Final answer:
Upon receiving a final water quality alarm, the immediate response at a water treatment facility should be to shut down the water treatment system to prevent the spread of potentially contaminated water. The safety and quality of the water must be reassured before it can be distributed, especially to prevent diseases such as cholera.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of a water treatment facility, upon receiving a final water quality alarm, the immediate response should not be to evacuate the treatment floor, begin emergency dialysis for patients or notify hospital administration. Instead, the typical procedure would be b. Shut down the water treatment system. This is to prevent the distribution of potentially contaminated water until the source of the complication can be identified and corrected. Ensuring that unsafe water does not reach any end-users is the critical priority to prevent health risks such as cholera, which is caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae and often spreads through inadequate water treatment.
Relating to the water treatment stages and analyzing wastewater after primary treatment, one would notice that c. Much of the dissolved solids have been removed. However, harmful pathogens might still be present, and the water is not yet safe to drink or potable. Secondary and tertiary treatments are necessary to further purify the water and ensure it is free from harmful organisms and chemicals before it can be deemed potable.