Wastewater (or waste water) is water generated after the use of drinking water, fresh water, raw water, or saline water in a variety of deliberate applications or processes. Another definition of wastewater is "Used water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff / storm water, and any sewer infiltration or sewer inflow". In everyday usage, wastewater is commonly a synonym for sewage (also called domestic wastewater or municipal wastewater), which is wastewater that is produced by a community of people.
As a generic term, wastewater may also describe water containing contaminants accumulated in other settings, such as:
