Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a required characteristic to be measured immediately after sample collection?

1. pH

2. Temperature

3. Color

4. Dissolved gases

The correct answer is: Color

In wastewater analysis, there are specific characteristics that need to be measured immediately after sample collection to ensure accuracy and reliability of the results. pH, temperature, and dissolved gases are critical parameters that can change over time due to chemical reactions or biological processes, so they must be measured right away to capture their true values at the time of sampling. Color, on the other hand, does not change as quickly and can be analyzed at a later stage without significant impact on the results. While color is an important characteristic, it does not require immediate measurement following sample collection in the same way that pH, temperature, and dissolved gases do. This is why color is the characteristic among the options listed that is NOT required to be measured immediately after sample collection.