Have you ever wondered how water goes back into nature after you’re done using it? Here’s a peek into how the water reclamation process works.
After water goes down your drain, it flows from a smaller pipe at your home to a larger pipe for collection, where it’s pumped to a water reclamation facility using gravity or force. After reaching the facility, the water is lifted up to a set of vertical screens measuring one-quarter-inch to one-half-inch in width. These screens capture and remove any large pieces of debris that the water has gathered on its journey.
Then the water enters the grit removal process. The velocity of the water is slowed down so that any inorganic materials like sand and silt can settle. After grit removal comes primary clarification, where any remaining solids are given the chance to settle and be removed.
Next, the facility uses microorganisms to break down the waste that is left in the water. After this comes sand filtration to disinfect the water. Any sludge created during this process is saved and used as fertilizer. After these steps are complete, it’s finally time for the water to return to its natural source.
