Wastewater treatment and safe reuse – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B and D are correct as they summarise the main stages of treatment and the possibility of safe reuse. Primary and secondary treatments remove solids and organic load, and with sufficient treatment, wastewater can be used for irrigation under guidelines. Statement C is incorrect because untreated discharges degrade water quality, harm aquatic life and pose health risks. Thus, the combination A, B and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all three true statements and excludes C, which underestimates the impacts of untreated discharge. It reflects the technical and reuse aspects expected in environmental management questions.

Option B:
Option B is incomplete as it lists only A and B and leaves out D. While it covers process stages, it does not acknowledge the important practice of safe reuse, which is increasingly promoted.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it accepts C along with B and D. Including C implies that untreated wastewater has no serious impacts, which contradicts well-established water pollution studies.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it combines A with C and D. Although A and D are true, accepting C as correct makes the option conceptually wrong.