What is a primary characteristic of wastewater from a metal treatment stream?

The primary characteristic of wastewater from a metal treatment stream is toxicity. Wastewater generated from metal treatment processes often contains various heavy metals and chemical contaminants that can pose significant health risks to humans and aquatic life. These contaminants can include substances like lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium, which are known for their harmful effects even at low concentrations.

Understanding the toxicity of wastewater is crucial for treatment and disposal, as regulation agencies impose strict limits on the discharge of such materials to protect environmental and public health. Consequently, while other properties such as pH or temperature can vary in metal treatment wastewater, it is the presence of toxic substances that is most defining and critical to manage in wastewater treatment practices.