What is the general process of primary treatment in wastewater management?

The general process of primary treatment in wastewater management focuses on the physical removal of solids from wastewater. This is primarily achieved through sedimentation, where wastewater flows into a large tank known as a primary clarifier. Here, the heavier solids settle at the bottom to form sludge, while lighter materials such as oils may float to the surface forming scum. The main goal of this process is to reduce the total suspended solids and organic load entering the subsequent treatment stages.

This step is crucial because it helps to improve the efficiency of subsequent treatment processes by removing a significant portion of solid waste, thus preventing clogging or overload in secondary treatment systems. The other options represent processes involved in different stages of wastewater management: chemical treatment addresses water quality issues, biological processes are characteristic of secondary treatment aimed at further breaking down organic matter, and disinfection typically occurs at the final stages to kill pathogens before effluent discharge.