Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

Which process in wastewater treatment has minimal impact on pathogen reduction?

1. Primary treatment

2. Filtration

3. Digestion

4. Disinfection

The correct answer is: Digestion

In the context of wastewater treatment processes, digestion has minimal impact on pathogen reduction compared to other methods. During the digestion phase, organic material in the wastewater is broken down by microbial action, which can help to reduce the volume of sludge and stabilize it for further treatment or disposal. While some pathogens may be reduced during this process, it is not primarily designed for pathogen control and is less effective in achieving significant pathogen reduction. Other processes, such as disinfection, are specifically aimed at eliminating pathogens from the treated water, making them much more effective in that regard. Primary treatment primarily focuses on the removal of solids and does not significantly reduce pathogens. Filtration can assist in removing some pathogens through physical strain but is not specifically aimed at pathogen removal either. Thus, while digestion plays an important role in the overall wastewater treatment process, its effectiveness in terms of pathogen reduction is minimal when compared to systems designed specifically for that purpose.