Sewage

toc =**SEWAGE**= Sewage is Water carried waste being that is to be removed from the community. It is taken through a thourough and long cleaning process before it is recycled back into nearby surface water. The treatment process includes, taking out big particles in the water, then the water is put in a settling tank, where more of the missed large particles sink to the bottom. After the most prominant particles are removed the water it goes through aeration and chemicals are added to get rid of pathogens and other harmful things in sewage. If a malfunction were to occur within the process and sewage water were to leak out many precautions would have to be taken to remove the harmful sewage from peoples groundwater, and maybe even public surface water. Sewage leaks can come from an underground septic tank, and public sewage pipes. Sewage health affects are bacterial diseases, viral diseases and protozoal diseases. The health affects for marine life, and other animals are that the sewage decreases the amount of oxygen in the water killing the animals, or allowing bacteria to take over the body of water. Pathogens in the water can also prove to be harmful. Sewage is everywhere, but with the right treatment it can be properly removed and sent to its correct places.
 * Kelly, Jason, Emma, and Kali**

Sewage sources
- waste water conveyed in sewers and drains; any human waste from bathrooms, washing, bathing, and cooking
 * Septic tanks- private sewage treatment plants; concrete or steel tanks buried in the resident's yard
 * Marine waste- human waste, plastic bags, nets, tools, and other items that gather in a body of water; waste deliberately thrown into oceans, seas, lakes, etc. is called [|ocean dumping]

Stake holders
- primary; people closest to the problem will be most affected because it is their septic tanks failing or their drinking or swimming water being contaminated - secondary; if people in the future must reuse the water, it will not be healthy due to earlier sewage problems Sewage is often identified or characterized by its volume, velocity, physical condition, or bacteria inside of it. Some classes are sanitary, commercial, industrial, or [|surface runoff].
 * Sanitary: wastewater from residences from activities like cleaning, preparing food, cooking, doing laundry, etc.
 * Commercial: sewage from stores or services that provide for the community, similar to sanitary sewage
 * Industrial: waste that comes from the production of manufactured goods
 * Surface runoff: runs over ground surface and into a channel

This relates to the Massachusetts Value Statement because ocean dumping, too much sewage, or failure to effectively get rid of waste could result in breaking the MVS. From these actions people can get sick from swimming in unclean water, wild animals can get sick from drinking the water, and ocean animals can lose their homes or die from mistaking plastic bags or other things as food.

**ARTICLES**
In Brooklyn NY at Owls Head Water Pollution Control Plant in late October, the heavy rainfall caused many sewage overflow problems occur. A swimming pool's worth of untreated wastewater gathered at this site and overflowed the treatment systems. Consequently, sewage spilled into canals that were clean just minutes before, changing the healthiness of water in many places all over Brooklyn. Read more at: []

Beach pollution is a big sewage complication only found in areas near pollution sites. These complications can come from heavy rainfall near pollution sites, treatment plant malfunctions, infrastructure problems where water is collected and treated due to events like hurricanes. beach pollution can cause harm to animals, and many beaches have had to close to protect people from the harmful things in sewage. Read more on beach sewage at: []

New York has a history of many odor complaints due to sewage plants. They have invested millions of dollars in odor technologies, and they seem to be paying off, for this year they had the lowest odor complaints. Excerpt: "From June through September, New Yorkers filed 73 complaints to 311 to report rotten smells wafting from wastewater treatment plants — the lowest number since the city began tracking the complaints in 2002 and down more than 80 percent from the high of 375 in 2007." []  Near Bremerton bad odors and spillage hinted something wasn't right. A sewer line clog caused it to over flow into the river letting out fowl smells and some harmful substances. Thanks to a witness workers were able to come and work on fixing the inconvenient clog. For the video and full story: [|komonews.com]  Local children and environment were just some of the worries in Clayton County GA after yet another raw sewage spill leaked into the local creeks. Sewage leeks have been a somewhat common thing in Clayton County, and the water authority is facing more fines due to these harmful unpleasant spills. Excerpt: "CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Clayton County Water Authority faces another big state fine after raw sewage leaked into local creeks. A proposed state order follows a recent string of nearly two dozen sewage spills that could cost customers $15,000, while Panther Creek is still recovering from yet another raw sewage spill." Read more at: [|wsbtb.com]

[] This artical is about how the Hudson River in New York is very poluted by sewage, and how there is no state law that requires New york to notify the public about sewage in the water. Since they don't have a law that states that it leaves the people able to easily get sick. The people of New York are also saying that New York should get this law because most other states have. "W. S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Company, a Delaware corporation, owns a stock farm of 300 acres lying near the sewage disposal plant of the city of Harrisonville, Mo. A small, meandering, intermittent stream called Town creek flows through a detached portion of the farm, consisting of 100 acres, devoted solely [289 U.S. 334, 336] to pasturage" (Here is the sight to that law case) [|findlaw.com]

A case of pollution in a river in Indianapolis IN. Watch to find out what affects these unfortunate events have on the environment and on the city. media type="youtube" key="MjixKyUWp2A" height="315" width="560" video: []#!

**HEALTH EFFECTS**
Effect on people: Untreated sewage or sewage not treated correctly can impact the environment in a negative way because it can carry pathogens that can cause bacterial diseases, viral diseases, and protozoal diseases. Other effects: Surfacing sewage can also decrease the amount of oxygen in oceans, ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water, killing aquatic life and allowing dangerous bacteria to overpopulate. A big reason of pollution is the jump in the population. More people is adding more waste to urban areas and the cities were only designed to with hold so many people and maximum populations. The pathogens being found in the untreated sewage water that is being harmfully spread, can cause such symptoms as diarrhea, skin fungus, fever and many more unpleasant symptoms. [] "The population explosions that have happened and urban influx were never anticipated at such an exponential growth rate when the original city infrastructure was planned and designed. An overburdened sewage system will undoubtedly collapse under the strain. Once this happens, untold health and ecological contamination ensues, affecting surface and groundwater resources, essentially our drinking water supplies."

Picture from [|docstoc.com]

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This video shows the health effects of sewage spills in our water. Here is the link: []

"All categories of sewage are likely to carry pathogenic organisms that can transmit disease to humans and other animals; contain organic matter that can cause odor and nuisance problems; hold nutrients that may cause eutrophication of receiving water bodies; and can lead to ecotoxicity. Proper collection and safe, nuisance-free disposal of the liquid wastes of a community are legally recognized as a necessity in an urbanized, industrialized society. The reality is, however, that around 90% of wastewater produced globally remains untreated, causing widespread water pollution, especially in low-income countries," ([]).

Untreated wastewater can also cause problems for farmers within their industry. They must constantly compete for the little water there is and can often not afford to waste the scarce amount of water, even if it is polluted with sewage. The untreated water goes directly to their crops, posing as a health risk to anyone who eats the raw vegetables that have been exposed to this water.

Picture from []

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The video above shows the health affects of improper disposal of sewage in our oceans. Here is the link: []

=**SEWAGE TREATMENT**= "The sewage plant upgrades, which would help eliminate water-borne parasites like cryptosporidium, giardia and other contaminants, are a key element of the 1997 watershed plan to protect drinking water quality for nine million people in the New York City area," [|Example] of sewage treatment delays and effects must be cured by an upgraded sewage plant.

Benefits of sewage treatment- environmental and economic:
 * Protects aquatic life; not taking away their oxygen
 * Decreases waterborne illnesses
 * Clearer, odor-free water
 * Helps ecosystems
 * Helps sunlight reach aquatic life by removing waste in water
 * Protects coral reefs from sediment damage
 * Helps businesses related to fishing, especially concerning shellfish
 * Beaches are safer to the public
 * Benefits people now, as well as in the future; not leaving a problem for future families to deal with

Sewage treatment picture: [|Rewa.org]

[|SUNY Geosciences]: The picture above shows how leaks in sewage and improper disposal can really affect the contaminant plume. The improper disposal of sewage can eventually add contaminants like nitrogen to our drinking water**.**

**SEWAGE POLLUTION**
"96 per cent of pollution is removed by sewage treatment. However, once the effluent has been returned to the water cycle it continues to be cleaned by processes of natural purification." More about the treatment, statistics and pollution is found at: [] Sewage polluted areas, the causes and what health affects it has: [] "Pollution caused by sewage water is one of the major problems in cities. Sewage water is drained off into rivers without treatment. Careless disposal of sewage water leads to creation of a chain of problems like spreading of diseases, eutrophication, increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), etc." Picture from []

Sources: [] [|riverkeeper.org]