In areas of dense population, usually urban or suburban, when people begin to live closer together there develops a greater need to treat wastewater as the ballooning populace gives rise to concerns for health and safety, in addition to preservation of environmental ground water. At such a time, communities will usually construct a sewer system that collects the wastewater and takes it to a wastewater treatment facility. Instead of a septic system, homes are connected to the municipal sewer system through their sewer line (or sewer lateral). All of the wastewater from a home flows through the sewer line to the municipal sewer main.
A sewer system, like a septic system, is dependent on the force of gravity to aid the wastewater in exiting from homes and businesses to run “downstream”, as it flows from individual buildings into a sewer main, then gradually into larger pipes until it reaches the wastewater treatment facility. Along the journey of the sewer main pipes, occasionally a vertical pipe to the surface will provide access for maintenance crews if necessary. The municipal sewer plant is also usually in a lower plan as it aids in transporting the sewage water downhill. Sometimes a lift station is necessary if the water must be moved over a hill.
Once at the treatment plant, the wastewater goes through several stages of treatment. The first stage is separation of solids for disposal; a second stage, organic materials and nutrients are removed with the help of bacteria; finally, chemicals are used to remove the remaining residues of phosphorous and nitrogen, chlorine is added to kill any remaining bacteria, and then the water is discharged. Since the average community can discharge 10 to 100 million gallons of water per day, the effectiveness of wastewater treatment and management is closely monitored. If you have any concerns about the effectiveness of your home’s system, your local sewer professional can inspect and service your sewer’s connection to the city’s main to ensure that all is working safely and properly.
