How Is Wastewater Recycled in Treatment Plants?
Collection and First-Stage Waste Removal Water that is flushed down the toilet, goes down any drain or comes from a washing machine from a home or business is considered wastewater. Sanitary sewer systems carry wastewater to a sewage or water treatment plant through pipe systems that are underground in most places. These sewer systems tend to follow the slope of the land so that water can naturally flow to the treatment plant without the assistance of pumps. When the wastewater arrives at the treatment plant, the first step in recycling is generally to remove large objects that exist in the water like boxes, sticks and other bulky items. This process is done using bar screens or grates that filter out these larger items as the water flows into the treatment plant. Water flow is then slowed as it leaves the screens and enters the next stage of recycling, the grit tank. Smaller materials that made it through the initial bar screen process are allowed to settle to the bottom of the water
