Master Massachusetts Wastewater Exam 2025 – Dive In and Clean Up Your Future!

Activated Sludge is a biological treatment process commonly used in wastewater treatment, particularly effective for removing organic pollutants. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is a critical measure of the amount of organic matter in wastewater. It reflects the level of pollutants that can be oxidized, making it suitable for treatment by the activated sludge process, which relies on microorganisms to degrade organic matter.

In this process, microorganisms consume organic pollutants, which leads to a reduction in COD levels in the wastewater. This process also helps to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, though the primary focus here is on the organic load represented by COD.

The other options, such as Lead and Mercury, are heavy metals and not adequately treated through biological processes like activated sludge. These metals typically require physical or chemical treatment methods for effective removal. Similarly, while pH adjustments may be necessary in wastewater treatment, pH itself is not a pollutant that can be directly treated through the activated sludge process.