pH measures whether wastewater is what?

pH is a scale that measures the acidity or basicity of a substance, in this case, wastewater. At a pH of 7, a solution is considered neutral, meaning it is neither acidic nor basic. Values below 7 indicate acidity, while values above 7 indicate basicity. Therefore, the answer is focused specifically on how pH quantifies the chemical characteristics of wastewater, determining whether it falls into the acidic or basic category. This information is crucial for wastewater treatment processes, as the pH level can significantly influence biological activity and the effectiveness of chemical treatments.

Other options, while related to wastewater analysis, do not precisely relate to the role of pH. Neutrality refers to a specific point on the pH scale rather than the overall function of pH; contamination and purity concern the quantity and type of pollutants in the water, and organic versus inorganic refers to chemical composition rather than acidity or basicity.