1. water treatment
Potable water…water that is drinkable; safe for consumption
Drinking water treatment is widespread in developed countries today
However, developing countries lack safe drinking water…result in many deaths
Developing countries also lack adequate sewage treatment

2. Drinking water treatment
Reservoir or aquifer water is pumped to a facility where it is treated with chemicals to remove any particulate matter
Water is then passed through filters of sand, gravel, and charcoal to further remove impurities
Water is treated with chlorine &/or undergoes UV treatment for final disinfection

3. Waste water Water that people have used in some way Sewage
Showers/sinks
washing machines/dishwashers
Manufacturing
Industrial cleaning processes
Storm water runoff

4. Septic systems Method of wastewater disposal in rural areas
Separates solids from liquid
Digests & store organic matter
Clarified liquid is discharged into an underground drain/leach field & into surrounding soil
Soil microorganisms degrade & decompose the septage

5. Municipal Wastewater treatment
Routine in urban, densely populated areas in developed countries
Primary & secondary treatment is required by US federal law

6. Primary treatment
Physical removal of contaminants in settling tanks or clarifiers
Approximately 60% of suspended solids are removed

7. Secondary treatment
Biological process that involves wastewater proceeding to aeration basins
Stirred & oxygenated
Aerobic bacteria degrade the organic pollutants
90% suspended organic solids are removed

8. Tertiary (advanced) treatment
Physical & chemical process of removing specific pollutants left in the water
EX: removing specific toxic chemicals (heavy metals) from local industrial plants
EX: excess nitrates from water contaminated with excess fertilizers
Expensive process…occurs only in a few locations

9. Final stages
Water treated with chlorine…ozone…or uv light to kill infectious agents
Effluent piped into river or ocean

12. sludge
solid material that is removed during the wastewater treatment process
Partially dried on site then transported to local municipal incinerator or disposed of in a landfill
May be used as fertilizer on croplands in areas where industrial & manufacturing byproducts are not present in wastewater