sewage

Everyday

1. Sewage is the dirty water and waste from toilets, sinks and drains that flows through pipes called sewers. tree →
2. It is cleaned at a sewage treatment plant before the water goes back into rivers or the sea. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons, the water cycle in towns includes sewage treatment; clean sewage systems stopped diseases like cholera. In safety lessons: never swim where sewage flows and wash hands after floods. Phrases: «raw sewage», «sewage treatment works», «sewage pipe».

Examples

• Sewage goes from our toilets through pipes to the treatment plant. tree →
• The beach was closed because sewage leaked into the sea. tree →
• Old cities without sewage systems had lots of diseases. tree →
• Don't swim in flood water; it may have sewage in it. tree →
• The sewage works cleans the water before it goes to the river. tree →
• Only flush pee, poo and toilet paper, or the sewage pipes can block. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «some sewage», not «a sewage». «Sewer» (SOO-er) is the pipe; «sewage» (SOO-idge) is what flows in it. Don't confuse with «sewer» meaning a person who sews (SO-er).