Which of the following statements is true regarding sedimentation?

Sedimentation is a critical process in water treatment that involves the settling of suspended particles in water due to gravity. As water flows through a sedimentation basin or tank, particles such as silt, sand, and organic matter will gradually settle to the bottom. This process is beneficial because it effectively reduces the overall load of suspended solids that need to be addressed in subsequent filtration stages.

By helping to remove a significant proportion of these solids before water reaches filtration systems, sedimentation enhances the efficiency of those filtration processes. This means that filters do not have to work as hard, which can extend their lifespan and improve their effectiveness in removing remaining contaminants.

The other statements do not hold true for sedimentation. It does not guarantee complete removal of all contaminants, as some may remain in suspension (the first statement). While sedimentation can have some impact on temperature, it generally does not increase water temperature significantly (the second statement). Furthermore, sedimentation is indeed affected by particle size; larger particles tend to settle more quickly than smaller ones, contradicting the notion that sedimentation is independent of particle size (the fourth statement).