A wastewater treatment plant removes solids from water, and reduces organic matter and pollutants. It also restores oxygen to wastewater to ensure that discharged water contains enough oxygen to support aquatic life. There are two steps to treating wastewater at the Chambers Creek plant. The first step, called primary treatment, removes about half of the solids from wastewater. Screens collect trash as water passes.
Water flow is slowed to allow heavy solids to settle.
Later, they are removed. Scrapers collect more solid matter and any grease remaining at the top of the water. Air is mixed with wastewater, along with bacteria and other microorganisms. These organisms consume harmful organic matter, A sedimentation tank allows the solid wastes and microorganism to settle and separate from wastewater. Chlorine is added to wastewater as a disinfectant before it is discharged.