Wastewater

Wastewater is used water that comes from homes, farms, hospitals, healthcare facilities, commercial enterprises such as agricultural and livestock production, and manufacturing and industrial companies.

Domestic wastewater originates from activities such as restroom usage, bathing, food preparation and laundry. Commercial wastewater from non-domestic sources might contain hazardous materials and harmful fecal pathogens to human health. Industrial wastewater originates from industrial or commercial manufacturing processes and are usually more difficult to treat than domestic wastes. Waste matter and compounds from industries and commercial establishments might enter water streams in many ways, including contamination in surface water, groundwater and storm water.

If wastewater enters  waterways before it is properly treated, it can have harmful and lasting effects on the health of humans, animals and the environment.  Insufficient treatment of wastewater and fecal sludge spreads disease and is a driver of antimicrobial resistance.

A great deal of wastewater, treated or untreated, eventually ends up in rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. It is sometimes carried via groundwater used for well water and drinking water. Well water contaminated by sewage is a common cause of outbreaks of wastewater related diseases. Around the world, the reuse of wastewater as source water and nutrients for agricultural purposes is growing in response to population growth, urbanization, increasing water scarcity and the effects of climate change. For all these reasons, wastewater must be uncontaminated by fecal pathogens.

Aquagenx Wastewater Test Kits

Wastewater effluent is a source of E. coli bacteria, which can indicate the presence of fecal material in water and the possible presence of disease causing pathogens. E. coli is an indicator organism to test the effectiveness of effluent disinfection in wastewater treatment plants.

Wastewater treatment plants and systems around the world can use the CBT EC+TC Most Probable Number (MPN) Kit for E. coli as an operational self-test.

Testing wastewater with the Aquagenx CBT EC+TC Kit typically involves a 1:100 dilution or higher. Easy-to-follow instructions are on our Dilutions webpage.

The CBT EC+TC MPN Kit is an easy, low cost surveillance tool to monitor and help prevent non-compliance and regulatory issues at wastewater treatment plants:

• Self-monitor wastewater to avoid non-compliance issues regarding fecal bacteria
• Supplement standard and approved regulatory testing methods at a low cost
• Plan for wastewater effluent treatments