Wastewater story

Ch 18

I) Write one word for each of the following.

1. Dirty water ....................
2. Impurities in wastewater ....................
3. The chemical process of waste water treatment plant ....................
4. Wastewater that contains suspended impurities ....................
5. The material that settles at the bottom of sedimentation tanks ....................
6. Material that rises to the top in sedimentation tanks ....................

ANSWER 
1. Waste water
2. Contaminants
3. Tertiary treatment
4. Sewage
5. Sludge
6. Scum
II) MCQ
1. Waste water containing human excreta is known as
(a) sewage
(b) sewer
(c) sewerage
(d) none of these

ANS) (a) sewage

2. Discharge of industrial waste is called
(a) sludge
(b) sewer
(c) sewerage
(d) effluent
ANS) d- effluent

The discharge of industrial waste is known as industrial effluent.

 3. The light materials which float during waste water treatment is
(a) sludge
(b) scum
(c) biogas
(d) sewer
Ans) (b) scum
The light material that floats during waste water treatment is known as scum.
4. Primary treatment is a
(a) mechanical process
(b) chemical process
(c) biological process
(d) none of these
Ans) (a) mechanical process

5. Sewage is often processed with the help of

(a) septic tank
(b) vermi-processing toilet
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of these
Ans) (c) both (a) and (b)
III) Define
A) Sewage- Water that contains contaminants or waste and is unfit for use is known as
sewage

B) Scum- Scum is the light material that floats on the top during waste water treatment
C) Industrial effluent- The discharge of industrial waste is known as industrial effluent.
IV) ANSWER IN BRIEF:

1. Why are bacteria used in sewage treatment plants?

Ans) Bacteria are used in sewage treatment plants to decompose suspended waste and other
undesirable organic substances.
2) What is the function of screens in a water treatment plant?

Large rotating bar screens in sewage treatment plants help to remove large objects such as
rags, sticks, cans, plastics, napkins etc.
 3) Name two inorganic impurities present in sewage.
ANS- Nitrates and phosphates are two inorganic impurities present in sewage.
4) Name a chemical that is used to disinfect water.
ANS) Chlorine can be used to disinfect water.
5) Under what condition do we make spetic tanks?

ANS) Septic tanks are common in areas where a sewerage system is not available or has
not yet been constructed.

6) What problem do we face with open drainage?

ANS) The limitations of open drainage are:
1. Open drains can be easily blocked and then they might overflow.
2. Overflowing sewage collects in pools and stagnates there. The
stagnating pools of sewage are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and
dangerous bacteria.
3. Open drains lead to the spreading of bad odour in their surroundings.
7) What are the main constituents of sewage? Give any two examples of each.
ANS) The constituents of sewage are:
1. Organic impurities: Example: human excreta and urine
2. Inorganic impurities: Example: nitrates and phosphates
3. Nutrients: Example: nitrogen and phosphorus
4. Disease-causing microbes: Example: viruses and bacteria causing
cholera, typhoid etc.

8) What are vermi toilets?

ANS) In a vermi toilet, earthworms are used to treat human excreta. Using very little
water, this toilet converts human excrement into vermi cakes that can be used as
manure.

V) Differentiate between
sewer and sewer and sewer system?
 Sewer Sewer system
A pipe made of PVC plastic or cast A collection of many sewer
iron used to carry sewage is known as pipes is known as a sewer
a sewer. system.

VI) Answer in detail

Q1) What is the function of a treatment plant?
A sewage treatment plant performs the following functions:
1. Sewage is treated in these plants and rendered harmless.
2. Water generated by a sewage treatment plant can be used for fisheries,
irrigation. etc.
3. The sludge formed during the treatment of sewage can be used as
manure, or it can be used for making biogas.

VII) Give reason

Why should butter and oil not be released in the drainage?

Butter and oil can clog drains leading to an overflow of sewage. To avoid this, butter and oil
must never be released in the drainage.