About wastewater
Find out about different types of wastewater and their potential impact on people’s health and the environment.
Wastewater is water that households and businesses wash away. It passes through the sewerage system. The main types of wastewater are:
Wastewater can contain micro-organisms, bacteria and viruses that can cause disease. Contact with dangerous bacteria can cause skin, eye and nose infections or gastroenteritis (gastro or upset stomach).
Wastewater can also contain pollutants, including:
All these can impact water quality and harm plants and animals that depend on water. Water with high pH levels (acidity) can also give people skin, eye and nose infections.
Reviewed 15 September 2020