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Sewage Treatment and Management Overview

Sewage treatment removes contaminants from sewage through processes like those in septic tanks or constructed wetlands to produce liquid and sludge that can be safely discharged or reused. The treated sewage sludge may be used as fertilizer under certain conditions. Sewage collection and treatment is regulated in developed countries but raw sewage is still sometimes discharged untreated, causing pollution. Treated sewage can be converted to biogas while untreated sewage is increasingly used for irrigation, though this poses health risks if pathogens reach food that is eaten raw.

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37 views1 page

Sewage Treatment and Management Overview

Sewage treatment removes contaminants from sewage through processes like those in septic tanks or constructed wetlands to produce liquid and sludge that can be safely discharged or reused. The treated sewage sludge may be used as fertilizer under certain conditions. Sewage collection and treatment is regulated in developed countries but raw sewage is still sometimes discharged untreated, causing pollution. Treated sewage can be converted to biogas while untreated sewage is increasingly used for irrigation, though this poses health risks if pathogens reach food that is eaten raw.

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piping stress
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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6/17/2020 Sewage - Wikipedia

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 or constructed wetlands can be used to treat sewage close
to where it is created.

Sewage treatment results in sewage sludge which requires sewage


sludge treatment before safe disposal or reuse. Under certain
circumstances, the treated sewage sludge might be termed
"biosolids" and can be used as a fertilizer. A medieval waste pipe in Stockholm
Old Town formerly deposited
In developed countries sewage collection and treatment is typically sewage on the street to be flushed
subject to local and national regulations and standards. away by rain.

Disposal
Raw sewage is also disposed of to rivers, streams, and the sea in many parts
of the world. Doing so can lead to serious pollution of the receiving water.
This is common in developing countries and may still occur in some
developed countries, for various reasons – usually related to costs.

Ships at sea are forbidden from discharging their sewage overboard unless
three miles or more from shore.[16]

Reuse of treated or untreated sewage


Sewage can be converted to biogas using anaerobic digestion.[17] Sewage canal of a
Increasingly, agriculture is using untreated wastewater for irrigation. Cities medieval house as depicted
provide lucrative markets for fresh produce, so are attractive to farmers. in 1447 St. Barbara
Because agriculture has to compete for increasingly scarce water resources Altarpiece in the National
with industry and municipal users, there is often no alternative for farmers Museum in Warsaw.
but to use water polluted with urban waste, including sewage, directly to
water their crops. There can be significant health hazards related to using
water loaded with pathogens in this way, especially if people eat raw vegetables that have been irrigated
with the polluted water.

The International Water Management Institute has worked in India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Ghana,
Ethiopia, Mexico and other countries on various projects aimed at assessing and reducing risks of
wastewater irrigation. They advocate a ‘multiple-barrier’ approach to wastewater use, where farmers are
encouraged to adopt various risk-reducing behaviours. These include ceasing irrigation a few days before
harvesting to allow pathogens to die off in the sunlight, applying water carefully so it does not
contaminate leaves likely to be eaten raw, cleaning vegetables with disinfectant or allowing fecal sludge
used in farming to dry before being used as a human manure.[18] The World Health Organization has
developed guidelines for safe water use.

Legislation

[Link] 4/7

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