Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

Which of the following is a general type of disinfection in wastewater treatment?

1. Mechanical treatment

2. Heat treatment

3. Filtration

4. Biological treatment

The correct answer is: Heat treatment

Heat treatment is indeed a general type of disinfection in wastewater treatment. This process involves raising the temperature of wastewater to eliminate pathogens. Heat treatment effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause disease, making it an important step in ensuring that the treated wastewater is safe for discharge or reuse. Mechanical treatment and filtration are physical processes that primarily focus on removing solids and larger particles from wastewater, but they do not specifically target pathogens, which is a primary goal of disinfection. Biological treatment utilizes microorganisms to break down organic matter in wastewater but also does not directly disinfect the water to the level needed to ensure pathogen removal. Thus, while all the options play a role in wastewater treatment, heat treatment stands out as a focused approach for disinfection purposes.