Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
effluent
noun
/ˈɛflʊənt/
Definition
Effluent refers to liquid waste or sewage that is discharged into a water body, often from industrial or sewage treatment processes.
Examples
- The factory’s effluent was treated before being released into the river.
- Effluent from wastewater treatment plants is monitored to prevent environmental contamination.
- Some aquatic life can be harmed by toxic effluent that enters their habitat.
Meaning
The term is commonly used to describe water that has been used and then rejected from a source, which may contain pollutants.
Synonyms
- Wastewater
- Sewage
- Discharge
- Runoff
