What is a mechanical means to remove material from a sewer?

• A. pumping
• B. cutting
• C. herbicides
• D. sweeping

Answer: (B)

A mechanical means to remove material from a sewer relies on physically taking out blockages with equipment. Cutting fits this because it uses blades or cutters to physically sever or grind away the obstructing material inside the pipe, producing fragments that can be flushed away or removed. This is different from pumping, which mainly moves liquids and suspended solids rather than removing a solid blockage itself; herbicides rely on chemical action to break down material rather than a physical removal, and sweeping isn’t a method used to clear material from inside sewer lines. So cutting is the direct mechanical method for removing solid material from a sewer.