A wastewater treatment plant is a facility that processes sewage and other wastewater to remove contaminants before discharge to the environment. Treatment typically involves primary treatment (physical settling of solids), secondary treatment (biological processes breaking down organic matter), and sometimes tertiary treatment (advanced removal of nutrients or specific contaminants). Treatment plants receive wastewater through sewer collection systems and produce treated effluent meeting regulatory standards for discharge. Byproducts include biosolids (treated sewage sludge) that may be land-applied, composted, or disposed. Treatment plants represent major municipal infrastructure investments with significant operating costs for energy, chemicals, and staffing. Plant capacity must accommodate community growth while meeting increasingly stringent environmental regulations.