Wastewater Treatment

Where exactly does all the water (and waste) go after you flush the toilet, drain the bathtub, or complete a load of laundry in the washing machine? If you live in a town or city, your household waste travels through a series of underground pipes to a wastewater treatment facility. The 1972 Clean Water Act mandates that all wastewater be treated before being released into water bodies.

Wastewater flowing into the plant is called influent. The wastewater treatment facility is responsible for removing contaminants, which includes sewage itself, fecal coliform bacteria, and nitrogen and phosphorus from human waste, food, soaps and detergents.

Wastewater treatment plants clean the water in multiple phases:

Once wastewater has undergone these main stages of treatment, and meets the standards set by state and federal officials, the clean water is released into nearby streams, lakes, or rivers. This water leaving the wastewater treatment plant is called effluent.

Curious for a behind-the-scenes look at the wastewater treatment process? Many municipal facilities offer tours upon request!