Water is vital to all aspects of our lives. From keeping us hydrated and helping our bodies function properly to powering homes, manufacturing businesses and providing recreational opportunities, we depend on clean, freshwater. Water is also responsible for removing and processing the wastes generated by our daily activities. It is important that this valuable resource be handled and treated well, to protect human health and the environment.
As our population and consumption https://www.waterandwastewater.com/ continue to grow, the need for water and wastewater management will become increasingly critical. The collection, treatment and management of sewage and wastewater are primarily the responsibility of local government agencies. Typically, the goal of these agencies is to ensure that wastewater and sewage are safely collected, transported, and treated to minimize impact on natural resources and human health.
The most common sources of wastewater are households and business and industry. Everyday activities such as washing clothes, cooking, showering and using the toilet produce significant volumes of wastewater. In addition, large industries such as refineries generate wastewater.
Wastewater is mostly water, but it contains other elements such as pathogens, organic matter and inorganic contaminants. These elements are usually not hazardous, but they pose a risk to the environment and to human health.
In the wastewater treatment process, the first step is to remove any solids and debris. This is accomplished through screening, comminution, grit removal and sedimentation. These steps are important because they help to reduce the amount of trash that ends up in our rivers and lakes.
Next, the wastewater is treated to destroy any harmful bacteria. This is done by treating it with chemicals, such as chlorine and chloramines. After this, the wastewater is filtered to remove any remaining particles. The resulting wastewater is sometimes disinfected with ultraviolet light or other methods to prevent disease from entering the environment.
The final step of the treatment process is to recycle any water that can be used again. This is often accomplished by treating the wastewater to make it suitable for irrigation and industrial uses. It can also be returned to the river or lake.
Effluent, wastewater and sewage are terms that can be confusing because they are so similar. Generally, the term effluent is used to refer to any liquid that has been used and is being discharged from a factory, office or household. The term sewage is typically used to refer to the liquid waste that is generated by the flushing of toilets.
Wastewater includes sewage, gray water (water from sinks and showers) and industrial wastewater. When this water leaves your home, it travels to the municipal sewer system or private septic systems in order to be disposed of properly. From there, it is taken to the water treatment plant where it undergoes treatment.
