What is wastewater?
Water used in our communities and businesses goes down the drains and pipes as wastewater to be treated and returned to the environment.
Wastewater comes from many sources:
| Source | Examples |
|---|---|
| Residential |
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| Commercial |
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| Institutional |
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| Industrial |
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Wastewater also includes drainage and stormwater.
Treating wastewater
Wastewater contains a variety of contaminants such as chemicals, organic matter and human waste.
So, before it is released into lakes, rivers or the ground it goes through a variety of steps to separate, filter, breakdown, disinfect and dispose of the contaminants. These treatment processes are intended to ensure the water is not harmful to the environment.
Municipal wastewater treatment
Wastewater from cities or towns is typically collected and treated at municipal sewage treatment facilities.
Rural or remote treatment systems
Rural or remote areas of the province use smaller collection and treatment systems or septic systems to treat wastewater.
Industrial wastewater treatment
Some industrial facilities treat their wastewater on site and discharge it directly into lakes, rivers or the ground. Others discharge into a municipal sewer and treatment facility.
Related topics
The Water Opportunities Act encourages sustainable infrastructure and conservation planning using made-in-Ontario technologies to address water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure challenges.
The Canada/Ontario Agreement Respecting Great Lakes Basin Ecosystems works to protect and restore natural habitats, prevent pollution, clean up environmental hotspots, deal with invasive species and protect the biodiversity of the Great Lakes Basin, including improving stormwater and wastewater management practices.