Wastewater includes what we flush down the toilet or empties into our home drains. In San Francisco , wastewater also refers to storm water – the water that pours into one of the thousands of catch basins located on the corner of every City block.  There are many different pollutants in wastewater, including solid and soluble organic materials, micro-organisms and pathogens, litter and debris, and metals and organic compounds. About 94 percent of wastewater comes from homes and businesses, and the rest from industry.   Sources of wastewater include:

Find out more on the following pages:
 
Sewer system overview: learn what our system includes
Our combined sewers: find out why our sewers are unique
The treatment plants: learn how and where wastewater is cleaned
About the SFPUC: get more information on our agency