Volatile suspended solids

Volatile suspended solids (VSS) are tiny bits of stuff that can float around in wastewater, like pieces of food, poop, and other organic matter. They're called 'volatile' because they can easily turn into gas when they're heated up. It's similar to when you heat up water on a stove and it turns into steam.

The VSS can be separated from the water by using special filters or centrifuges, which spin really fast to separate the solids from the liquid. This process helps to clean the wastewater and prepare it for reuse or discharge into the environment. When we talk about VSS, we're concerned about the amount of organic material in the wastewater, since it can affect the environment and water quality.

So, just think of VSS as tiny pieces of organic matter that need to be filtered out of wastewater to keep things clean and healthy!