Sewage treatment plants work through a series of steps that involves extracting waste and oxygenating wastewater, with the end result being waste removed from the sewage. By the time water sewage moves through the entire process, it has been disinfected and discharged into a local body of water.

Water from pipes in a home or business flows from a building into the sewer. From the sewer, it moves to a sewage treatment plant where large items are removed. Next, sand and mud settles in the bottom of a treatment tank and then carted to a landfill. Oxygen goes into the remaining wastewater for help in speeding along settling and chemicals are added to remove organic matter and toxins. It then releases into a river, creek or stream.