How to Treat Liquid Waste Water

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), "waste water is simply used water." It is water from bathtubs, sinks and toilets from homes. It's also rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways and parking lots. This type of waste water or liquid waste water is oftentimes referred to as grey water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), treating liquid waste water has a positive impact on the environment.

Instructions

Treat Liquid Waste Water

• 1

  Environment

  Limit chemical use. Minimizing the amount of chemicals and hazardous waste that goes down the drain, toilet or is placed on your lawn will reduce the amount of liquid waste water that needs to be treated and recovered. Excess chemical use by consumers and businesses adds to the stress on the liquid waste water treatment plants.

• 2

  Refrain from chemicals down the drain!

  Care for your septic system. Homeowners that utilize septic systems divert their liquid waste water into a drain field or leach field. Liquid waste water that exits the septic tank can be naturally treated by the soil percolation procedure. Ensure that you have the proper soil type in the field and an overflow or reserve drain field available to prevent flooding into other areas.

• 3

  Homes with septic systems

  Choose your soil wisely. Improper soil composition is one of the leading causes of leach field failure because the soil will not properly percolate to naturally treat your waste water. Call your local Cooperative Extension or check the website (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension) for the nearest location in your county. The office can help you determine your soil composition in the area that you will be using to treat your liquid waste water.

• 4

  Create a pond

  Create water runoff into channels and ponds. Storm water runoff is another form of liquid waste water that can be directed away from the gutters on the home into swales and filter strips. By introducing indigenous plants, you can create a wonderful landscape that will be conducive to reusing your liquid waste water. Consider constructing a pond as a catch basin to create an aesthetic landscape for your waste water runoff.

• 5

  Climate conscious

  Select a climate-appropriate system. If you live in a semi-arid climate, a Evapotranspiration (ET) system may be an alternative to your traditional liquid waste water treatments. An ET system works on the evaporation rate and transpires the waste water into clear condensate. In an ET bed design--as opposed to a drain field--there is a combination of transpiration and evaporation, therefore creating little discharge into groundwater surfaces.