Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater refers to water that has been used by people in some way Includes sewage water, water from showers and sinks, and water used in manufacturing processes

Septic Systems Often used in rural areas Wastewater runs from the house to an underground septic tank Inside the tank soils and oils separate from water The clarified water runs downhill to a drain field of perforated pipes laid in gravel Here, the wastewater is decomposed by microbes Solid waste is later pumped out of the septic tank and taken to a landfill

Municipal Sewer Systems In cities, sewer systems carry wastewater from homes and businesses to centralized treatment locations In NYC, we have a combined sewer system, which means that wastewater from residences and businesses goes to the same pipe system as runoff water from streets Heavy rains cause them to overflow and discharge raw sewage into the waterways

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Sewage Sludge The resulting wet solution is dried and either put in a landfill, incinerated, or used as fertilizer (38-50%) Each year, 6 million dry tons of sludge are generated in the US If toxic bacteria and other pathogens are not present, sludge can fertilize land used for food crops or livestock In 1993, the EPA established safety regulations for sludge used as fertilizer, but many people still this is an unsafe practice