Chapter 16: Wastewater & Drinking Water Microbiology Flashcards
What percent of freshwater is ready for safe consumption?
~ 3%
What are the two main categories of water waste (sewage)?
Domestic contaminants, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
What are three types of domestic contaminants?
Suspended solids, Biodegradable organics, Pathogens
What type of waste includes hair, silt, feces, and plant fibers?
Suspended solids
What type of waste includes fats, proteins, and carbohydrates?
Biodegradable organics
What type of waste includes Salmonella, Vibrio, etc.?
Pathogens
What are four types of persistent organic pollutants?
Priority pollutants, Refractory organics, Heavy metals, Dissolved inorganics
What type of waste includes benzene, phenol, toluene, and carbon tetrachloride?
Priority pollutants
What type of waste includes organic solvents, motor oil, and gasoline?
Refractory organics
What type of waste includes cadmium, mercury, lead, and chromium?
Heavy metals
What type of waste includes phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium?
Dissolved inorganics
What is the goal of sewage treatment to reduce?
Total organic carbon (TOC), Inorganic compounds, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
What is the goal of sewage treatment to remove?
Harmful Microbes
What must be reduced to prevent eutrophication of natural waters?
Inorganic compounds
What are the 5 steps of wastewater treatment?
Pre-treatment, Primary treatment, Secondary treatment, Tertiary treatment, Disinfection
What step in wastewater treatment involves physical removal of large objects?
Pre-treatment
What step in wastewater treatment involves physical removal of sediments and grease that form primary sludge?
Primary treatment
What step in wastewater treatment involves using trickling filter/activated sludge unit to form complex biofilms that break down organic compounds over time?
Secondary treatment
What step in wastewater treatment involves filtration or reverse osmosis used to increase clarity of water/reduce metal content (not always done)?
Tertiary treatment
What step in wastewater treatment involves chlorination, UV light exposure, or ozonation?
Disinfection
What is the last step in the secondary treatment process of water called?
Anaerobic sludge digestion
What is composited into a common container in anaerobic sludge digestion
Sedimented primary/secondary sludges
What consumes the organic materials and produce methane which can be harvested for energy in anaerobic sludge digestion?
Anaerobic bacteria
What type of wastewater filter works where crushed material is used as support for a growing biofilm of microbes?
Trickling Filters
What type of wastewater system depends on flocs (clumps of adsorbed material and biofilm microbes)?
Activated Sludge Systems
What step in wastewater treatment is unnecessary for pristine natural water?
Secondary treatment
