What is Wastewater?

Ever wondered where the water goes after you flush the toilet, wash your dishes, or do a load of laundry? That used water, filled with soap, food scraps, and even human waste, is called wastewater. It flows from homes, businesses, and industries into sewage systems for treatment.

Managing wastewater properly is crucial — it prevents pollution, protects public health, and keeps your plumbing running smoothly. Ignoring it? That can lead to some seriously messy (and smelly) problems.

Learn more about what wastewater is, the different types of wastewater, and how to deal with wastewater in your home.

Types of Wastewater

There are three main types of wastewater. These are classified based on their source and level of contamination.

Blackwater

Blackwater is wastewater contaminated with human waste. It carries harmful bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, making it the most hazardous type of wastewater. It can also be contaminated with dissolved chemicals and particulates, making contact even more dangerous.

Common sources of blackwater include:

Toilet flushes
Bidets
Kitchen sink drains (due to food scraps, grease, and organic matter)
Dishwashers (especially those connected to garbage disposals)

When it comes to home flooding emergencies, blackwater floods are the most destructive. Because of the grossly unsanitary conditions of the water, porous and absorbent items such as carpets, upholstery, and drywall are often unsalvageable. Contact with blackwater via ingestion or skin contact can cause illness in both humans and pets.

If you suspect that your home flooding situation involves sewage or blackwater, contact a professional plumber or water restoration expert to assess the situation before attempting to remedy it yourself.

Greywater

Greywater, or sullage, is wastewater that doesn’t contain human waste. It generally contains fewer pathogens than blackwater and can be reused for non-potable purposes, such as toilet flushing. Greywater still contains small amounts of contaminants and can induce illness if ingested.

Common sources of greywater include:

Bathroom sinks
Showers and bathtubs
Washing machines

If your home floods with greywater, take caution when beginning the cleaning process. Wear protective gear, and keep children, pets, and individuals with a compromised immune system away from the flooded area.

If the flood is extensive, such as several inches of water in the basement, hire professionals to safely clean up and decontaminate the area.

Industrial Wastewater

Industrial wastewater is produced by factories, power plants, and commercial facilities. It may contain chemicals, heavy metals, and toxins that aren’t safe for humans or the environment.

Common sources of industrial wastewater include:

Manufacturing plants
Chemical refineries
Food processing facilities

Left untreated, industrial wastewater can contaminate local drinking water sources and harm aquatic life. It can also leech into the soil, making it harder to grow produce. Chemicals in industrial wastewater can even evaporate into the air, increasing pollution.

Luckily, there are methods for treating this type of volatile wastewater. For example, companies can use coagulants, flocculants, and disinfectants to remove pollutants. It’s also possible to use advanced filtration, like reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtering, to remove particulate matter.

Why is Wastewater a Concern?

Untreated wastewater poses significant health and environmental risks. When not properly managed, wastewater can:

Spread bacteria, viruses, and diseases when it contaminates drinking water supplies.
Harm aquatic ecosystems by introducing toxic substances and depleting oxygen levels.
Cause algal blooms in lakes and rivers, leading to dead zones where marine life cannot survive.
Create foul odors and unsanitary conditions in residential and urban areas.
Damage soil and groundwater, affecting agriculture and food safety.

By ensuring wastewater is properly treated and disposed of, we can reduce these risks and protect both human health and the environment.

Is Toilet Water Wastewater?

Yes, toilet water is classified as blackwater because it’s contaminated with human waste. Luckily, society has a process for treating blackwater, so it’s safe.

Once you flush your toilet, it enters the sewage system, where it undergoes several stages of treatment before being safely released into the environment.

Wastewater Treatment Process

Curious how wastewater is treated to make it safe? Here’s a quick overview of how the process works.

Primary Treatment

The first stage of wastewater treatment is about removing large debris and solids.

The wastewater goes through filtration and grit removal.
The water flows into a large tank where sludge settles to the bottom and oils and greases float to the top.
Floating materials are skimmed from the water’s surface, and the sludge moves on to the secondary treatment.

Secondary Treatment

Handling the sludge is all about breaking it down further.

Beneficial bacteria and microorganisms break down organic waste and pollutants in the sludge, converting it to carbon dioxide and water.
Oxygen is added to help bacteria consume harmful substances.
The water is aerated and mixed to speed up the biological breakdown process.

Tertiary Treatment

In many cases, wastewater just goes through the first two treatment steps. But to purify it further, it might undergo tertiary treatment:

The treatment facility might use advanced filtration, chemical treatments, and disinfection.
Chlorination, UV treatment, or ozone disinfection eliminates remaining bacteria and viruses.
The treated water is either returned to the environment or repurposed for industrial and agricultural use.

Is Wastewater the Same as Sewer Water?

While wastewater includes all used water from homes and industries, sewer water specifically refers to water in the sewer system. All sewer water is wastewater, but not all wastewater comes from sewers.

Put it this way — if you have a small wastewater spill in your house, it’d be easy to clean up. But if you have a sewer backup? That’s something you’d need a professional for. Watch this video to learn more about our water clean up services.

When to Call a Professional for Wastewater Issues

Not all wastewater issues demand professional attention. But if you experience some of the following problems, you might want to consider calling in the plumbing cavalry:

Slow-draining sinks or toilets
Foul odors coming from pipes
Water pooling in your yard from broken sewer lines
Frequent plumbing backups
Gurgling noises from drains or toilets
Increased water bills due to hidden leaks

If you suspect a wastewater issue you can’t handle on your own, schedule a service with Roto-Rooter today. It’s our job to ensure proper plumbing and wastewater management.