Sewage cleanup services are crucial in preserving water quality and mitigating the spread of waterborne diseases. Sewage treatment plants employ a series of processes to remove contaminants and make wastewater safe for discharge into waterways or reuse.
### How Clean Is Water After Sewage Treatment? Once wastewater enters a treatment facility, it undergoes a multi-step process: **1. Screening:** Larger solids, such as rags and plastics, are removed. **2. Grit Removal:** Sand, grit, and other heavy particles are settled out. **3. Primary Treatment:** Biological processes remove organic matter and solids, settling and skimming away remaining solids. **4. Secondary Treatment:** Advanced biological processes further break down organic matter and disinfection kills pathogens. **5. Tertiary Treatment:** Additional processes, such as filtration and chemical disinfection, remove remaining pollutants. Through these stages, up to 99% of contaminants are removed. After tertiary treatment, water meets stringent standards for discharge or reuse in non-potable applications, such as irrigation or industrial cooling. However, it's important to note that the quality of treated water can vary depending on the characteristics of the influent wastewater and the plant's capacity.