Types of Wastewater

Blackwater

• toilet water
• water with toxic chemicals
• hazardous, kept separate and treated properly

Greywater

• household water
  • dishwashers, sinks, laundry, etc.
• decomposes faster than blackwater
• less harmful and can be reused for non-drinking purposes without treatment
• can be used for irrigation if it doesn’t contain phosphates, bleach, etc.

Rain & Storm water

• surface runoff
• cannot infiltrate because of pavement so it goes directly to bodies of water
• carries impurities
• can erode stream banks
• some cities have pipes that directly enter rivers, so the water carries impurities with it