Sewage
Sewage is the mainly liquid waste containing some solids produced by humans which typically consists of washing water, faeces, urine, laundry waste and other material which goes down drains and toilets from households and industry. It is one type of wastewater, and is a major actual or potential source of pollution especially in urban areas. Sewage services exist to manage sewage by collection, treatment and recycling or safe disposal into the environment.
Sewage services
Collection and disposal
A system of sewer pipes (sewers) collects sewage and takes it for treament or disposal. The system of sewers is called sewerage. Where a main sewerage system has not been provided, sewage may be collected from homes by pipes into septic tanks or cesspits, where it may be treated or collected in vehicles and taken for treament or disposal.
Properly functioning septic tanks require emptying every 2-5 years depending on the load of the system.
Treatment
Sewage treatment is the process of removing the contaminants from sewage to produce liquid and solid (sludge) suitable for discharge to the environment or for reuse. It is a form of waste management. A septic tank or other on-site wastewater treatment system such as biofilters can be used to treat sewage close to where it is created.
Sewage water is a complex matrix, with many distinctive chemical characteristics. These include high concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, phosphorus, high conductivity (due to high dissolved solids), high alkalinity, with pH typically ranging between 7 and 8. Trihalomethanes are also likely to be present as a result of past disinfection.
In advanced countries sewage collection and treatment is typically subject to local, state and federal regulations and standards.
Facts about sewage
- The words 'sewage' and 'sewer' came from Old French essouier, 'to drain'.
- The words 'sewerage' and 'sewage' were used interchangeably (but wrongly) in the past.
- A strong-acting hallucinogenic substance called jenkem can be produced by fermenting sewage.
See also
- Drainage system
- Ecological sanitation
- Humanure
- ISO 5667
- ISO 10304
- Jenkem
- Sanitary sewer overflow
- Sewage pumping
- Waste management
- Water quality
External links
- Sewer History - main focus is sewers, but also contains significant information on sewage, sewage treatment and disposal, and health impacts.
- A tour of the Everett Water Pollution Control Facility in Washington, written by an employee.
| Topics related to waste management | edit | |
| Anaerobic digestion | Composting | Incineration | Landfill | Mechanical biological treatment | Radioactive waste | Recycling | Sewerage | Waste | Waste collection | Waste sorting | Waste hierarchy | Waste management | Waste management concepts | Waste legislation | Waste treatment technology | ||
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