What defines the ratio of produced product water to raw water treated?

• A. Yield
• B. Recovery
• C. Efficiency
• D. Effectiveness

Answer: (B)

The ratio of produced product water to raw water treated is defined as recovery. This concept is essential in water treatment processes, where it indicates the proportion of inflow water converted into usable output. Recovery provides insight into the performance of the treatment system, reflecting how much of the incoming water is successfully processed and made suitable for consumption or for discharge under environmental regulations.

This measurement is vital because it helps in assessing the efficiency of the treatment process and the overall effectiveness of the system. Higher recovery rates typically imply better performance and resource optimization, as more of the raw water is being utilized rather than wasted. Understanding recovery also aids in designing systems and improving operational strategies to maximize water sustainability.

While yield, efficiency, and effectiveness are related concepts, they do not specifically define the relationship in terms of produced product water to total raw water treated like recovery does. Yield generally refers to the amount of product obtained from a process, efficiency measures how well resources (like time, energy, or costs) are used, and effectiveness assesses how well objectives are met without directly addressing the water treatment ratio specifically.