<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"><dc:title xml:lang="en">settling tanks</dc:title><dc:identifier>http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en?tema=31473207</dc:identifier><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Getty Institute</dc:publisher><dcterms:created>2026-03-30 21:07:20</dcterms:created><dcterms:isPartOf xsi:type="dcterms:URI">http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en</dcterms:isPartOf><dcterms:isPartOf xml:lang="en">Tesaurus d&apos;Art i Arquitectura</dcterms:isPartOf><dc:format>text/html</dc:format> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">sedimentation tanks</dcterms:alternative> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">settling tank</dcterms:alternative> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">tanks, settling</dcterms:alternative> <dc:description xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Components of modern sewage-treatment systems where waste water is passed through a series of tanks following coarse screening to remove large objects. Grit chambers settle out sand and cinders; primary settling tanks remove heavy organic solids; and aeration tanks mix the incoming sewage with activated, bacteria-rich sludge and fine air bubbles, causing the rapid oxidation of organic matter. Final settling tanks remove the remaining suspended solids from the mixture. ]]></dc:description></metadata>