Which statement is true about virus reproduction in wastewater?

Viruses are unique entities that rely on living hosts for their reproduction. Unlike bacteria or other microbes, viruses cannot replicate independently; they need to invade a host cell and hijack the host's cellular machinery to produce new virus particles. This dependency on a host for reproduction underlines the nature of viruses as obligate intracellular parasites. In the context of wastewater, this means that viruses present in the water will not multiply unless they encounter suitable host cells within that environment. Understanding this concept is crucial for managing public health risks associated with pathogens in wastewater.

Choices that suggest viruses can multiply in databases or with nutrients misrepresent their biological needs, as they do not have metabolic processes like living cells. Additionally, the idea that they can increase their population in clarifiers overlooks their requirement for a host for reproduction, highlighting the importance of the correct understanding of viral biology.