Waste water from households and industries must be disposed of properly to protect water sources from contamination. Industrial waste water is regulated and cannot be mixed with other types of water. Runoff from streets is also considered waste water and some communities have mandated special ponds to collect it.
Waste water is any water that is disposed of after it has been used for a primary purpose. This includes the disposal of household water, for example when washing clothes or dishes, as well as cooking and cleaning. It also includes water used for industrial purposes, such as when operating machines or required for other cleaning purposes. Once its primary use is finished, it must be disposed of properly.
The main reason you need to be careful when dealing with water waste is to protect other water sources from contamination. Therefore, most of the water waste is taken via the sewer line to a water treatment plant. There, solids and most biological organisms are removed from the water and the clean water is released as effluent, usually into another water source, such as a river or lake. If the equipment at the water treatment plant is functioning properly, the water will pose no danger to the environment when released.
Industrial waste water is often treated slightly differently than regular household waste water. Water that has only been used in the manufacturing process can be released directly into the environment if a number of conditions are understood. This is often heavily regulated in many jurisdictions and those industrial plants can be heavily fined if found to be abusing discharge terms. In some cases, prosecutions could also be launched against those responsible. The water will likely contain some solids, especially metals. Such metals cannot be of types or in concentrations considered hazardous.
Furthermore, industrial wastewater must not be mixed with any other type of water discharged from the plant. For example, sewer lines that serve bathrooms and kitchens in such facilities may not run into lines that serve industrial uses. This protects the effluent from cross-contamination, thus ensuring that no harmful bacteria are released into an otherwise clean or safe water supply.
Waste water can also be considered runoff from streets and other areas after a rain. This type of water is sometimes not considered that dangerous and is often channeled directly into a body of natural water. Some communities and states have begun to change road rules and believe that oil and other contaminants on the road surface can negatively impact the environment. To protect the environment, some have mandated special ponds, called drainage ponds, to collect water and keep it separate from other water sources. This water waste doesn’t need to be treated, but it can get cleaner over time due to natural processes.
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