- What is wastewater?
Much of the water used by homes, industries, and businesses must be treated before it is released back to the environment. If the term "wastewater treatment" is confusing to you, you might think of it as "sewage treatment."
Nature has an amazing ability to cope with small amounts of water wastes and pollution, but it would be overwhelmed if we didn't treat the billions of gallons of wastewater and sewage produced every day before releasing it back to the environment.
Treatment plants reduce pollutants in wastewater to a level nature can handle. Wastewater is used water. 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 that must be cleaned. Wastewater also includes storm runoff. Although some people assume that the rain that runs down the street during a storm is clean, it isn't. Harmful substances that wash off roads, parking lots, and rooftops can harm our rivers and lakes.
- Why Treat Wastewater?
There are a lot of good reasons why keeping our water clean is an important priority. It is a matter of caring for our environment and for our own health.
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 teem with life that depends on shoreline and marshes. They are critical habitats for hundreds of species of fish and other wildlife. 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. 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. Primary treatment removes about 60 percent of suspended solids from wastewater. This treatment also involves aerating (stirring up) the wastewater to put oxygen back in. Secondary treatment removes more than 90 percent of suspended solids.
