what is wastewater

Wastewater is water that has been used for various purposes and contains contaminants. It can come from domestic, industrial, commercial, or agricultural activities, surface runoff/stormwater, and any sewer inflow or sewer infiltration. Wastewater can be generated from ordinary living processes such as bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, dishwashing, etc. . It can also come from non-domestic sources such as beauty salons, taxidermy, furniture refinishing, musical instrument cleaning, or auto body repair shops, which may contain hazardous materials and require special treatment or disposal. Prior to entering a wastewater treatment plant, wastewater is sometimes called raw wastewater or raw sewage. Wastewater can be broken down into two categories depending on the source: domestic and industrial wastewater. Domestic wastewater originates from households, while industrial wastewater comes from a variety of industrial processes such as manufacturing operations, mineral extraction, power generation, or water and wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment plants aim to remove as much of the suspended solids as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back into the environment. The treated wastewater is referred to as effluent, and it undergoes a process to reduce disease-causing organisms called disinfection.