Deck 30: Environmental Microbiology: Treatment of Water, Wastes, and Polluted Habitats

Question 1

The activated sludge process

A) is used during secondary treatment of sewage.
B) is meant to convert inorganic to organic matter.
C) is meant to increase the BOD.
D) removes large objects from the sewage.
E) is meant to convert inorganic to organic matter AND is meant to increase the BOD.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The oxygen consuming property of a wastewater sample is designated by the term

A) lagooning.
B) stabilization.
C) activation.
D) biochemical oxygen demand.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In which phase of sewage treatment are trickling filters sometimes used?

A) primary treatment.
B) secondary treatment.
C) tertiary treatment.
D) quaternary treatment.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is used to cause flocculation?

A) charcoal
B) methane
C) chlorine
D) aluminum potassium phosphate (alum)

Question 5

Advanced treatment of sewage

A) is done to prevent nutrient enrichment.
B) is done to prevent possible overproduction of algae and other organisms.
C) involves the removal of phosphates and nitrogen compounds.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 6

In sewage treatment, the removal of phosphates and nitrogen compounds is achieved during

A) primary treatment.
B) secondary treatment.
C) advanced treatment.
D) quaternary treatment.

Question 7

An effective means used early in the 19th century to clear water of the majority of bacteria was the use of

A) chlorine.
B) iodine.
C) alcohol.
D) sand filters.

Question 8

Effective treatment of wastewater/sewage is reflected in a(n)

A) lower BOD.
B) higher BOD.
C) unchanging BOD.
D) increase in sulfur.

Question 9

Water treatment processes for drinking water

A) are similar to wastewater treatment.
B) are only necessary when using recycled water.
C) includes disinfection but not filtration.
D) has no biological treatment phase.

Question 10

In sewage treatment, the removal of large objects and particulate matter is achieved during

A) primary treatment.
B) secondary treatment.
C) tertiary treatment.
D) quaternary treatment.

Question 11

Which of the following play some role in sewage treatment?

A) activated sludge
B) trickling filter
C) septic tank
D) lagooning
E) All of the choices are correct.

Question 12

The term "potable water" refers to water that is

A) safe to swim in but not drink.
B) safe to drink.
C) only good for irrigation.
D) contaminated with chemicals.

Question 13

Sludge

A) is a byproduct of sewage treatment.
B) may be a source of pollution.
C) takes up space in a landfill.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 14

A high BOD value means

A) a large amount of oxygen has been used.
B) a small amount of oxygen has been used.
C) a large amount of degradable organic matter is present.
D) a small number of viruses are present.
E) a large amount of oxygen has been used AND a large amount of degradable organic matter is present.

Question 15

The anaerobic organisms used in sewage treatment may produce the useful product(s)

A) oxygen.
B) nitrogen.
C) carbon monoxide.
D) methane.
E) nitrogen AND carbon monoxide.

Question 16

The accepted method of testing water supplies for the possible presence of pathogens is to determine the presence of

A) Streptococci.
B) coliforms.
C) Staphylococci.
D) Streptomyces.

Question 17

The problem(s) with using sludge as a fertilizer is/are the

A) presence of heavy metals and similar pollutants.
B) presence of pathogenic organisms and viruses.
C) inhibitory effect it has on plant growth.
D) stimulatory effect it has on methane production.
E) presence of heavy metals and similar pollutants AND presence of pathogenic organisms and viruses.

Question 18

The approximate BOD value for raw sewage is

A) 2000-7000 milligrams per milliliter.
B) 500-800 grams per milliliter.
C) 0-50 kilograms per milliliter.
D) 300-400 milligrams per liter.

Question 19

Wastewater treatment decreases the amount of

A) biodegradable carbon.
B) ammonia and nitrate.
C) phosphate.
D) pathogens.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Question 20

Vibrio cholera is most often associated with

A) breathing air.
B) eating food.
C) drinking water.
D) touching animals.

Question 21

Bioremediation

A) is the use of biological agents to degrade/detoxify pollutants.
B) may involve biostimulation or bioaugmentation.
C) has as its goal the elimination of pathogens.
D) produces xenobiotics.
E) is the use of biological agents to degrade/detoxify pollutants AND may involve biostimuation or bioaugmentation.

Question 22

If a compost pile is turned frequently and other conditions are adequate for aerobic digestion, the composting can be completed in

A) 1 day.
B) 1 month.
C) six weeks.
D) six months.

Question 23

Pseudomonas and Bacillus are able to reduce nitrates to nitrogen.

Question 24

Which would be more likely to cause illness-a water sample that tested positive for coliforms or one that tested positive for

A) Both would be equally capable of causing illness-all coliforms cause illness.
B) The coliform positive sample would be more likely to cause illness. Coliforms are inherently more pathogenic than the weak O157:H7 lab strain of E. coli.
C) The E. coli O157:H7 sample would be more likely to cause illness. This strain of bacterium is highly pathogenic and capable of causing kidney damage.
D) Neither-there is usually a small amount of coliforms (including E. coli O157:H7) in all water.

Question 25

The term "potable water" refers to water that is not necessarily pure, but is safe to drink.

Question 26

The compost pile temperature at which pathogens, but not thermophiles, are killed is about 20-30ºC.

Question 27

Which of the following cannot be used in composting?

A) grass clippings
B) nutrient-poor potting soil
C) meats and fats
D) vegetable peelings

Question 28

Other microorganisms besides coliforms that have been used as indicators of fecal contamination may be

A) Clostridia.
B) Enterococci.
C) bacteriophages.
D) Bacteroides.
E) Clostridia, Enterococci AND bacteriophages.

Question 29

If a compost pile is turned frequently and other conditions are adequate for aerobic digestion, the composting can be completed in 6 weeks.

Question 30

The conversion of organic to inorganic matter is called co-metabolism.

Question 31

As much as 95% of BOD can be removed during secondary treatment.

Question 32

The compost pile temperature at which pathogens, but not thermophiles, are killed is about

A) 20-30ºC.
B) 55-66ºC.
C) 62-75ºC.
D) 90-100ºC.

Question 33

Which of the following statements about landfills is false?

A) Degradation of wastes is rapid and inexpensive.
B) The excavated site has a plastic liner to prevent wastes from leaching into groundwater.
C) Recycling greatly reduces the amount of wastes sent to landfills.
D) Dangerous levels of methane gas can accumulate.

Question 34

High BOD values reflect small amounts of degradable organic matter in a sample of wastewater or other material.

Question 35

Trickling filters may be used in place of activated sludge in secondary sewage treatment.

Question 36

Pollutant degradation may be enhanced by

A) providing sufficient moisture.
B) providing adequate nutrients.
C) maintaining pH near neutrality.
D) raising the temperature.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Question 37

Coliforms are

A) Gram-negative.
B) rod-shaped.
C) non-spore forming.
D) lactose-fermenting with acid and gas formation.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Question 38

The activated sludge method can be stopped by the presence of toxic industrial wastes.

Question 39

Bioaugmentation

A) adds specific microorganisms to the polluted site.
B) only enhances the growth, onsite, of the resident population of microbes.
C) usually utilizes genetically engineered bacteria.
D) is typically done offsite.
E) only enhances the growth, onsite, of the resident population of microbes AND usually utilizes genetically engineered bacteria.

Question 40

Zero coliforms per 100 ml of water is considered safe for treated potable water.

Question 41

Why would soil and water be added to a compost pile?

A) The organisms in the soil, along with the moisture from the water, would facilitate the natural decomposition of the material in the compost pile.
B) Without adding soil and water, no decomposition of the material can take place. The material would simply sit there.
C) Water is the medium that photosynthetic organisms use to break down the organic materials in the compost pile.
D) Soil spreads out the material in the pile. If the material is too close together, natural aeration cannot occur and decomposition stops.

Question 42

Why is oil not degraded when in a natural habitat underground, yet susceptible to bioremediation in an oil spill?

A) The high pressure the oil is subjected to underground prevents bacteria from growing and consuming it.
B) The bacteria can't be given the right amounts or types of nutrients to foster an increase in their number deep underground. Nearer the surface, human intervention can increase the factors that will raise the microbe quantity.
C) The bacteria that degrade the oil require a higher than normal salt content, much like what is found in seawater. Underground, they lack this salt level.
D) It IS degraded underground-but it happens at a much slower rate because a portion of the cycle is photosynthetic in nature. This process is dramatically increased nearer to the water's surface.