Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Operator Certification Practice Exam

Which term best describes activated sludge?

A pump that lifts water A process of binding to a surface A biological wastewater treatment process produced by growth of bacteria in raw wastewater in the presence of oxygen A chemical used to adjust pH

Correct Answer:

A biological wastewater treatment process produced by growth of bacteria in raw wastewater in the presence of oxygen

Explanation:

Activated sludge refers to the suspended-growth, aerobic biological treatment of wastewater. In this process, bacteria multiply in the wastewater under oxygen-rich conditions, oxidizing and breaking down organic matter. The resulting microbial mass forms flocs that can be settled out in a secondary clarifier, producing treated effluent. This description captures the essential idea: living microorganisms actively treating the water with oxygen. It’s not about a pump, a surface-attached biofilm process, or a chemical added to adjust pH, but about the biology of microbes treating the wastewater in the presence of oxygen.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Operator Certification Practice Exam for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions