Wastewater Treatment

Definition

Wastewater treatment is the process by which pollutants are removed from wastewater before it is released back into the environment. It involves physical, chemical, and biological processes that aim to reduce contaminants to levels that are safe for ecosystems.

Analogy

Imagine wastewater treatment as a giant filtration system for dirty dishes. Just like how you clean dirty dishes with soap and hot water before putting them away in your cabinets, wastewater treatment cleans up dirty water before returning it safely back into nature.

Related terms

Sewage Treatment Plant: A facility where domestic wastewater is treated to remove contaminants before being discharged into rivers or oceans.

Primary Treatment: The initial stage in wastewater treatment where large solids are removed through processes like screening or sedimentation.

Secondary Treatment: The second stage in wastewater treatment where microorganisms break down organic matter through biological processes.