MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT ⇨ CSO

What’s the Story?

Long showers! Flushing toilets! So many people! The municipal wastewater treatment plant wasn’t designed to handle it all. In many communities, the wastewater treatment plant was built decades ago when the population was smaller and wastewater cleaning technology was less advanced. Now, in growing urban and suburban communities, too much water use puts a big strain on these systems, especially in places with “combined” sewers, meaning stormwater enters the wastewater stream as well. At times of overflow use or big rainstorms, a facility may have no choice but to release extra water into the nearest water body, uncleaned or untreated in any way (CSO = combined sewage overflow). People who practice wise water conservation can reduce these outflows with easy everyday solutions like shorter showers, fixing leaks, turning water off while brushing teeth, or scraping rather than rinsing dishes before using a dishwasher. Community members need to understand their responsibility when it comes to using water at home!

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