Effluent can flow from a sewer, treatment plant, or industrial facility. If untreated, effluent may contain high levels of contaminants. If discharged without safe, effective remediation, it can enter waterways, surface and groundwater resources, and the surrounding environment, disrupting ecosystems and endangering wildlife and local communities.
It’s the responsibility of manufacturers, wastewater companies, and local utilities to treat effluent appropriately. Depending on the industry or region, regulatory and compliance requirements will often dictate how water discharges and what levels of water quality are admissible. If an organization does not remediate its wastewater effluent correctly, it may face steep fines and even manufacturing shutdowns until water effluent meets local standards.
While monitoring water quality has traditionally been tedious, time-consuming, and often tricky, technology is helping organizations manage their water resources (including wastewater) more intelligently. No longer must companies rely on manual interventions (such as physically gathering samples) or third-party lab analysis. Instead, many organizations and utilities are turning to technological advancements, such as IoT, automation, AI, and cloud storage. As technologies get more advanced, implementation and monitoring costs continue to shrink, allowing companies to benefit from accurate, more reliable water monitoring at a lower price. Download our wastewater fact sheet to learn more.