What happens to chemicals poured down the drain?

Question

Not just chemicals, but all the junk we pour down our drains, like drain-o, shampoo, toilet bowl cleansers...all this harmful junk we use. Is it cleaned form the water at sewage plants? Does it become physical matter than can be removed? Does it break-down? How can farmers use waste from sewage plants if it has residue from drain-o in it?

Answer 1

Don't put oil, solvents or other household chemicals in your water. But that’s just what you’re doing if you pour them down the storm drain or down your sink. Because they don’t degrade easily, these substances end up in our reservoirs and in our wells.

Answer 2

in the USA, chemicals would be treated either in a public wastewater plant or septic system.  The chemcial elimination is >99% and all systems must meet the strictest regulations in the world.  If you want to read about the process, review the references.  The method depends on the chemical.  Drano is just neutralized to common salt.  Shampoos and other organics are turned into CO2 and salts by bacteria used in the process.

Answer 3

Ends up in your body and the bodies of all other living things.

Answer 4

We are relying on dilution.       Some the  Shampoo companies scoop up again at the sewage plants and reuse.  That is why they call it sham"poo"