Wastewater discharge refers to the intentional release of treated or untreated wastewater from point or non-point sources into receiving environments such as rivers, lakes, coastal waters, or groundwater. As a research topic, it encompasses the characterization of effluent composition (e.g., nutrients, organic load, pathogens, micropollutants), hydrodynamic and dispersion processes, and the assessment of impacts on physicochemical water quality, ecological status, and human health. It also includes development and evaluation of regulatory standards, discharge permits, and best available technologies to minimize pollutant loads, as well as modeling and monitoring strategies to quantify emissions and their environmental fate.
Every time we flush the toilet, wastewater containing more than tens of thousands of unknown substances, some of which may be toxic to animals and plants, runs into streams and the marine environment. In a study published ...
Environment
1 hour ago
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After a successful trip around the moon, everything has been going smoothly on the Orion spacecraft's journey back to Earth—except for the $23 million toilet, which has gotten clogged.
Space Exploration
14 hours ago
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Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) could be contributing far more pollution to England's rivers than previously recognized, according to new research involving scientists from Imperial College London and Brunel University London. ...
Environment
Mar 26, 2026
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Wet wipes conveniently clean and sanitize soiled surfaces and skin. Because some labels do not clearly indicate how consumers should dispose of them, these small cloths are often flushed down the toilet and released by sewage ...
Environment
Mar 13, 2026
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The amount of greenhouse gases produced by the wastewater sector may be higher than reports suggest. According to a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, countries are missing out on reporting a significant ...
Thousands of companies around the world now regularly disclose aspects of their water use as part of corporate commitments to environmental, social, and governance goals. Yet reliable measures of corporate water withdrawals ...
Environment
Feb 28, 2026
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Wastewater contains untapped resources that, if reclaimed, could power agriculture, global sanitation, and its own treatment to help us meet UN SDG goals, according to a review published in Frontiers in Science.
Cell & Microbiology
Feb 24, 2026
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Nearly a month after a wastewater pipe broke and spewed hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River just north of Washington, D.C., the latest water testing results from the University of Maryland ...
Environment
Feb 22, 2026
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Following one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history, University of Maryland researchers have detected high levels of fecal-related bacteria and disease-causing pathogens in the Potomac River, raising urgent public ...
Environment
Feb 5, 2026
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Repairs to a collapsed wastewater pipe in Tijuana have been completed, with flows to the Tijuana River now stopped, the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission announced on Jan. 19.
Environment
Jan 20, 2026
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