Wastewater treatment plants have the important job of filtering and cleaning wastewater from multiple sources. Wastewater can include numerous contaminants, like oils, soaps, food waste, human waste and chemicals that are mixed in because of human consumption. These substances are disposed of through sinks, toilets, bathtubs, washing machines and dishwashers. Larger companies dispose of the same substances through their waste channels. Wastewater also includes water from storm runoff drains.
Most of the water that companies and homes use has to be treated before it can be reused or released back into nature. While our environment can accommodate small amounts of pollutants, the amounts created by humans daily are too overwhelming for nature to withstand. Wastewater treatment plants are essential to ecosystems and communities across the country to continue using safe and clean water.