Control of erosion can reduce the amount of what material the treatment plant must remove?

Prepare for the American Water Works Water Treatment Plant Operator Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Controlling erosion reduces the amount of sediment entering the water source. Sediment consists of soil particles and other suspended solids that raise turbidity and must be removed by the treatment plant through coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration. When erosion is controlled, less sediment arrives, so there is less material for the plant to remove.

Algae are living organisms whose growth is influenced by nutrients and light, not directly by erosion control. Dissolved minerals are dissolved substances, not suspended solids, and organics can come from various sources beyond erosion. The primary reduction from erosion control is the sediment load.