What is wastewater and why treat it?

 

What is wastewater?
 
Wastewater is used water from homes, industries, and businesses. It includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and chemicals. In homes, this includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. Businesses and industries also contribute their share of used water.
 
Wastewater also includes storm runoff. Although some people assume that the rain that runs down the street during a storm is fairly clean, it isn't. Harmful substances that wash off roads, parking lots, and rooftops can harm our rivers and lakes.
 
Why Treat Wastewater?
 
Although nature has an amazing ability to cope with small amounts of water wastes and pollution, it would be overwhelmed if we didn't treat the millions of gallons of wastewater and sewage produced every day before releasing it back to the environment. Wastewater treatment reduce pollutants in wastewater to a level nature can handle.
 
The major aim of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended solids as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment. As solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by the plants and animals living in the water.
 
Treating wastewater therefore helps us to take care of our environment and our own health. Keeping our water clean is an important priority for many reasons.
 
  Fisheries  
 

Clean water is critical to plants and animals that live in water. This is important to the fishing industry, sport fishing enthusiasts, and future generations.
     
  Wildlife Habitats  
 

Our rivers and ocean waters teem with life that depends on shoreline, beaches and marshes. They are critical habitats for hundreds of species of fish and other aquatic life. Migratory water birds use the areas for resting and feeding.
     
  Recreation and Quality of Life  
 

Water is a great playground  for us all. The scenic and recreational values of our waters are reasons many people choose to live where they do. Visitors are drawn to water activities such as swimming, fishing, boating and picnicking.
     
  Health Concerns  
 

If it is not properly cleaned, water can carry disease. Since we live, work and play so close to water, harmful bacteria have to be removed to make water safe.