What is a typical characteristic of wastewater produced in the dairy industry?

The wastewater produced in the dairy industry is characterized by high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids due to the nature of dairy processing. As dairy products are created, a significant amount of organic matter, including fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, is released into the wastewater. This organic matter contributes to a high BOD, indicating that the water requires a substantial amount of oxygen for microbial decomposition.

Additionally, the production processes lead to various solid particles being suspended in the wastewater, such as milk residues and particulate matter from cleaning operations. This combination results in elevated levels of suspended solids, further complicating the treatment processes required before discharge into water bodies.

Other options, while related to characteristics of wastewater, do not capture the specific nature of dairy industry wastewater as well as the combination of high BOD and suspended solids does. For instance, high levels of organic compounds alone do not convey the full picture without context regarding their oxygen demand and presence as solids in the water.