What term denotes wastewater released from a manufacturing, industrial, or treatment plant after processing?

• A. Influent
• B. Effluent
• C. Coastal water
• D. Fresh water

Answer: (D)

Effluent denotes wastewater discharged after processing from a treatment system. In a plant, water enters as influent (the incoming wastewater) and, after treatment, the cleaned or treated water released to the environment is called effluent. The other terms don’t fit: influe nt refers to incoming wastewater, coastal water is a geographic term for water near shore, and fresh water means non-saline, potable water, not wastewater.