Keeping our environment safe is crucial. We only have one planet, one Mother Nature and she deserves the best care possible if we want her to support future generations of living creatures. Water is the most precious gift that she provides for us. This is why we have water treatment systems to help keep the water on this planet fresh and clean for consumption and every day use. What about the water that is too dirty to reuse for drinking? What happens to it and where can we dispose of it so that it will not affect the environment in a negative way? The answer:  wastewater treatment.

Wastewater is actually a term used to describe liquid waste discharged by domestic homes, commercial and industrial properties and agricultural runoff. It is any kind of water that is used to flush away contaminants and certain concentrations. The part that contains urine and feces is called sewage, which is a subset of wastewater. This water drains separately from the other runoff water. It is the water that is disposed of through sewers and drained into a cesspool emptier.

There are two major classified types of wastewater: black and grey. Grey water is the water that contains bath/shower, sink, floors, washer machine, dish washer, agricultural, commercial, industrial and other drained water. This water can be treated so that when it is released back into the environment, it is not harmful. This type of treated water is usually used for agricultural and irrigation purposes. Sewage is referred to as ‘black water’. In fact any water is classified as ‘black water’ if sewage has contaminated it in any way. Treatment for these two types varies as each end product is used or disposed of in different ways.

Waste water treatment is necessary if the water is to be released back into the environment with no harmful side effects. Proper waste water treatment involves using chemical, biological, and physical processes to remove contaminants from the water. The sought after outcome is to produce environmentally safe liquid or solid waste that can be disposed of or reused in a farm land setting, usually as a fertilizer for agricultural purposes.

Wastewater is very treatable, despite what many may think. If done properly then wastewater can be recycled and returned to the environment safely without harming the natural settings around us.