Texas Wastewater Class B Practice Exam 2024 - Free Wastewater Class B Practice Questions and Study Guide

Controlling hydraulic washout in an activated sludge system is crucial for maintaining the performance and stability of the treatment process. Flow equalization and inflow reduction play a significant role in minimizing hydraulic washout. When inflow varies significantly, sudden increases in flow rate can lead to a phenomenon called hydraulic overload, which can wash out biomass from the system, disrupting the treatment process. Implementing flow equalization helps to buffer and smooth out these variations, ensuring a more consistent flow to the treatment system. This allows for the retention of organisms within the reactor, promoting better treatment efficiency and preventing loss of activated sludge due to rapid changes in hydraulic conditions. Other options, while they may affect different aspects of the treatment process, do not directly address the issue of hydraulic washout in the same effective manner as flow equalization and inflow reduction.