Stepping into the Wastewater Treatment Process

Eight stages of wastewater treatment

If you’ve been researching wastewater treatment steps or stages, you’ve probably found articles and information that state there are 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 stages, maybe even more. If you delve into it, some information shows the general stages while others go into more defined stages like you will find in the article, Eight Stages of the Wastewater Treatment Process. But who’s really counting? If you are working in a wastewater treatment facility, you have a job to do. The wastewater continues to flow through the process day after day. And, regardless of the number of steps you define as your process, it’s critical to make sure you are performing wastewater treatment correctly, to your region’s environmental laws and government regulations and guidance. These are the people really counting!

Regulations

For example, in the United States and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the regulation for treatment and discharge of wastewater falls under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) issues permits to all wastewater dischargers and treatment facilities. These permits establish specific discharge limits, monitoring and reporting requirements and may also require these facilities to undertake special measures to protect the environment from harmful pollutants. In addition, cities and local municipalities follow the larger government laws and may also have its own manuals and regulations as well.

In the United Kingdom, the government has its own guidance on wastewater treatment and discharging limits. You can get more information at the UK.GOV Environment Agency.

Read more

If you are new to wastewater or would like to brush up on your knowledge, read Eight Stages of the Wastewater Treatment Process to learn more about the following:

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