OUR GEM: How a local treatment plant is improving our water quality
Photo courtesy of Our Gem.
When water from your home, whether from the toilet, sinks or shower, goes down the drain, it travels through a network of pipes to a wastewater treatment facility (unless you’re on a private septic system). There, it undergoes a series of treatment steps to become clean enough to return safely to the natural environment.
The process begins with pretreatment, where large debris like sticks and plastic, along with sand and gravel, are removed. Next is primary treatment. Here, the water enters the first clarifier, imagine a giant pot of stew being gently stirred. The oils and greases rise to the surface while solids settle to the bottom to be removed and processed separately. The clarified water goes to secondary treatment, which uses bacteria to break down organic matter and remove nutrients.
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