wastewater
Used, contaminated flow
Wastewater is water that has been used and contaminated—from household drains, industrial processes, or agricultural runoff.
It contains pollutants, chemicals, or sewage that require treatment before safe discharge into the environment.
The city built a new wastewater treatment plant.
The term is standard in environmental engineering and municipal infrastructure discussions.
Discharged liquid waste
- sludgeSemi-solid waste material
- biosolidsTreated sewage for reuse
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- excretaDischarged bodily waste
fecal · greywater · blackwater · influent · scum · nightsoil · sewage treatment · raw sewage
Underground drainage pipe
- sewerageWastewater removal infrastructure
- drainageLiquid removal system
- septic tankSubterranean sewage decomposition chamber
- outfallDrainage discharge point
pipes · pumping station · manholes · interceptor · storm drain · main line · lateral · headworks
Discharged liquid waste
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
- nitratesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
phosphates · microplastics · pesticides · coliforms · pharmaceuticals · detergents · antibiotics · carcinogens
Separating solids from liquids
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- aerationInfusing with oxygen
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
chlorination · ozonation · ultraviolet · reverse osmosis · activated carbon · bioreactor · nitrification · denitrification
Excess water drainage
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
- algae bloomsRapid aquatic plant overgrowth
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- dead zonesAreas lacking life or signal
bioaccumulation · thermal pollution · environmental impact · fish kills · ecosystem damage · point source
Release of substance outward
- manufacturingIndustrial product creation
- petrochemicalsCompounds derived from petroleum
- tanneriesHide-curing establishments
- textilesWoven or knit materials
paper mills · refineries · chemical plants · food processing · slaughterhouse · electroplating · dyeing · pretreatment
Recovery of something lost
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- nonpotableUnsafe to drink
- closed-loopSystem with feedback control
effluent
Discharged liquid waste
- sludgeSemi-solid waste material
- biosolidsTreated sewage for reuse
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
excreta · fecal · greywater · blackwater · influent · scum · nightsoil · sewage treatment · raw sewage
sewer
Underground drainage pipe
- sewerageWastewater removal infrastructure
- drainageLiquid removal system
- septic tankSubterranean sewage decomposition chamber
outfall · pipes · pumping station · manholes · interceptor · storm drain · main line · lateral · headworks · lagoon
effluent
Discharged liquid waste
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- toxinsHarmful biological substances
nitrates · phosphates · microplastics · pesticides · coliforms · pharmaceuticals · detergents · antibiotics · carcinogens · ammonia
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- aerationInfusing with oxygen
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
disinfection · chlorination · ozonation · ultraviolet · reverse osmosis · activated carbon · bioreactor · nitrification · denitrification · biofilm
runoff
Excess water drainage
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
- algae bloomsRapid aquatic plant overgrowth
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
dead zones · bioaccumulation · thermal pollution · environmental impact · fish kills · ecosystem damage · point source
discharge
Release of substance outward
- manufacturingIndustrial product creation
- petrochemicalsCompounds derived from petroleum
- tanneriesHide-curing establishments
textiles · paper mills · refineries · chemical plants · food processing · slaughterhouse · electroplating · dyeing · pretreatment
reclamation
Recovery of something lost
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- nonpotableUnsafe to drink
- closed-loopSystem with feedback control
- ocean pollutionoil spills, plastic pollution, marine debris, chemical spills, ocean dumping
- civil engineeringbridges, highways, tunnels, foundations, dams
- environmental servicesremediation, air quality, recycling, pollution control, emissions
- sewagesewage, sewage systems, sewer pipes, sewer lines, sewer network
- wastewatersewage, sewage treatment, effluent, raw sewage, treatment plants
- water managementdam, irrigation, cistern, drainage, sluice gate
wastewaterclean water
Uncontaminated hydration source
freshwater · drinking water · potable water · pure water · purified water
wastewaterdrinking water
Safe liquid for consumption
potable water · influent · freshwater supply · water supply · raw water
waste, water, wasted, watery, watered, wasteful, watering, underwater, wasting