Why wastewater treatment is important

This can lead to eutrophication, or the deoxygenation in a body of water, killing the organisms and potentially leading to hypoxia or environmental dead zones. They can enter the wastewater stream a variety of ways, including human and food waste, detergents, and pesticides.

Pathogens are bacteria, viruses, fungi, or any other microorganisms that can be present in wastewater that can lead to all kinds of health issues, including acute sickness, severe digestive problems, or death. When domestic or industrial wastewater contains these harmful pathogens and is not treated, it can spread illnesses and diseases such as cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis, hepatitis A, botulism, and giardiasis, to name a few. Mostly found in wastewater as a result of various industries, manufacturing processes, and household piping, when left in wastewater in high concentrations, metals can cause extensive damage to the environment and human health.

Some of the more common metals found in wastewater are outlined below along with their potential effect on humans and the environment. The mentioned effects are according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry a federal public health agency of the U.

Department of Health and Human Services. Total suspended solids TSS in wastewater, the organic and inorganic solid material suspended in the water, can, like many of the other contaminants listed, harm aquatic life. They can also be problematic if the wastewater is being reused for a process, so depending on whether or not you need to discharge your wastewater in a publicly owned treatment works POTW or environment, or reuse the wastewater for process, will determine how harmful the TSS will be.

TSS can decrease levels of oxygen in aquatic environments and kill of insects. They can also scale and foul piping and machinery. These facilities are used to treat the wastewater in various ways and then send the purified water back into the environment.

Learn more about wastewater : What is Wastewater? Language English German. Sign In. New Customer? Register Now. The Importance of Wastewater Treatment.

The importance of wastewater treatment facilities Water treatment facilities are designed to speed up the natural process of purifying water. Wastewater treatment protects humans and ecosystem Wastewater contains elements toxic to humans and the ecosystem.

The natural water treatment process is overloaded While Mother Nature does her best to naturally process wastewater, there is too much for her to handle. Think of your on-site wastewater treatment plant as a water conservation tool. By removing suspended solids and other pollutants, your system prevents groundwater and water pollution that could lead to:.

Now that you understand the basics of wastewater, take your knowledge to next level. Discover our range of treatment systems and find out how they protect your property, our communities, and planet we share. Close menu. Our solutions. Rainwater harvesters Underground water tanks All solutions. Client Space. Why do we need to treat wastewater? But before you start learning about wastewater treatment processes, take some time to get the answers to two basic questions: What is wastewater?

Why is wastewater treatment important? What is wastewater? This includes water contaminated as a result of: flushing toilets and urinals this waste is known as blackwater bathing, showering, and washing clothes and dishes greywater commercial and industrial activities As you would expect, wastewater is almost entirely water.

Organic matter. Related content. Case studies. Case study: How we replaced a failing camp septic system. Read more.