What is Wastewater?

The website wiseGEEK says:

Wastewater is a term applied to any type of water that has been utilized in some capacity that negatively impacts the quality of the water. Common examples of wastewater include water that is discharged from households, office and retail buildings, and manufacturing plants. Wastewater may also refer to any water that is utilized in an agricultural facility and is no longer considered fit for human consumption.

 The most common example of wastewater is liquid sewage. Discharged from homes and businesses alike, sewage usually contains a mixture of human waste, food remnants, water used in washing machines, and any other items that may have found their way into the sewage system. Many municipalities operate wastewater treatment plants <as we do here in Geneseo> that help to purify the sewage and recycle the water for other uses, such as watering lawns. <The Geneseo wastewater treatment plant treats the waste which is then released into the Genesee River.> The plant may employ many different devices to recycle the wastewater, including filters and chemical treatments.

 Many people think just because something flushes down the toilet, the item magically disappears into a hole in the wall or the floor never to be seen again; the objects made it down, there were no backups so everything must be fine!  But where does it go?  Toilet paper and human wastes are expected- no worries!

 Before one flushes other articles down the toilet, one should consider the following questionable items which may raise havoc with building sewage pipes, pipes which lead to the sewage treatment plant or treatment areas of the sewage treatment plant:

• Q-tips
• Facial cleansing wipes
• “Flushable” wipes
• Panty liners
• Sanitary pads

The Water Environment Federation created the video “Will it Flush?” which describes problematic issues with flushing some of the items above. 

Please consider what you flush!