Dive into the 2025 NY Wastewater Exam – Flush Away the Competition with Confidence!

When addressing increasing odor complaints related to primary clarifiers, increasing the sludge withdrawal is a key action to mitigate the problem. Over time, as solids settle in the primary clarifiers, anaerobic decomposition may occur if the sludge is not removed effectively. This decomposition can produce foul odors which contribute to the complaints.

By increasing the sludge withdrawal, you are enhancing the removal of accumulated solids, which helps to minimize the anaerobic conditions within the clarifiers. This action promotes better settling of solids and improves overall treatment efficiency. Consequently, it helps to reduce or eliminate the production of odorous gases, addressing the complaints from the community.

Other options may not directly resolve the issue of odor. Decreasing the flow rate to the clarifiers could lead to a build-up of solids, further exacerbating the problems, while adding more chlorine is primarily a disinfection action and does not directly address the source of odor linked to sludge. Installing an additional clarifier may also be a solution, but it is typically a more resource-intensive option that may not provide an immediate fix to the odor problem.