An estimated 21,594 public municipal water treatment plants provide wastewater collection, treatment and disposal service to 226.4 million people in the United States. Collectively, they reclaim, treat and supply about 1 billion gallons of non-potable water per day to our nation. Most of which is used to irrigate golf courses, public parks and open green space. At the start of the treatment process, water is separated from solid waste inside a sludge tank separator. As water passes through the first stage, heavier sludge and particulate settles to the bottom of the tank, leaving only fine suspended solids.