"Raw water and post-treatment water are tested for bacterial, physical, and chemical standards, particularly pH, color, and turbidity. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 established maximum contaminant levels, which are the national drinking water standards. These apply to any water distribution system that serves at least twenty-five units daily. Standards may vary from state to state, but they cannot be lower than those prescribed by the federal government" (Robson 2010). "Wastewater treatment means removing all the contaminants that are found in wastewater. This is a type of water that is composed of wastes found in industries, hospitals, homes, and other establishments that can be found in a particular community…. food scraps, soap, oil, human waste, and chemicals" ("Wastewater," 2010, All Water purification). In contrast to water that is rendered safe for drinking, wastewater is merely rendered safe for disposal into the environment, to ensure that it does not imbalance the ecosystem. The purification of wastewater also ensures that individuals who go swimming...

Treatment of wastewater reduces the risks of contamination of fishes in the environment, which are then consumed by humans: unhealthy fish means unhealthy fish eaters.
Sewage treatment of wastewater is the process that removes chemicals and contaminants through a series of filters, although additional chemical treatment may be necessary, depending on the relative contamination of the water. In its simplest form, wastewater may be purified in a manner similar to the natural purification of groundwater, through filtering, although the end product is not safe to drink.

Works Cited

Robson, Mark G. "Water treatment." Encyclopedia of Public Health. January 24, 2010.

http://www.answers.com/topic/water-treatment

"Wastewater treatment." All water purification. January 24, 2010.

http://www.allwaterpurification.com/waste-water-treatment.html

"Water treatment." Sci-Tech Encyclopedia. January 24, 2010.

http://www.answers.com/topic/water-treatment