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!

Multiple Choice

What term best describes solids in water that can be removed by filtration and drying?

Solids that can be removed by filtration are particulate, not dissolved. Filtration stops particles as a barrier, and drying afterward removes the water, leaving a dry solid. Sand is a common insoluble particulate in water, large enough to be captured by a filter and then dried to yield solid residue. Salt and sugar, when dissolved, aren’t removed by filtration because they’re in solution; you’d need evaporation or another process to recover them. Water isn’t a solid, so it doesn’t fit the description. So sand is the best example because it represents a solid particle that filtration can remove and that can be dried.

Solids that can be removed by filtration are particulate, not dissolved. Filtration stops particles as a barrier, and drying afterward removes the water, leaving a dry solid. Sand is a common insoluble particulate in water, large enough to be captured by a filter and then dried to yield solid residue. Salt and sugar, when dissolved, aren’t removed by filtration because they’re in solution; you’d need evaporation or another process to recover them. Water isn’t a solid, so it doesn’t fit the description. So sand is the best example because it represents a solid particle that filtration can remove and that can be dried.