More reasons to care

The Importance of Proper Liquid Waste Disposal

Why do we care about correct liquid wastewater effluent disposal? Here are a few reasons:

• Environmental protection: Improper wastewater effluent disposal can hurt the surrounding environment. It can affect the balance of aquatic ecosystems and kill marine organisms. Or it can seep into the soil, kill plants, destroy natural habitats and cause biodiversity loss.

• Human health protection: Inadequate wastewater effluent disposal can also make people seriously ill. If wastewater effluent fluids leak, spill or run off over the ground, they can contaminate the groundwater and surface water sources that people use for drinking. If treatment plant filters cannot address the contaminants, people may ingest them. They may develop gastrointestinal illnesses, heavy metal poisoning or other severe conditions depending on the composition of the waste.

• Aesthetic concerns: Improper wastewater effluent disposal can give the disposal area an offensive smell. Though it may not harm residents directly, it can make their daily activities more unpleasant and lead to complaints. Proper wastewater effluent disposal helps maintain good relationships within a community and being responsible is a good thing.

Liquid waste may come in a few different forms:

• Sanitary sewage: Sanitary sewage typically comes from a home or community and contains human waste and wash water.

• Industrial sewage: Industrial sewage comes from facilities involved in manufacturing.

• Storm sewage: Storm sewage consists of the surface runoff that comes from the environment like rain or snow melt.

• Mixed sewage: Mixed sewage combines two or three of the single sewage types.

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