**What Is Sewage Treatment?**
Sewage treatment involves a series of processes designed to remove contaminants from wastewater generated by households, businesses, and industries. This process safeguards public health and the environment by preventing the discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies.
**Sewage Treatment Process**
Sewage treatment typically includes the following steps:
* **Preliminary Treatment:** This removes large objects like debris and grit from the wastewater.
* **Primary Treatment:** Wastewater is settled in settling tanks to allow solids to settle out.
* **Secondary Treatment:** Biological processes (e.g., activated sludge) remove organic matter and nutrients from the wastewater.
* **Tertiary Treatment:** Advanced processes (e.g., filtration, disinfection) further purify the wastewater before it is discharged into the environment.
### What Happens to Leftover Sewage Sludge?
During sewage treatment, solids (known as sludge) are separated from the liquid wastewater. This sludge undergoes further processing before being disposed of:
* **Dewatering:** Water is squeezed out of the sludge to reduce its volume.
* **Stabilization:** The sludge is treated to destroy pathogens and minimize odor.
* **Disposal:** The sludge can be disposed of in landfills, incinerated, or used as a soil amendment. The disposal method depends on regulations and availability of resources in the specific location.