What is MOST likely to occur if a high organic shock load enters the plant?

When a high organic shock load enters a wastewater treatment plant, the metabolic demands of microorganisms increase significantly as they work to break down the additional organic material. This sudden influx of organic matter can outpace the available oxygen in the treatment system, leading to a rapid consumption of dissolved oxygen by the bacteria as they engage in aerobic decomposition.

As these microorganisms utilize oxygen at a faster rate than it can be replenished, the dissolved oxygen levels in the treatment system can fall dangerously low. Insufficient dissolved oxygen can create stress on the microbial community, reducing their efficiency and potentially leading to anaerobic conditions, which are less effective for treatment. This can also result in undesirable byproducts and impact the overall performance and quality of the effluent being discharged.

Therefore, the most likely outcome when there is a high organic shock load is a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels, which underscores the importance of monitoring and managing organic loads in wastewater treatment processes.