Turbidity is a measure of which water quality characteristic?

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!

Turbidity measures how cloudy or hazy water is due to suspended particles. It reflects the cloudiness of the water caused by solids that scatter light, not by smell, taste, or color. Odor and taste come from dissolved substances, while color is the hue water takes from dissolved or very fine materials. Turbidity is typically read with a nephelometer and reported in NTU. Keeping turbidity low is important because higher cloudiness can shield pathogens from disinfection and signal potential water quality issues, so treatment steps like coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration are used to reduce it.