How waste water is treated
If you live in the city, waste water that leaves your house may pass
through up to three types of treatment. Primary treatment removes the
solid material in settlement tanks. Secondary treatment removes organic
material through biological means in aeration tanks. In some
municipalities, water undergoes tertiary chemical treatment to help remove
phosphates and kill most disease-causing bacteria.
The benefits of water conservation are evident even in the treatment
process. Less waste water flowing through treatment plants means that
costly new treatment capacity can be put on hold. And that eases the tax
burden on your pocketbook.
If you live in the country you probably rely on a septic tank and tile
field disposal system. Waste water enters the septic tank where solids
settle to the bottom. Bacteria partially decompose the sludge and the
effluent flows to the tile field or leaching bed where microbes in the
soil complete the treatment process.
 For people who rely on a septic tank, less waste water will
prolong the working life of the septic system. It also means a margin of
safety for your water supply, by lessening the chance of contaminants
entering the water table from an overloaded septic system.
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