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Question no. 17071

The principal disadvantage associated with oxidation ponds is________________?

Select your answer for: The principal disadvantage associated with oxidation ponds is________________?
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Answer: A. large area is required for construction

Explanation

Oxidation ponds rely on natural sunlight and biological degradation over extended hydraulic retention times. Slow biological reaction rates require exceptionally large surface areas to treat municipal wastewater volumes. Land acquisition in urban areas becomes expensive due to the massive footprint required for ponds. Oxidation ponds are large, shallow earthen basins engineered for natural biological wastewater treatment. Algae and bacteria work symbiotically to stabilize organic matter without mechanical aeration equipment. Retention times in oxidation ponds typically range from several weeks up to multiple months.

Small towns and rural communities often choose oxidation ponds when land is cheap and plentiful. The massive land requirement makes these ponds impractical for densely populated urban centers. Despite land demands, low operating costs make oxidation ponds popular for decentralized treatment. Maintenance and operation cost are high is false because oxidation ponds require minimal mechanical upkeep. BOD removal is very low is incorrect since these ponds achieve high organic pollutant removal. None of the above is wrong because requiring a large land area is the primary disadvantage.

Subject
Engineering
Topic
—
Difficulty
medium

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