Wastewater Treatment Plants

Definition

Wastewater treatment plants are facilities that remove pollutants and contaminants from wastewater before it is released back into the environment. They use various physical, chemical, and biological processes to treat the water.

Analogy

Think of a wastewater treatment plant as a giant filter for dirty water. Just like how you use a filter to clean impurities from your drinking water at home, these plants do the same thing but on a much larger scale.

Related terms

Industrial Discharges: These are harmful substances or pollutants that are released into the environment by industries during their manufacturing processes.

Stormwater Runoff: This refers to rainwater or melted snow that flows over land surfaces and collects pollutants along the way before entering rivers, lakes, or oceans.

Water Pollution: It is the contamination of water bodies (such as rivers, lakes, and oceans) due to human activities, which can harm aquatic life and affect human health.