Environmental Engineering Flashcards
6 cards from real BCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Environmental Engineering flashcards as text
What does BOD stand for in water quality assessment?
Answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) measures the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by biological organisms when decomposing organic matter in a given water sample over a set period.
Which unit process in a conventional water treatment plant removes suspended solids by settling?
Answer: Sedimentation
Sedimentation (clarification) allows suspended solids and floc formed during coagulation and flocculation to settle out of the water under gravity.
The primary purpose of chlorination in drinking water treatment is:
Answer: To disinfect and kill pathogens
Chlorination is the primary disinfection method used to kill or inactivate pathogens (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) in drinking water to make it safe for human consumption.
What is the main objective of primary wastewater treatment?
Answer: Physical removal of settleable solids and floating material
Primary treatment uses physical processes (screening, sedimentation) to remove approximately 60% of suspended solids and 35% of BOD from raw wastewater.
Which parameter measures the acid-neutralizing capacity of a water body?
Answer: Alkalinity
Alkalinity measures a water's capacity to neutralize acids, primarily due to bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide ions, and is expressed in mg/L as CaCO₃.
Eutrophication of water bodies is primarily caused by excess concentrations of which nutrients?
Answer: Nitrogen and phosphorus
Eutrophication is driven by excess nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, sewage, and stormwater, stimulating excessive algal and aquatic plant growth.