Starter quiz
- What is wastewater?
- clean drinking water
- rainwater collected in reservoirs
- used water from homes, industry and agriculture ✓
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- Which of these is a solid component collected after sedimentation during wastewater treatment?
- effluent
- grit
- sludge ✓
- sand
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- What is potable water?
- water used for cleaning purposes only
- water found in oceans and seas
- water that is heated for cooking
- water that is safe to drink ✓
- water found in rivers and streams
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- Which process occurs in the presence of oxygen?
- aerobic ✓
- anaerobic
- sterilisation
- fermentation
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- Put the steps for making potable water from groundwater or freshwater into the correct order.
- 1⇔screening removes large insoluble objects
- 2⇔sedimentation removes small, insoluble particles settle out of the water source
- 3⇔filtration removes very small, insoluble particles
- 4⇔sterilisation kills bacteria and other microbes
- Why is it important to treat wastewater before releasing it into the environment?
- to increase water temperature
- to make it taste better
- to reduce contaminants ✓
- to protect ecosystem health ✓
- to prevent the spread of disease ✓
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Exit quiz
- Which process used in wastewater treatment involves bacteria breaking down organic matter?
- biological treatment ✓
- disinfection
- screening
- sedimentation
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- Which of the following might lead to wastewater production?
- washing dishes and clothes ✓
- drinking clean water
- planting trees in a garden
- reading a book
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- What is grey water?
- water that comes from toilets
- water that is clean and suitable for drinking
- water that comes from sinks, showers and washing machines ✓
- water that is used for industrial processes
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- What is the purpose of sedimentation in wastewater treatment?
- to add chemicals to the water
- to disinfect the water
- to separate solid waste from wastewater ✓
- to remove bacteria from the water
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- What can the anaerobic treatment of sludge produce?
- clean drinking water
- fertilisers ✓
- industrial chemicals
- biogas ✓
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- What is the final step involved in wastewater treatment before it is released into the environment?
- sterilisation ✓
- screening
- sedimentation
- disinfection
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- There are many sources of wastewater and each introduces different types of contaminants.
- There are sequential steps involved in making wastewater safe before disposal into the environment.
- Multiple types of waste need to be removed from different kinds of wastewater.
- Releasing untreated wastewater into the environment could impact an ecosystem's health.
- Sludge can be anaerobically treated, producing materials that can be used as a fertiliser or fuel.
Common misconception
Some pupils think that 'wastewater' is the same as 'sewage' and/or that anything found in a sewer is 'sewage'.
Stress that wastewater is any used water that has been affected by domestic, industrial and agricultural processes; sewage is a part of waste water, but specifically that which is contaminated by with faeces and urine.
Keywords
Waste water - Used water from homes, industry and agriculture.
Sludge - The solid collected after sedimentation during treatment of wastewater.
Effluent - The fluid component obtained after sedimentation during the treatment of wastewater.
Aerobic - A process that occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Anaerobic - A process that occurs in the absence of oxygen.
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