what is effluent
Effluent, in engineering, is the stream exiting a chemical reactor. Effluent is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as  wastewater-treated or untreated-that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall.Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters .n effluent sump pump, for instance, pumps waste from toilets installed below a main sewage line. In the context of waste water treatment plants, effluent that has been treated is sometimes called secondary effluent, or treated effluent. This cleaner effluent is then used to feed the bacteria in biofilters.