Wastewater is water that has been used for sanitary, industrial or agricultural purposes and is no longer suitable for direct consumption or reuse. It often contains a combination of biological, chemical and physical pollutants.

Wastewater treatment is the process of removing pollutants from wastewater before it is discharged into the environment. The purpose of wastewater treatment is to improve the quality of the water and prevent pollution of the environment.

There are various methods of wastewater treatment, depending on the pollutants and the water’s intended future use. Biological treatment, for example, removes biological pollutants by breaking them down with bacteria, while chemical treatment removes pollutants through chemical reactions.

After wastewater treatment the water must meet certain quality standards before it can be discharged back into the environment. These standards are established by government agencies to ensure the health and safety of the environment.