Texas Class C Surface Water Practice Exam

Baffles in water treatment are primarily implemented in sedimentation basins to prevent short-circuiting. Short-circuiting occurs when water flows through the basin too quickly, allowing insufficient time for sedimentation to take place. This can lead to particles remaining suspended in the water and not settling out as intended, ultimately compromising the effectiveness of the treatment process.

By installing baffles, the flow path is altered, promoting a more uniform distribution of water across the basin. This design encourages water to remain in contact with the sedimentation zone long enough for solids to settle effectively. The result is a clearer effluent water, as more suspended solids are removed.

Other options, such as over-saturation, settling of sludge, and water loss through evaporation, do not directly relate to the primary function of baffles. Over-saturation typically refers to the exceedance of a substance's solubility limit and is usually not a concern in basic sedimentation processes. Settling of sludge refers more to the behavior of solids at the bottom of the basin, while evaporation is influenced by environmental conditions rather than the configuration of the basin itself. Therefore, using baffles is a practical engineering solution aimed specifically at minimizing the risk of short-circuiting in sedimentation basins,