Through the different physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wastewater it is possible to determine the degree of contamination. This is important to be able to design and determine the type of treatment to which it is necessary to submit it and thus avoid adverse effects on the receiving bodies or on the sites where it is finally disposed of.
Physical Characteristics
Physical characteristics are those properties that can be perceived with the senses, such as solids content, turbidity, odor, color and temperature.
Chemical characteristics
These characteristics are defined as those that directly affect the properties of water, depending on the substance in question. An example is when nutrients present in water bodies cause eutrophication of lakes and reservoirs, resulting in the excessive growth of algae and aquatic lilies and therefore the death of aquatic life.
Biological Characteristics
Wastewater is characterized by the existence of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses. It is therefore important to seek the elimination of these pathogens to avoid spreading diseases or infections.
