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A medieval waste pipe in Stockholm Old Town formerly deposited sewage on the street to be flushed away by rain.

Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains. In loose American English usage, the terms 'sewage' and 'sewerage' are sometimes interchanged.^[1] Both words are descended from Old French assewer, derived from the Latin exaquare, "to drain out (water)"

Categories[link]

Classes of sewage include sanitary, commercial, industrial, agricultural and surface runoff. The wastewater from residences and institutions, carrying body wastes, washing water, food preparation wastes, laundry wastes, and other waste products of normal living, are classed as domestic or sanitary sewage. Liquid-carried wastes from stores and service establishments serving the immediate community, termed commercial wastes, are included in the sanitary or domestic sewage category if their characteristics are similar to household flows. Wastes that result from an industrial process or the production or manufacture of goods are classed as industrial wastewater. Their flows and strengths are usually more varied, intense, and concentrated than those of sanitary sewage. Surface runoff, also known as storm flow or overland flow, is that portion of precipitation that runs rapidly over the ground surface to a defined channel. Precipitation absorbs gases and particulates from the atmosphere, dissolves and leaches materials from vegetation and soil, suspends matter from the land, washes spills and debris from urban streets and highways, and carries all these pollutants as wastes in its flow to a collection point.^[2]

Sewage services[link]

Disease potential[link]

All categories of sewage are likely to carry pathogenic organisms that can transmit disease to humans and other animals; contain organic matter that can cause odor and nuisance problems; hold nutrients that may cause eutrophication of receiving water bodies; and can lead to ecotoxicity. Proper collection and safe, nuisance-free disposal of the liquid wastes of a community are legally recognized as a necessity in an urbanized, industrialized society.^[2] The reality is, however, that around 90% of wastewater produced globally remains untreated, causing widespread water pollution, especially in low-income countries.

Increasingly, agriculture is using untreated wastewater for irrigation. Cities provide lucrative markets for fresh produce, so are attractive to farmers. However, because agriculture has to compete for increasingly scarce water resources with industry and municipal users, there is often no alternative for farmers but to use water polluted with urban waste, including sewage, directly to water their crops. There can be significant health hazards related to using water loaded with pathogens in this way, especially if people eat raw vegetables that have been irrigated with the polluted water.

The International Water Management Institute has worked in India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Ghana, Ethiopia, Mexico and other countries on various projects aimed at assessing and reducing risks of wastewater irrigation. They advocate a ‘multiple-barrier’ approach to wastewater use, where farmers are encouraged to adopt various risk-reducing behaviours. These include ceasing irrigation a few days before harvesting to allow pathogens to die off in the sunlight, applying water carefully so it does not contaminate leaves likely to be eaten raw, cleaning vegetables with disinfectant or allowing fecal sludge used in farming to dry before being used as a human manure.^[3] The World Health Organization has developed guidelines for safe water use.

Collection and disposal[link]

A system of sewer pipes (sewers) collects sewage and takes it for treatment or disposal. The system of sewers is called sewerage or sewerage system (see London sewerage system) in British English and sewage system in American English. Where a main sewerage system has not been provided, sewage may be collected from homes by pipes into septic tanks or cesspits, where it may be treated or collected in vehicles and taken for treatment or disposal. Properly functioning septic tanks require emptying every 2–5 years depending on the load of the system.

Sewage and wastewater is also disposed of to rivers, streams and the sea in many parts of the world. Doing so can lead to serious pollution of the receiving water. This is common in third world countries and may still occur in some developed countries, where septic tank systems are too expensive.

Treatment[link]

Sewage treatment is the process of removing the contaminants from sewage to produce liquid and solid (sludge) suitable for discharge to the environment or for reuse. It is a form of waste management. A septic tank or other on-site wastewater treatment system such as biofilters can be used to treat sewage close to where it is created.

Sewage water is a complex matrix, with many distinctive chemical characteristics. These include high concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, phosphorus, high conductivity (due to high dissolved solids), high alkalinity, with pH typically ranging between 7 and 8. Trihalomethanes are also likely to be present as a result of past disinfection.

In developed countries sewage collection and treatment is typically subject to local, state and federal regulations and standards.

Conversion to fertiliser[link]

Sewage sludge can be collected through a sludge processing plant that automatically heats the matter and conveys it into fertiliser pellets (hereby removing possible contamination by chemical detergents, ...)^[4] This approach allows to eliminate seawater pollution by conveying the water directly to the sea without treatment (a practice which is still common in developing countries, despite environmental regulation). Sludge plants are useful in areas that have already set-up a sewage-system, but not in areas without such a system, as composting toilets are more efficient and do not require sewage pipes (which break over time).

See also[link]

• Blackwater (waste)
• Chopper pumps
• Cloaca Maxima
• Directive on Urban Waste Water Treatment
• Ecological sanitation
• Humanure
• Sanitary sewer overflow
• Sewage pumping
• Vacuum sewerage
• Water quality

Notes[link]

1. ^ Funk & Wagnall's Standard Dictionary (International Edition) New York, 1960, p. 1152.
2. ^ ^{a b} McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (View excerpt at Answers.com
3. ^ Wastewater use in agriculture: Not only an issue where water is scarce! International Water Management Institute, 2010. Water Issue Brief 4
4. ^ Sewage sludge to fertiliser plant

References[link]

• Teresi, Dick; et al. (2002). Lost Discoveries: The Ancient Roots of Modern Science--from the Babylonians to the Maya. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 352. ISBN 0-684-83718-8. 

External links[link]

• Sewer History - main focus is sewers, but also contains significant information on sewage, sewage treatment and disposal, and health impacts.
• A tour of the Everett Water Pollution Control Facility in Washington, written by an employee.
• Website of the Technische Universität Darmstadt and the CEEP about Phosphorus Recovery

Cory Monteith
Monteith at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	Cory Allan Michael Monteith (1982-05-11) May 11, 1982 (age 30) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupation	Actor, Musician
Years active	2004–present

Cory Allan Michael Monteith^[1] (born May 11, 1982)^[2] is a Canadian actor and musician, best known for his role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.

Early life[link]

Monteith was born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Victoria, British Columbia.^[3] His parents divorced when he was seven, and he was raised by his mother.^[4][5] By 13, Monteith, once a promising student, who, at age 5, could read at a fourth-grade level, dropped out of school. Monteith estimates that by the time he quit school for good at age 16, he had attended 12 different schools, including alternative programs for troubled teens. He went drinking with his friends and had a drug addiction. Monteith went to rehab at 19 after his family gave him an ultimatum: either he gets clean or they would report him to the police and press charges for stealing a significant amount of money to fuel his addiction. Looking back, he stated, "I finally said, 'I'm gonna start looking at my life and figure out why I'm doing this.'"^[6]

He has worked various jobs, such as a Wal-Mart people greeter, taxi driver, school bus driver, and roofer.^[7]

He received his high school diploma in 2011 from an alternative school he attended in Victoria, British Columbia.^[6]

Monteith is a huge fan of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.^[8]

Career[link]

Acting[link]

Monteith began his acting career in Vancouver, British Columbia. He played minor roles in Final Destination 3, Whisper, and Deck the Halls. He had a recurring role in Kyle XY.^[9] He also made guest appearances in such Canadian-filmed television serials as Smallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1.^[7]

Monteith at Venice High School for a Glee location shoot in December 2011^[10]

In 2005 he appeared in Killer Bash about a tormented geek's soul that was taking revenge on his murderer's children by taking over a girl's twin body. The following year he made a brief appearance in Urban Legend: a Bloody Mary. In 2007, he starred in the MTV series Kaya.^[11]

In 2009, Monteith was cast in the Fox series Glee, playing Finn Hudson, the male lead of the glee club and the quarterback of McKinley High School.^[9] For his audition tape, he drummed on Tupperware using pencils. The first time he sang in front of an audience was at his in-person audition, at which he sang "Honesty" by Billy Joel.

In April 2010, Monteith was cast in the romantic comedy movie Monte Carlo.^[12] In May 2010, the cast of Glee went on a two week live tour with stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago and New York City.^[13] The cast performed hits from the show and several skits between songs. The following May, the cast went on a second, longer tour with mostly new songs and all-new skits, performing for four weeks in the U.S. and Canada, and eleven days in England and Ireland.^[14][15]

On August 8, 2010, he co-hosted the Teen Choice Awards.^[16] Monteith hosted the Gemini Awards in Toronto on November 13, 2010.^[17]

In December 2010, it was announced that Monteith would be starring in and co-producing a new untitled workplace-caper comedy for Fox 2000.^[18] In January 2011, he shot the film Sisters&Brothers with Dustin Milligan, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2011.^[19][20]

In 2011, he filmed a PSA for Straight But Not Narrow, an online PSA organization aimed at changing the minds of young, straight guys and girls in their attitude and viewpoint towards the LGBT community.^[21]

In 2012, he co-hosted the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City with co-star Naya Rivera.^[22]

Music[link]

Monteith plays drums for the Indie rock band Bonnie Dune based in Los Angeles. Members include lead singer Justin Wilczynski (who co-starred with Monteith on the short-lived MTV series, Kaya), guitarist Seth Roberts (who is the singer of the band Lakes), and bassist Joshua Kerr.

Filmography[link]

Monteith at the GLAAD Awards on April 17, 2010

Awards[link]

Awards won[link]

• Hollywood Style Awards 2010
  • Male Future Style Icon Award
• SAG Awards 2010
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• 2011 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Actor Comedy

Nominations[link]

• SAG Awards 2011
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• Teen Choice Awards 2009
  • Choice TV: Actor Breakout Star Male
• Teen Choice Awards 2010
  • Choice TV: Comedy Actor
  • Choice Smile^[3]
• 2011 Teen Choice Awards
  • Summer: Movie Star – Male
• 2012 People's Choice Awards
  • Favorite TV Comedy Actor

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cory Monteith

• Cory Monteith at the Internet Movie Database
• Cory Monteith on Twitter