Background: Wastewater treatment plants are essential to communities of all sizes and must operate efficiently. The main priority and responsibility of wastewater treatment plants is the treatment of incoming wastewater by removing biological and chemical waste so that it can be treated and recycled for future use. There are many government agencies and standards established to govern and monitor the success of wastewater treatment, such as: the Department of Environmental Quality, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, and the Wastewater Act. clean water of 1972. Compliance and constant monitoring of wastewater treatment plant operations. are important; because they protect the surrounding community. A wastewater spill or backflow due to a complete system malfunction could potentially be detrimental to the environment and the local community. An accurate system, which must comply with government standards, is essential to maintain low levels of waste which is returned to neighboring water systems after treatment. The first phase of the wastewater treatment process begins at home, in local businesses and in the community. Wastewater from these buildings and surrounding areas travels through a downward-sloping pipe or sewer and, with the help of gravity, makes its way to the wastewater treatment plant. However, in larger communities or with unevenly leveled terrain, the sewage cannot continue to deepen to rely on gravity to transport the sewage and must be pumped out using a sewage station. lifting so that they can continue to move towards the water treatment plant. Once the wastewater arrives at the treatment plant, the first step is the removal of large debris such as diapers, underwear or other non-biological...... middle of paper .... ..l life forms, and continued compliance and regulation of water treatment by government and independent companies to help create safer wastewater treatment techniques. Works Cited (1) City of Grand Island. Visit to the wastewater treatment plant - "Flush To Finish". http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pRaptzcp9G4 (accessed 03/08/2014). Youtube.com (accessed 03/08/2014).(2) Richardson, S. Water Analysis. Journal of Analytical Chemistry. 1999, 71, 181-215. (3) Minear, R., Amy, G.. Water disinfection and natural organic matter: ACS symposium series. 1996, 649, 1-9. (4) Richardson, S. Water Analysis: Emerging Containments and Current Issues. Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2003, 75, 2831-2857. (5) Aoki, T., Munemori, M.. Continuous flow of free chlorine in water. Journal of Analytical Chemistry.. 1983, 55, 209-212