Water polluted through use in households, industry, or agriculture that is directed into the sewer system.
example
Das Abwasser wird in einer Kläranlage gereinigt, bevor es wieder in den Fluss gelangt.
The wastewater is cleaned in a sewage treatment plant before it flows back into the river.
Usage tips
Compound structure
'Abwasser' (wastewater) is a compound noun made up of the prefix 'ab-' and 'Wasser' (water). The prefix 'ab-' here expresses that the water has been used or contaminated, similar to 'Abfall' (waste).
EXAMPLE
Industrielles Abwasser muss speziell behandelt werden.
Industrial wastewater must be treated specially.
Use in the singular
'Abwasser' (wastewater) is an uncountable noun, or mass noun, and is almost always used in the singular. People say 'viel Abwasser' (a lot of wastewater), but not 'viele Abwässer'.
EXAMPLE
Jeden Tag werden riesige Mengen Abwasser produziert.
Huge amounts of wastewater are produced every day.
Typical verbs
Common verbs used with 'Abwasser' (wastewater) are 'reinigen' (to clean), 'klären' (to treat/clarify), 'entsorgen' (to dispose of), and 'einleiten' (to discharge, into a river or the sewer system).
EXAMPLE
Es ist verboten, ungeklärtes Abwasser in den See einzuleiten.
It is forbidden to discharge untreated wastewater into the lake.