the water on earth has been around for roughly 4 billion years it doesnt get used up it just keeps getting recycled over and over again the water your drinking today may have once been part of the iceberg that struck the titanic or it may have spent some time in somebodys toilet so how does this happen lets start with wastewater from our homes first it flows into the main sewer line and then into larger underground pipes beneath the streets some of these pipes are so massive they are wider than a city bus from there all the wastewater gradually makes its way to a wastewater treatment plant once it arrives the first stop is a giant metal screening system that removes all kinds of trash and debris that should have never gone down the drain in the first place the filtered water then flows into large settling tanks where it sits for several hours heavy solids sink to the bottem while grease and oils and float to the surface both are removed from the water next comes one of the most important steps microorganisms are introduced into the water these tiny organisms feed on and break down many of the pollutants and organic waste after they’ve done their job the microbes are separated and removed leaving the water much cleaner and noticeably clearer then comes the final stage disinfection either chlorine or ultraviolet light is used to kill any remaining harmful bacteria and pathogens once the treatment process is complete the clean water is released back into rivers and streams eventually that water evaporates into the atmosphere forms clouds and falls back to earth as rain some of it ends up in reservoirs where its treated once again and sent back to our homes as tap water and thats how earths water has been continuously recycled for billions of years
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