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

Which term is the correctly spelled name for the process of cleaning a rapid sand filter by reversing flow?

Backwashing is the process used to clean a rapid sand filter by reversing the normal filtration flow. By reversing flow through the filter bed, the water (often with a bit of air) lifts and loosens trapped particles, flushing them out to waste and restoring the bed’s porosity so the filter can resume efficient operation. The other spellings shown are incorrect or refer to unrelated things, whereas backwashing is the standard term used in water treatment for this cleaning method.

Backwashing is the process used to clean a rapid sand filter by reversing the normal filtration flow. By reversing flow through the filter bed, the water (often with a bit of air) lifts and loosens trapped particles, flushing them out to waste and restoring the bed’s porosity so the filter can resume efficient operation. The other spellings shown are incorrect or refer to unrelated things, whereas backwashing is the standard term used in water treatment for this cleaning method.