What are TSS solids characterized by?

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are defined as the solids present in water that are not easily removed by sedimentation and can be captured by filtration. Specifically, TSS are characterized as the solids that cannot pass through a filter with a pore size of 1.2 micrometers. This measurement is significant because it helps identify particulate matter in the wastewater that may impact water quality and treatment processes.

Understanding TSS is crucial in wastewater treatment as they can impact biological processes, affect disinfection efficiency, and lead to sludge production during the treatment process. The inability of TSS to pass through the specified filter size indicates that these solids are sufficiently large and require specific treatment methods to be effectively removed from water prior to discharge or further treatment.

The other options describe characteristics that do not appropriately align with the definition of TSS. For instance, solids that can freely pass through any filter do not qualify as suspended solids, and not all solids that are characterized as TSS are hazardous or water-soluble. Hence, the focus on their retention by a specific filter size is what defines and categorizes TSS effectively.