Chapter 16: Wastewater & Drinking Water Microbiology

Question 1

What percent of freshwater is ready for safe consumption?

Answer 1

~ 3%

Question 2

What are the two main categories of water waste (sewage)?

Answer 2

Domestic contaminants, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Question 3

What are three types of domestic contaminants?

Answer 3

Suspended solids, Biodegradable organics, Pathogens

Question 4

What type of waste includes hair, silt, feces, and plant fibers?

Answer 4

Suspended solids

Question 5

What type of waste includes fats, proteins, and carbohydrates?

Answer 5

Biodegradable organics

Question 6

What type of waste includes Salmonella, Vibrio, etc.?

Answer 6

Pathogens

Question 7

What are four types of persistent organic pollutants?

Answer 7

Priority pollutants, Refractory organics, Heavy metals, Dissolved inorganics

Question 8

What type of waste includes benzene, phenol, toluene, and carbon tetrachloride?

Answer 8

Priority pollutants

Question 9

What type of waste includes organic solvents, motor oil, and gasoline?

Answer 9

Refractory organics

Question 10

What type of waste includes cadmium, mercury, lead, and chromium?

Answer 10

Heavy metals

Question 11

What type of waste includes phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium?

Answer 11

Dissolved inorganics

Question 12

What is the goal of sewage treatment to reduce?

Answer 12

Total organic carbon (TOC), Inorganic compounds, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Question 13

What is the goal of sewage treatment to remove?

Answer 13

Harmful Microbes

Question 14

What must be reduced to prevent eutrophication of natural waters?

Answer 14

Inorganic compounds

Question 15

What are the 5 steps of wastewater treatment?

Answer 15

Pre-treatment, Primary treatment, Secondary treatment, Tertiary treatment, Disinfection

Question 16

What step in wastewater treatment involves physical removal of large objects?

Answer 16

Pre-treatment

Question 17

What step in wastewater treatment involves physical removal of sediments and grease that form primary sludge?

Answer 17

Primary treatment

Question 18

What step in wastewater treatment involves using trickling filter/activated sludge unit to form complex biofilms that break down organic compounds over time?

Answer 18

Secondary treatment

Question 19

What step in wastewater treatment involves filtration or reverse osmosis used to increase clarity of water/reduce metal content (not always done)?

Answer 19

Tertiary treatment

Question 20

What step in wastewater treatment involves chlorination, UV light exposure, or ozonation?

Answer 20

Disinfection

Question 21

What is the last step in the secondary treatment process of water called?

Answer 21

Anaerobic sludge digestion

Question 22

What is composited into a common container in anaerobic sludge digestion

Answer 22

Sedimented primary/secondary sludges

Question 23

What consumes the organic materials and produce methane which can be harvested for energy in anaerobic sludge digestion?

Answer 23

Anaerobic bacteria

Question 24

What type of wastewater filter works where crushed material is used as support for a growing biofilm of microbes?

Answer 24

Trickling Filters

Question 25

What type of wastewater system depends on flocs (clumps of adsorbed material and biofilm microbes)?

Answer 25

Activated Sludge Systems

Question 26

What step in wastewater treatment is unnecessary for pristine natural water?

Answer 26

Secondary treatment