Chapter 11, Problem 1CYE

To determine

To explain: The primary contaminants for which the water is treated.

Answer to Problem 1CYE

Municipal water treatment plants treat the water for three different contaminants, namely- primary contaminants, secondary contaminants, and tertiary contaminants. The primary contaminants are comprised of large solid particles.

Explanation of Solution

The term pollution can be defined as the introduction of the contaminants into the environment which causes deterioration of the natural environment. The pollutants can be naturally occurring compound or foreign compounds.

The municipal water treatment plants ensure that the human health is protected, the ecosystem is stabilized and the quality of water is increased. In the primary treatment, the separation of the large solid particles is carried out from the stream in the settling tanks. The suspended dissolved solids are allowed to fall out of the sludge by the settling tanks.