Certified Storm Water Operator Practice Exam

Sedimentation is the process whereby detached particles are ___________________ elsewhere.

1. Dissolved

2. Carried

3. Deposited

4. Attached

The correct answer is: Deposited

Sedimentation is the process where detached particles, such as soil or organic materials, settle out of the water column and accumulate on the bottom of a water body or on a surface elsewhere. This process typically occurs when the velocity of the water slows down, allowing these particles to overcome the forces keeping them suspended. In this context, the term "deposited" specifically refers to the act of these particles settling and accumulating in a new location, which is the essence of sedimentation. It highlights the transition from being suspended in a fluid to becoming part of the substrate or bottom layer in another area, forming a new layer of sediment. In contrast, options like "dissolved" imply that particles have broken down into their molecular components and are no longer solid; "carried" suggests ongoing movement rather than the cessation of activity that characterizes deposition; and "attached" indicates a binding process to surfaces, rather than the settling out of particles into a new location. These distinctions clarify why "deposited" is the most fitting term to describe the outcome of sedimentation.