A sewer system is required for a number of reasons because not only are we against flushing our waste into a stream or outside our house but it also has major effects on the environment. For example, the wastewater or sewage contains coliform bacteria and other disease causing bacteria which becomes a major health hazard. In addition, sewage can be very smelly so it is no surprise we just dump out waste anywhere. Another reason we don’t want wastewater released into the environment is because it contains chemicals and suspended solids that can significantly affect the environment. For example, nitrogen and fertilises are contained in wastewater which results in the growth of algae. In addition, the chemicals in wastewater can destroy ecosystems and it is these reasons that we have sewer systems in place.
A sewer system is completely gravity-powered and pipes from each house in a neighbourhood flow to a main sewer where the wastewater will be moved to a wastewater treatment plant. Once the water reaches the treatment plant, it goes through three stages of treatment. The first stage is called primary treatment where the solids in the wastewater settle where they rise and get removed. The secondary treatment removes the nutrients and organic materials which usually only takes 90% of organic materials and solids away from the initial wastewater. The final stage is tertiary treatment which uses chemicals to remove the nitrogen and phosphorous from the water. In addition, the water is then discharged after chlorine is added to kill remaining bacteria.
If you need any assistance with any plumbing problems, feel free to consult with Plumbers South Kensington who have a variety of cost effective plumbing services available. The team at Plumbers South Kensington has a quick response team to ensure your issue is fixed as soon as possible.