BBC Inside Science

Is treated sewage worse for the environment than raw?

18 snips
Jun 6, 2024
Wastewater experts Simon Evans and Ali Morse discuss the environmental impacts of treated sewage, highlighting its contribution to pollution. Biologist Cindy Engel explores animals' self-medicating behavior in the wild. Harry Witchel predicts Eurovision winners based on song criteria.
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INSIGHT

Treated Sewage Impact

  • Treated sewage can harm the environment, despite common assumptions about its safety.
  • Different treatment levels exist, and current standards may not fully protect ecosystems.
INSIGHT

Sewage Treatment Focus

  • Most sewage treatment licenses focus on oxygen demand and solids, not nutrients like phosphorus.
  • Unregulated nutrient discharge fuels algal blooms, harming aquatic life.
ANECDOTE

Windermere's Algal Bloom

  • Lake Windermere's algal bloom is linked to phosphorus from human waste.
  • Many sewage works, especially in tourist areas, lack phosphate strippers to remove phosphorus.
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