Sewage treatment facilities use physical, chemical, and biological processes for water purification.

The processes used in these facilities are also categorized as preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary. Preliminary and primary stages remove rags and suspended solids. Secondary processes mainly remove suspended and dissolved organics. Tertiary methods achieve nutrient removal and further polishing of wastewater.

Disinfection, the final step, destroys remaining pathogens. The waste sludge generated during treatment is separately stabilized, dewatered, and sent to landfills or used in land applications.