Wastewater treatment facilities are facilities that receive and treat wastewater. They can be publicly or privately owned and are responsible for receiving and treating sewage and/or wastewater from households, commercial activities, and industries. Wastewater and sewage is conveyed to treatment facilities through sewer systems, which include pipes, lift stations, sewer lines, and manholes. Treated effluent is released back into surface water or applied to the land. If treatment standards are not met or pollutants pass through the plant untreated due to inadequate treatment methods, outdated facilities, or system failures, pollutants can enter waterways and contaminate drinking water sources. Additionally, if sanitary sewer overflows occur due to pipe breaks, pump failures, grease buildup, or extreme rainstorms, raw sewage can overflow into city streets, property, or streams and contaminate drinking water sources.