Waste water is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence.
Wastewater can originate from a combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff or stormwater, and from sewer inflow or infiltration.
THE COMPOSITION OF WASTE WATER VARIES WIDELY. THIS IS A PARTIAL LIST IT MAY CONTAIN:
-
water (more than 95 percent), which is often added during flushing to carry waste down a drain
-
pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, prions and parasitic worms
-
non-pathogenic bacteria
-
organic particles such as feces, hairs, food, vomit, paper fibers, plant material, humus...
-
soluble organic material such as urea, fruit sugars, soluble proteins, drugs, pharmaceuticals...
-
inorganic particles such as sand, grit, metal particles, ceramics...
-
soluble inorganic material such as ammonia, road-salt, sea-salt, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, thiocyanates, thiosulfates...
-
animals such as protozoa, insects, arthropods, small fish...
-
macro-solids such as sanitary napkins, diapers, needles, dead animals or plants...
-
gases such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane...
-
emulsions such as paints, adhesives, hair colorants, emulsified oils
-
toxins such as pesticides, poisons, herbicides...
-
pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other hazardous substances