Wastewater Treatment​

Why Treat Our Wastewater?

Even though wastewater is about 99.93% water, there can be plenty of pollutants that are harmful to humans and the environment if not removed. 
  • Suspended matter/solids
    • t​​his is what causes the water to look murky. 
  • Pathogens
    • disease-causing organisms, which can be harmful to both marine and human life
  • Organic matter 
    • this reduces the oxygen supply in the water, bringing harm to marine life which can serve as “food” for microorganisms in the receiving body.
  • Nutrients
    • an excess of nutrients (such as nitrogen & phosphorus) in the environment will cause algae growth to increase substantially and cause harm to marine & other plant life
  • Toxics 
    • ​Metals & man-made chemicals can be harmful to the environment and human life. 
A sample of the wastewater entering the plant.
To make the water safe for the environment and human contact, these pollutants must be removed before discharging the water from the treatment plant. Click on the button to follow the treatment process from beginning to end. 
An aerial view of the Berwick Sewer District