What is an example of a physical treatment process in wastewater management?

Filtration is an example of a physical treatment process in wastewater management because it involves the physical removal of solids from the wastewater as it passes through a filter medium. This process does not involve any chemical reactions or biological activity; instead, it relies solely on the physical properties of the particles and the filter material. Through filtration, larger suspended solids and particulates are separated from the liquid, allowing for clearer effluent and reducing the load on subsequent treatment processes.

In contrast, the activated sludge process involves biological treatment, where microorganisms are used to degrade organic materials, while aerobic digestion also relies on biological processes to stabilize sludge. Chlorination is a chemical disinfection process used to kill pathogens in the treated wastewater. Therefore, filtration stands out as a purely physical method, focusing on the removal of solids based on size and density, making it the correct choice in this context.