solids, on the other hand, are microscopic and cannot be removed by simple physical methods, requiring chemical treatment or biological processes for their removal. Organic solids typically refer to materials derived from living organisms, such as plant and animal matter, while inorganic solids consist of minerals and chemicals not derived from living organisms. Both of these categories are important to address in the treatment process because they can impact water quality and aquatic life if released untreated. Effective wastewater treatment systems incorporate various processes to target all these forms of solids, thus improving effluent quality and protecting environmental health. This comprehensive approach is why the answer that includes total, dissolved, suspended, organic, and inorganic solids is the most accurate. Other options limit the scope of solids considered, neglecting the full range