Which of the following is NOT an element of a pretreatment program?

A pretreatment program is designed to reduce the amount of pollutants entering a water treatment facility, ensuring that the water meets quality standards before it undergoes further treatment. Each of the elements traditionally associated with a pretreatment program plays a specific role in managing water quality.

The choice that is not considered an element of a pretreatment program is the chemical treatment of reservoirs. This process typically occurs after the water has been collected or stored in reservoirs and is related to the direct treatment of the water to manage algae blooms or other quality issues in the water body. It is not part of the pretreatment process aimed at preventing pollutants from entering the system at the source.

In contrast, the other options, such as the location of intake, screening, and destratification, are all critical components of pretreatment. The location of intake ensures that water is sourced from areas that minimize contamination. Screening involves removing larger debris and particulates from water before it enters further processing. Destratification may be used to manage temperature layers in a water body to prevent the formation of harmful conditions that could lead to water quality issues. Thus, acknowledging the distinct roles of these processes helps clarify their relationship to pretreatment.