Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Practice Exam

Increasing the speed of settling in the wastewater treatment process is effectively achieved by adding chemical coagulants. Coagulants help to aggregate smaller particles into larger flocs, which enhances their settling rate. When these flocs form, they have a greater mass, allowing them to settle more quickly under the influence of gravity. This process is crucial in clarifying wastewater by allowing suspended solids to be removed more efficiently.

Introducing air into the water can aid in aeration processes, promoting the growth of aerobic bacteria that decompose organic matter, but it does not directly enhance the settling of particles.

Decreasing the volume of water or reducing the water temperature may impact the wastewater treatment process, but these actions do not specifically target the improved settling of suspended solids. Instead, they might complicate the treatment process by affecting the overall concentration and behavior of the solids.