We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Science

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Wastewater Engineering?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,690
Share

Wastewater engineering is a field of engineering focused on the management of water supplies for human and environmental health. It can include everything from sourcing clean supplies of drinking water to the management of wastewater in an environmentally friendly way. Specialists in this field typically have graduate degrees and can work on the design of treatment facilities, development of new equipment and techniques for processing, and a variety of other topics. Wastewater engineers also oversee activities at treatment plants on a day to day basis.

There are a number of sources of wastewater, including residential, commercial, and industrial streams of waste that can include anything from feces to chemicals. Wastewater engineering involves the collection of waste through centralized sewer systems, delivery to treatment plants, and processing to remove contaminants. These contaminants can be handled in a variety of ways, while cleaned water can be discharged, used for landscaping, or employed in other ways. Creative uses for treated water are especially common in regions with limited water supplies, where reclaimed water can replace fresh sources of water and cut down on the demand for new water supplies.

This field also includes the handling of septic tanks and leachfields in rural areas where sewer connections are not available. Wastewater engineers can design septic systems and new techniques for handling septic systems to keep rural water supplies safe and minimize the risk of environmental problems caused by the uncontrolled release of raw sewage. Protection of water resources is important, as many communities rely on rivers, lakes, streams, and underground deposits to meet their water needs.

Another aspect of wastewater engineering can involve the installation and maintenance of treatment and reclamation plants in industrial settings. At facilities like power plants, large amounts of water are necessarily for cooling towers and other applications. Rather than continually bringing in a supply of fresh water, these facilities can potentially clean and recycle their wastewater to cut down on water usage. A specialist in this area can design a system appropriate to the application.

In sewage treatment, wastewater engineering requires a variety of processing techniques to remove contaminants in the water, including solids as well as liquid chemicals that may have dispersed through wastewater. Plants also need to be prepared for high usage loads which could potentially lead to overflow and other problems. A well-maintained sewage plant needs an engineer to keep it running well, address problems before they start, and prepare for eventual expansion of services, a requirement for most sewage treatment facilities as communities grow.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-wastewater-engineering.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.