The lower the _____, the more difficult it is to form a proper floc.

• A. Temperature
• B. Turbidity
• C. pH level
• D. Flow rate

Answer: (B)

The correct choice indicates that as turbidity decreases, forming a proper floc becomes more challenging. Turbidity measures the cloudiness or haziness of water, which is primarily caused by suspended particles. In water treatment processes, particularly in coagulation and flocculation, effective particle aggregation relies on a sufficient concentration of particulates to ensure that floc formation can occur.

When turbidity is low, there are fewer suspended particles in the water for the coagulants to bond with, thus making it harder to form the larger aggregates or flocs that are necessary for effective sedimentation and removal. Conversely, higher levels of turbidity provide more particles for the coagulant to interact with, facilitating the aggregation process. Hence, the difficulty in achieving proper floc formation at low turbidity levels is linked to a lack of adequate particulate matter to form stable flocs.

While temperature, pH level, and flow rate are also important factors in the flocculation process, they do not directly influence the ability to form floc in relation to particle concentration in the same way turbidity does. Temperature can affect the reaction rates and solubility of chemicals, pH can influence the charge and behavior of particles and coagulants, and flow rate