What is Wastewater Treatment? A Comprehensive Overview

In today’s industrial and commercial landscape, wastewater treatment is more than a regulatory checkbox—it’s essential for protecting the environment and preserving public health. Whether you manage an oil and gas facility, a commercial washout station, or a manufacturing plant, understanding how wastewater treatment works (and when you need it) is key to running a safe and compliant operation.

At its core, wastewater treatment removes physical, chemical, and biological contaminants from used water. Once treated, the water is tested—typically through sampling and lab analysis—to confirm it meets all discharge limits before it’s released into the environment or sent to another facility.

In this article, we’ll answer the question, “What is wastewater treatment?” and break down the process so you can determine if your business needs it.

A Closer Look at Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater treatment is the process of cleaning used water by removing physical, chemical, and biological contaminants. This water can originate from a variety of sources, including:

• Industrial operations like energy production, manufacturing, fabrication, etc.
• Commercial activities such as automotive maintenance, car washes, or mobile washouts
• Sanitary systems like restrooms and wash stations

The primary goal is to treat water so it’s safe to discharge back into the environment (or a secondary treatment facility) or reuse within operations. In either situation, treated wastewater must meet strict standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authorities. For businesses, wastewater treatment isn’t just about sustainability—it’s also about:

• Avoiding fines
• Staying operational
• Maintaining public trust
• Improving operations

Failing to treat or properly manage wastewater can result in environmental harm, penalties, or even facility shutdowns.

How Wastewater Treatment Works

Wastewater treatment involves several phases, each targeting specific types of contaminants. An organization can customize the process depending on the nature of the wastewater and the required end quality (whether for discharge or reuse). 

Ultimately, here’s how wastewater treatment works:

Primary Treatment: Removing Large Solids

The first step in wastewater treatment focuses on removing visible, solid contaminants (i.e., “physical contaminants”). This can include:

• Screening out large debris such as plastics, rags, or pieces of industrial material (e.g., wood, metal, or fiber)
• Using settling tanks to separate solids from liquids, where heavy particles sink to form sludge while light materials float to the top

This stage prepares the water for further refinement in secondary treatment.

Secondary Treatment: Advanced Filtration

Secondary treatment advances the process by targeting dissolved and microscopic contaminants. This stage is especially important when water is being reused or discharged into sensitive environments. 

Treatment methods may include:

• Sand or carbon filtration to remove fine particles and odors
• pH adjustment to neutralize water chemistry
• UV disinfection or chlorination to kill harmful microorganisms

By the end of secondary treatment, the water is typically clear, safe, and ready for reuse in an industrial system or compliant discharge.

Sludge Treatment and Disposal

It’s essential to manage the sludge generated from primary treatment. Sludge contains a high concentration of contaminants and solids that treatment plants must stabilize or dispose of safely. 

Key processes include:

• Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) to separate oils and suspended solids
• Dewatering via centrifuges or filter presses to reduce volume
• Disposal options which include landfilling for non-hazardous waste and composting or land application (where permitted)

Handling sewage properly ensures you’re not just cleaning the water, but also responsibly dealing with what’s left behind. 

When Do Businesses Need Wastewater Treatment?

Not all facilities have the same wastewater needs. While some may rely on municipal systems, others require onsite or mobile treatment because of their volume, location, or the type of waste generated. For example, a small carwash may contract with a provider while a large industrial facility may invest the capital required to build their own facility.

Here are a few common scenarios where businesses need wastewater treatment services:

When Discharge Exceeds Permit Limits

If your facility discharges wastewater into a municipal system, you’re likely subject to EPA and local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) regulations. Exceeding your discharge limits can lead to:

• Hefty fines
• Operational delays or shutdowns
• Legal exposure

Regular treatment and testing ensure you stay within the limits of your discharge permits. 

Business Handling Specialty Wastewater Streams

Some businesses generate complex wastewater that contains:

• Oils and grease
• Chemical solvents
• Heavy metals
• Hydrocarbons

These contaminants require specialized processes and equipment to treat safely. Partnering with an experienced provider ensures that your business handles specialty wastewater properly, protecting your facility and the environment.

Businesses Located in Remote or Rural Areas

If your site is off the grid or far from a centralized treatment plant, on-site or mobile treatment may be your only option. This is common for:

• Construction sites
• Rural commercial facilities
• Oil and gas operations

Fortunately, Boomer Environmental offers mobile wastewater treatment units designed to meet remote needs without sacrificing performance. 

When Water Reuse or Recycling is a Priority

Because clean water is a precious, limited resource, businesses are turning to water reuse and reclamation to:

• Lower consumption and utility costs
• Improved environmental sustainability
• Increased operational efficiency

Treated wastewater can be reused onsite in washdowns, cooling systems, or other non-potable applications, helping your business go green while saving “green”.

Find the Right Wastewater Solution with Boomer Environmental

So, what is wastewater treatment? It’s a critical process that keeps our water safe, our businesses compliant, and our environment protected. Whether you’re required to treat wastewater by law or simply want to operate more sustainably, having a plan in place is essential. 

Boomer Environmental makes it easy with licensed, experienced professionals and 24/7 availability for routine or emergency service for non-hazardous industrial wastewaters and sludges. We also provide vacuum truck collection services, as well as sampling and testing services to characterize waste for profiling requirements.

Whether you’re preparing for a regulatory inspection or trying to minimize your environmental impact (or both!), Boomer Environmental has the expertise and tools to help you treat wastewater the right way, from start to finish. 

Sources: 

• Environmental Protection Agency. Regulatory and Guidance Information by Topic: Water. https://www.epa.gov/regulatory-information-topic/regulatory-and-guidance-information-topic-wate
• SIGMADAF Clarifiers. All about dissolved air flotation systems – Answering FAQs. https://sigmadafclarifiers.com/en/preguntas-frecuentes-daf/#:~:text=Dissolved%20air%20flotation%20(DAF)%20is,particles%20to%20which%20they%20adhere. 
• Wastewater Digest. What is Wastewater Treatment? https://www.wwdmag.com/wastewater-treatment/article/10938537/what-is-wastewater-treatment