Wastewater

• Water is a precious resource and we use water for various activities.
• But most of these activities make the water dirty after use. This dirty water is called wastewater.
• With all the waste in it, water becomes unfit for animals and plants to survive.

Wastewater

• When life forms in these water bodies die, the bacteria present in dirty water start decomposing them.
• As a result the water begins to sink. Hence, it becomes essential to have a proper mechanism for wastewater disposal.

Sources of Wastewater:

• Wastewater is generated as a result of numerous human activities.

Sources of wastewater

Agriculture:

• Wastewater generated from farms contains harmful pesticides and biocides, animal waste etc.

Construction of Buildings:

• Large amount of wastewater is generated from construction of buildings.

Industries:

• Wastewater generated from paint and dye industries contains harmful chemicals such as lead, chromium etc. Such discharge is also called industrial effluents.

Domestic Activities:

• The wastewater generated from our houses contains detergents, food wastes, human faeces, plastics, paper, metal objects etc.

Mining:

• Wastewater is also generated as a result of mining operations.

Hospitals, Hotels, Offices:

• Wastewater from hospitals contains disease-causing germs.
• All the wastewater that is released from various sources forms the sewage which contains suspended impurities. These impurities are called contaminants.