NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Science Chapter 18 Wastewater Story in Hindi - 2025-26
FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Science Chapter 18 Wastewater Story in Hindi - 2025-26
1. What is the correct step-by-step process for wastewater treatment as outlined in the NCERT solutions for Chapter 18?
As per the NCERT solutions for the 2025-26 syllabus, the wastewater treatment process involves several key stages:
Primary Treatment: Wastewater is first passed through bar screens to remove large objects like rags, sticks, and plastics.
Grit and Sand Removal: The water then goes into a tank where the speed is decreased to allow sand, grit, and pebbles to settle down.
Sedimentation: Water is then allowed to settle in a large tank called a clarifier. Solid faeces, called sludge, settle at the bottom, while lighter materials like oil and grease float to the top and are skimmed off.
Secondary Treatment: Air is pumped into the clarified water to help aerobic bacteria grow. These bacteria consume remaining human waste, food waste, and soaps.
Final Treatment: The treated water is then disinfected using chemicals like chlorine or ozone before being released into a water body. The sludge is treated separately.
2. How does the NCERT solution for Class 7 Science explain the treatment of sludge collected in a wastewater treatment plant?
The NCERT solution explains that the solid waste, or sludge, collected during sedimentation is transferred to a separate tank called a digester. Here, anaerobic bacteria break down the organic matter in the sludge. This process produces biogas, which can be used as a fuel for electricity generation. The remaining treated sludge is dried and can be used as manure, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.
3. According to the NCERT solution, why is it harmful to discharge untreated sewage into rivers or seas?
Discharging untreated sewage into water bodies is extremely harmful for several reasons explained in the chapter. Sewage contains food waste, harmful chemicals, and disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria and protozoa. When this enters rivers or seas, it contaminates the water, making it unfit for drinking or bathing. This can lead to the spread of water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, affecting both human and aquatic life.
4. What is the correct method to dispose of oils and fats, as per the guidelines in Chapter 18, and why shouldn't they be released in the drain?
The correct method is to collect used cooking oil and fats in a sealed container and dispose of them in the dustbin. They should never be poured down the drain. The reason, as per the NCERT solution, is that fats and oils can harden and block the pipes. In an open drain, they can also clog the soil pores, which reduces the effectiveness of water filtration.
5. How can a student become an 'active citizen' by applying the lessons from the 'Wastewater Story' NCERT solutions?
The NCERT chapter encourages students to become active citizens by adopting better housekeeping practices and raising awareness. A student can contribute by:
Ensuring that oils, fats, chemicals, and solid wastes like tea leaves or sanitary towels are not thrown down the drain at home.
Informing others about the importance of proper sewage disposal and the dangers of open drains.
Reporting any leaking or overflowing sewer lines to the local municipality immediately.
Promoting the use of eco-friendly cleaning products to reduce the chemical load on water.
6. What is a common mistake students make when explaining the role of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in wastewater treatment?
A common mistake is confusing their roles and locations. The correct explanation is that aerobic bacteria are used in the main aeration tank where air is pumped in. They need oxygen to break down dissolved organic waste in the clarified water. In contrast, anaerobic bacteria are used in a separate, sealed digester tank where there is no oxygen. They are responsible for breaking down the thick, collected sludge, not the liquid wastewater.
7. In the context of the NCERT solutions, what defines 'sewage' and its main components?
As defined in the NCERT solution for Chapter 18, sewage is the liquid waste, or wastewater, released from homes, industries, hospitals, and offices. It is a complex mixture containing several components:
Organic impurities: Human faeces, animal waste, food waste, and pesticides.
Inorganic impurities: Nitrates, phosphates, and metals.
Nutrients: Phosphorus and nitrogen.
Microbes: Disease-causing bacteria (like those causing cholera) and other microbes.

















