What process involves removing water from sludge or other solids for disposal?

The correct choice is dewatering, which refers specifically to the process of removing water from sludge or other solids to reduce their volume and prepare them for disposal. In wastewater treatment plants, dewatering is an essential step that improves the management and handling of the sludge produced during the treatment process. Effective dewatering not only minimizes transportation and disposal costs but also reduces the environmental impact by lowering the volume of waste.

This process is commonly achieved using techniques such as centrifugation, filtration, or the use of belt presses. These methods separate water from the solid material, allowing the solids to be handled more efficiently, whether they are being treated further, composted, or sent to a landfill.

While dehydration, decanting, and desiccating may involve removal or reduction of water, they do not specifically focus on the shedding of moisture from sludge in the context of wastewater treatment. Dehydration typically refers to removing water from substances more broadly and does not imply treatment of sludge. Decanting is a process used to separate liquid from solids but is not designed specifically for the reduction of sludge volume. Desiccation involves removing moisture to the extent that the material becomes dry but is not typically a term used in wastewater treatment.