The City of Toledo wastewater collection system is the system of pipes and pumps that convey wastewater from homes, businesses, schools and factories to the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater is considered to be any water that has been used for cleaning, sanitary purposes, food processing and conveying waste. Toledo's collection system is comprised of a network of sewer pipes and pumps. Wastewater that flows to a pump station is then pumped to another pump station or the plant. Pipes that convey flow by gravity are called gravity mains and pipes that convey pumped wastewater are called force mains.
Wastewater flows from a residence in a small pipe called a lateral.
The lateral is connected to a larger pipe called a sewer main. Sometimes the sewer main is connected to a larger sewer main. These mains are all gravity mains and eventually empty into a pump station or the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater travels from the pump station via force mains to the plant or to another pump station and then to the plant. Much of Toledo's gravity collection system is old and deteriorating.