New
New
Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Wastewater treatment

I can outline the key stages involved in the treatment of wastewater and describe features of each.

New
New
Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Wastewater treatment

I can outline the key stages involved in the treatment of wastewater and describe features of each.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There are many sources of wastewater and each introduces different types of contaminants.
  2. There are sequential steps involved in making wastewater safe before disposal into the environment.
  3. Multiple types of waste need to be removed from different kinds of wastewater.
  4. Releasing untreated wastewater into the environment could impact an ecosystem's health.
  5. 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.

Consider including news articles regarding wastewater disposal by water companies or criteria for 'blue flag' beaches to the lesson.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is wastewater?
clean drinking water
rainwater collected in reservoirs
Correct answer: used water from homes, industry and agriculture
Q2.
Which of these is a solid component collected after sedimentation during wastewater treatment?
effluent
grit
Correct answer: sludge
sand
Q3.
What is potable water?
water used for cleaning purposes only
water found in oceans and seas
water that is heated for cooking
Correct answer: water that is safe to drink
water found in rivers and streams
Q4.
Which process occurs in the presence of oxygen?
Correct answer: aerobic
anaerobic
sterilisation
fermentation
Q5.
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
Q6.
Why is it important to treat wastewater before releasing it into the environment?
to increase water temperature
to make it taste better
Correct answer: to reduce contaminants
Correct answer: to protect ecosystem health
Correct answer: to prevent the spread of disease

6 Questions

Q1.
Which process used in wastewater treatment involves bacteria breaking down organic matter?
Correct answer: biological treatment
disinfection
screening
sedimentation
Q2.
Which of the following might lead to wastewater production?
Correct answer: washing dishes and clothes
drinking clean water
planting trees in a garden
reading a book
Q3.
What is grey water?
water that comes from toilets
water that is clean and suitable for drinking
Correct answer: water that comes from sinks, showers and washing machines
water that is used for industrial processes
Q4.
What is the purpose of sedimentation in wastewater treatment?
to add chemicals to the water
to disinfect the water
Correct answer: to separate solid waste from wastewater
to remove bacteria from the water
Q5.
What can the anaerobic treatment of sludge produce?
clean drinking water
Correct answer: fertilisers
industrial chemicals
Correct answer: biogas
Q6.
What is the final step involved in wastewater treatment before it is released into the environment?
Correct answer: sterilisation
screening
sedimentation
disinfection