Georgia Septic Installer Practice Test

What are the three processes the environment uses to treat sewage waste?

1. Dilution, evaporation, filtration

2. Chemical absorption, dilution, anaerobic decomposition

3. Decomposition, recycling, evaporation

4. Chemical absorption, dilution, breakdown

The correct answer is: Chemical absorption, dilution, breakdown

The three processes that the environment uses to treat sewage waste include chemical absorption, dilution, and breakdown. Chemical absorption refers to the process where contaminants in sewage are absorbed by materials in the environment, such as soil or natural substrates. This is crucial for removing harmful substances from wastewater, as it helps in neutralizing or capturing pollutants. Dilution plays a vital role in wastewater treatment by reducing the concentration of pollutants through mixing with larger volumes of water. This process is essential in natural bodies of water, allowing waste materials to disperse and decreasing their potential harm to aquatic ecosystems. Breakdown, often associated with biological treatment, involves the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms. This process is fundamental to the natural treatment of sewage, as bacteria and other microbes consume and metabolize organic waste, turning it into less harmful substances. The combination of these three processes helps ensure that sewage waste is effectively treated by nature, allowing it to be integrated back into the environment with minimal impact. The other options include processes that may not be recognized as standard methods for sewage treatment or that do not comprehensively cover the essential treatment mechanisms in nature.