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

Chlorine plays a critical role in wastewater treatment primarily as a disinfectant. Its primary function is to eliminate pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa from the treated wastewater. By effectively killing or inactivating harmful microorganisms, chlorine helps prevent the spread of waterborne diseases when treated water is eventually discharged into the environment or reused.

The use of chlorine in wastewater treatment is governed by safety and environmental protocols, as the residual chlorine must be managed to avoid harming aquatic life in receiving waters. This makes it essential not only to apply chlorine effectively during the treatment phase but also to consider its removal or neutralization in the final effluent.

Other roles mentioned, such as being an oxygen donor, a pH adjuster, or a coagulant, are not accurate in the context of chlorine's function within wastewater treatment processes. Oxygen donors are typically agents like certain chemical compounds that contribute to oxidation reactions. pH adjustment is usually accomplished using acids or bases rather than chlorine, and coagulants are substances that help aggregate suspended particles, commonly including aluminum sulfate or ferric chloride, which perform different functions from that of chlorine.