Wastewater Treatment Best Practices - Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework

Wastewater treatment refers to the treatment of sewage and water used by residences, business, and industry to a sufficient level that it can be safely returned to the environment. It is important to treat wastewater to remove bacteria, pathogens, organic matter and chemical pollutants that can harm human health, deplete natural oxygen levels in receiving waters, and pose risks to animals and wildlife. Wastewater discharge quality is regulated by the US EPA and MPCA under the Clean Water Act through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are issued permits for allowable discharges of solids, oxygen (as biological oxygen demand, or BOD), bacteria, nutrients, and other regulated pollutants on a plant-by-plant basis, depending on their receiving waters.