Wastewater treatment involves using physical, chemical, and/or biological processes to remove harmful pollution - including raw sewage, industrial chemicals, runoff, and more - from wastewater. Wastewater comes from sources such as our homes, business, runoff, or sewers, and after being treated, is typically released into bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, or oceans.
The process of removing pollutants from water that has been used. There are three different stages of treatment. Primary treatment involves screening the water to remove the largest solids and then letting the water sit in tanks so that smaller particles can be removed when they sink to the bottom. Secondary treatment uses bacteria and other microscopic organisms to eat or biodegrade the organic pollutants that were not removed during primary treatment. During tertiary treatment, the water passes though a filter. Following treatment the water is disinfected and released back into nature. Water that leaves wastewater treatment plants must meet strict federal and state requirements.