Preventing Sewage Water Pollution: Strategies For A Cleaner Environment

Sewage water pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to both public health and the environment. It is caused by sewage discharges that contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, as well as excess nutrients that fuel harmful algal blooms. These discharges can occur due to outdated or failing wastewater infrastructure, collection system overflows, and stormwater runoff. To prevent sewage water pollution, it is crucial to reduce sewage discharges and improve wastewater treatment processes. This can be achieved through public awareness, infrastructure upgrades, proper waste disposal, water conservation, and the adoption of nature-based solutions. By taking these steps, we can protect our waterbodies and safeguard the health and well-being of our communities.

How to prevent sewage water pollution

Reduce water use and keep everything but sanitary waste out of pipes

Conserving water is a key way to reduce sewage pollution. When too much water enters a septic tank, sewer, or cesspool, its capacity can be exceeded, and it can overflow, which can introduce harmful bacteria, viruses, and excess nitrogen into groundwater and surface waters. Reducing water use can therefore help to prevent sewage from entering water bodies.

To reduce water use, you can replace older dishwashers and washing machines with newer, more energy-efficient and water-conserving models. You can also use rainwater to water your garden by installing a rain barrel.

It is also important to keep everything but sanitary waste out of pipes. Only three things should be entering your wastewater collection and treatment system: used water, human body waste, and toilet paper. Food scraps should be composted or placed in the garbage. Grease, fats, and oils from cooking should be collected in a container and disposed of in the garbage. The refrigerator is a good place to store grease until disposal, as its lower temperature will solidify the liquid. Cleaning agents, products, and other chemicals should not be poured down the drain. They can interfere with wastewater treatment processes, clog pipes, and pollute the environment and even drinking water. Try using more natural cleaning products and dispose of all chemicals and hazardous materials according to local regulations.

Toilets should also not be used as wastebaskets. Place a wastebasket in each bathroom for the disposal of trash, disposable diapers, and personal hygiene or contraceptive products.

Dispose of fats, oils, grease and chemicals properly

Fats, oils, grease, and chemicals should never be poured down the drain. When poured down kitchen sinks, these substances eventually make their way to wastewater treatment facilities where they solidify and have to be cleaned out. This can lead to blockages, backups, pipe bursts, and overflows. Grease from restaurants, homes, and industrial sources are the most common cause of reported blockages.

Fats, oils, and grease poured down the drain can also reduce treatment plant efficiency and require more time and energy to break down, contributing to climate emissions. Even with advanced wastewater treatment, what you put down the drain matters!

To dispose of fats, oils, and grease properly, collect the grease in a container and let it cool. You can store it in your refrigerator as the lower temperature will solidify the liquid. Once the grease has solidified, throw it in the trash or empty it into your kitchen scraps bin. You can also use food-grade paper to wipe up grease and dispose of it in your kitchen scraps bin.

Liquid cooking oil can be taken to a depot for recycling. Some locations, such as the Hartland Landfill, accept household cooking oil for recycling.

Upgrade wastewater infrastructure and treatment systems

Upgrading wastewater infrastructure and treatment systems is essential to prevent sewage water pollution. This includes both short-term fixes and long-term investments in new technology and facilities.

In the short term, municipalities can focus on rehabilitating, repairing, or replacing critical components of wastewater treatment plants. This involves addressing immediate issues, such as broken pipes, sewer blockages, and outdated equipment, to prevent sewage spills and infrastructure failures. For example, the City of Winston-Salem recommends keeping foreign materials, such as grease, fats, oils, and household debris, out of the wastewater system to prevent blockages and sewage spills.

In the long term, investing in advanced treatment technologies and expanding treatment facilities can help accommodate growing populations and increasing wastewater volumes. For instance, Water-as-a-Service (WaaS) partnerships offer an innovative approach to upgrading wastewater treatment plants by leveraging advanced technologies, expertise, and scalable solutions. WaaS can enhance water quality, expand capacity, and reduce operational costs without requiring huge capital investments from cash-strapped municipalities.

Upgrading wastewater infrastructure also involves improving stormwater management systems. This includes controlling water runoff from paved, impermeable surfaces in urban areas to reduce the risk of flooded conditions and the discharge of untreated wastewater into waterways. Implementing measures such as directing roof downspouts into rain barrels or vegetated areas, and adding mulch to landscaping, can help reduce runoff and improve the efficiency of stormwater management systems.

Additionally, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, which refer to individual or community-based treatment solutions, can play a role in upgrading overall wastewater infrastructure. These systems provide flexibility and allow for tailored treatment approaches, particularly in areas where central wastewater treatment plants may be overwhelmed or inaccessible.

Upgrading wastewater infrastructure and treatment systems is a critical aspect of preventing sewage water pollution. By investing in both short-term and long-term solutions, municipalities can improve water quality, protect public health, and ensure the efficient and sustainable management of wastewater.

Reduce stormwater runoff by encouraging rain to soak into the ground

Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor to sewage water pollution. When rain falls on streets, parking lots, rooftops, and other developed land, it picks up pollutants such as oil, grease, litter, and other contaminants and carries them into nearby water bodies. This can lead to the contamination of drinking water supplies, harm or kill fish and other wildlife, and cause flooding that damages homes and businesses.

To reduce stormwater runoff and encourage rain to soak into the ground, several measures can be implemented:

• Direct roof downspouts towards vegetated areas, rain gardens, or rain barrels instead of paved surfaces. This helps to slow down the flow of rainwater and allows it to be absorbed into the ground.
• Plant grass or ground covers to prevent soil erosion and increase the ground's capacity to absorb water.
• Use porous pavement made from interlocking cement blocks or rubber mats that allow rainwater to seep into the ground. This is especially important for areas like patios, walkways, and driveways.
• Terrace slopes to slow down the flow of runoff and create low areas with shrubs and flowers that can absorb rainwater.
• Maintain your septic system with regular inspections, maintenance, and pumping to prevent failures that can pollute nearby water bodies.
• Reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and opt for organic alternatives. Avoid fertilizing before a rainstorm to prevent excess nutrients from washing into water bodies.
• Remove or reduce lawn areas, which require frequent watering and contribute to water usage. Replace them with native, drought-resistant plants that require less water and retain moisture in the soil.
• Compost or mulch lawn clippings to improve plant growth and reduce stormwater runoff.

By implementing these measures, communities can effectively reduce stormwater runoff, encourage rain to soak into the ground, and minimize the impact of sewage water pollution on the environment and public health.

Monitor water quality and report sewage spills

Water quality monitoring is essential to ensure the water you interact with daily is safe. Sewage spills can have detrimental effects on public health, the economy, and the environment, so it is crucial to monitor water quality and report spills promptly.

Monitor Water Quality

There are several ways to monitor water quality and keep an eye on your local water bodies to promote a clean and wholesome aquatic ecosystem. Firstly, you can purchase a home water tester kit to determine the best water treatment system for your needs. These kits illuminate the pH range of the water, and electronic pH sensors provide precise measurements. Dissolved oxygen is another factor to consider, as it proves that oxygen is soluble in water, which is necessary for aquatic life. Total hardness, or the amount of magnesium and calcium in the water, is also important in determining whether it is suitable for home and industrial use.

Report Sewage Spills

If you suspect a sewage spill, it is important to report it promptly to the relevant authorities. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) handles many issues at the local level, so you can start by contacting your local government office for concerns about strange odors, household chemical disposal, and other environmental emergencies. You can find this information in the blue pages of your telephone book or by contacting your public library. For non-emergency, non-sudden-threat spills, you can fill out a form on the EPA website. For chemical spills, CHEMTREC provides access to technical experts and maintains a large database of Material Safety Data Sheets. They can be reached at (800) 424-9300.

Additionally, the 2013 Sewage Pollution Right to Know (SPRTK) in New York requires untreated and partially treated sewage discharges to be reported by publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and publicly owned sewer systems (POSSs) within two hours of discovery to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and within four hours to the public and adjoining municipalities. Municipalities must report the date, time, location, duration, volume, treated state, and reason for the discharge, as well as a description of any corrective actions taken.

It is important to note that sewage spills can occur due to communication failures between agencies, as seen in the 2021 Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant incident in Los Angeles. Therefore, staying vigilant and reporting any suspected sewage spills to the relevant authorities is crucial to protecting public health and the environment.

Frequently asked questions