Air stripping is a treatment method that falls under which category?

Air stripping is a treatment method primarily used for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gases from contaminated water. This process is typically categorized under tertiary treatment. Tertiary treatment refers to advanced treatment processes that come after primary and secondary treatments, aimed at further purifying the water to remove specific contaminants that remain after initial treatment steps. In the case of air stripping, it enhances water quality by targeting substances that may not be adequately removed through basic sedimentation (primary treatment) or biological processes (secondary treatment). By effectively eliminating these volatile contaminants, air stripping plays a crucial role in ensuring the treated water meets stringent environmental standards before being discharged or reused.