Which term describes water containing waste that must be treated before it can be reused?

Which term describes water containing waste that must be treated before it can be reused?

• A. Stormwater
• B. Effluent
• C. Seawater
• D. Wastewater

Answer: (D)

Water that contains waste and must be treated before it can be reused is wastewater. This term covers used water from homes, businesses, and industries that carries organic matter, chemicals, and pathogens and needs processing to remove contaminants to safe levels before it can be reused or released back into the environment. Stormwater is rainwater runoff and isn’t defined by carrying waste. Seawater is ocean saltwater, unrelated to waste. Effluent refers to water that has already been treated and discharged, not the waste-containing water before treatment. So wastewater is the correct term.

Water that contains waste and must be treated before it can be reused is wastewater. This term covers used water from homes, businesses, and industries that carries organic matter, chemicals, and pathogens and needs processing to remove contaminants to safe levels before it can be reused or released back into the environment. Stormwater is rainwater runoff and isn’t defined by carrying waste. Seawater is ocean saltwater, unrelated to waste. Effluent refers to water that has already been treated and discharged, not the waste-containing water before treatment. So wastewater is the correct term.