What is classified as domestic wastewater or sewage?

Domestic wastewater or sewage is recognized as a combination of untreated liquid and solid human body waste along with the water that flows from various fixtures in a household, such as sinks, toilets, and showers. This category is comprehensive, encapsulating both the solid and liquid wastes generated by human activity within a residential setting.

By defining domestic wastewater in this manner, it becomes clear that it includes all types of waste produced in the home environment, which is critical for proper septic system design and wastewater management. Understanding this definition is essential, as it helps in identifying the need for proper treatment solutions to prevent environmental contamination and ensure public health safety.

The other options focus on specific types of waste streams but do not encompass the full scope of domestic wastewater. The option highlighting only liquid human waste excludes solid waste, which is an integral part of sewage. The choice referring to industrial process wastewater is entirely outside the realm of domestic sewage, as it deals with waste generated from manufacturing activities. Finally, the mention of only liquids generated by food service operations ignores the broader category of household waste and does not account for the essential contributions of bathroom and sanitation waste to the definition of domestic wastewater.