Wastewater includes all the used water that originates from households and businesses – toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines, and dishwashers.  Wastewater typically includes sewage, food scraps, chemicals, cleansers, soaps, as well as disease-causing organisms (bacteria and viruses) and excess nutrients.

Millions of gallons of wastewater are produced in Cayuga County each day and must be properly treated to remove pollutants that may harm water quality.   Wastewater is either discharged into a municipal wastewater treatment plant or into individual household septic systems where the wastewater is treated before re-entering the environment.

For more information, please visit our page on Septic Systems or Wastewater Treatment Plants.