A Brief History of Wastewater Treatment in the US

You enjoy the luxury of modern plumbing, but how does clean water get to your house? A brief history of wastewater treatment in the US may help explain the process. The infrastructure didn’t pop up overnight: wastewater treatment has existed for centuries, and it is an ever-evolving and necessary science. Find out how and why we started treating our wastewater.

The 1800s

Throughout the 1800s, the United States’ population grew from about five million to 75 million people. To prevent disease and clean up the streets, some communities started to replace pits and ditches with underground pipes. One million people had access to a sewer system by 1860.

Different treatment plants across the country tried different methods. In 1899, the Refuse Act was the first regulation of sewage. It prohibited people from discharging solid matter into waterways.

The 1900s

By 1900, 25 million people had access to a sewer system, and 60 different sewage treatment plants served the country. During this century, the quick development of the modern wastewater treatment system rapidly evolved. Engineers came up with ways to remove solid matter, implemented a chlorination process, and more. Further, during this period, there was more government regulation and funding of treatment plants. By 1960, 50 percent of the US population had access to wastewater treatment.

The Modern-Day

As more people have access to sewage treatment, biosolids, known as sludge, build up quicker at wastewater plants. You can use biosolids as natural gas, or they can get thrown away. Plant operators use wastewater flow meters to track the amount of waste coming through their facility. The data helps them determine how much sludge will result. Higher standards for clean water demand that plants remove all particles before the water can return to the system.

We are lucky to live in the modern-day when most people have access to wastewater treatment. Share a brief history of wastewater treatment in the US with your peers to enlighten your friends and family about how they get clean water.