Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2015 June 6

= June 6 =

Sewage treatment question
Do sewage companies have any specific protocols in place to deal with male ejaculate that gets flushed down toilets? 2001:DA8:8001:2303:DDD2:5EC2:EAB3:8BDA (talk) 14:50, 6 June 2015 (UTC)


 * Why should they? Any living content doesn't last long in those conditions, and they have much worse substances and objects to deal with.    D b f i r s   15:58, 6 June 2015 (UTC)


 * I can imagine wanting to separate it out for ethical reasons. —Tamfang (talk) 22:53, 6 June 2015 (UTC)


 * Condoms are said to be a bad thing to put into the system, as they take a very long time to degrade. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:05, 7 June 2015 (UTC)


 * I disagree with "any living content doesn't last long in those conditions", if you mean the conditions in the sewer prior to sewage treatment. There are many living things in sewers, most notably harmful microorganisms that can spread disease.  This is why releasing untreated sewage back into the water is a very bad thing.  We do get a bit of a second chance if we are able to kill those microorganisms at the water treatment plant, but, if neither are done effectively, this leads to widespread waterborne infectious diseases. StuRat (talk) 13:17, 7 June 2015 (UTC)


 * I agree with your disagreement. The problem with euphemisms is that they can be misunderstood. I must learn to call a spade a spade (or at least a Spermatozoon).    D b f i r s   16:54, 7 June 2015 (UTC)