SEWAGE/WASTEWATER⇨ CSO

What’s the Story?

Flush and go! But where? Not there!! Sometimes sewage or wastewater does not make it to the wastewater treatment plant, where it should be filtered and disinfected before returning to the water cycle, because there is just too much of it at one time!! This is called a combined sewage overflow (CSO). Try to imagine how much water is used in a city or town in the morning while everyone is getting ready for the day. All at the same time, many people showering, brushing teeth, washing dishes and preparing morning meals - add to that all of the businesses, schools, factories - and there may just be more water than the facility was built to handle! Additionally, some wastewater treatment facilities were designed to clean stormwater as well! It is a recipe for TOO MUCH DIRTY WATER, especially when there is a large storm event. Two solutions ring true: the conservation of water to reduce the total volume of wastewater produced by each community, and to separate stormwater systems from wastewater systems to help prevent CSOs.

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