Sewage and Sewer Systems

Sewage (also called wastewater) refers to the liquid and solid waste, usually containing human excrement, that is refused from a home, business or industry. Sewer systems are designed to dispose of human, household, and industrial waste in a manner that reduces human contact with harmful pathogens and toxins, decreases exposure to unpleasant sights and odors, and reduces the environmental impacts of dumping sewage directly into the physical environment. Modern sewer systems consist of various sizes of underground pipes that lead to a sewage treatment plant so treated sewage effluent can be safely returned to rivers and other waterways. Sewer systems may also require the use of lift or pump stations to move sewage from lower to higher elevations, while manholes provide access to sewer systems ...