Don’t confuse sanitary sewers with storm sewers.
Storm sewers carry rainwater from our streets, rooftops, and yards. Sanitary sewers carry wastewater coming from our houses and other buildings--from bathrooms, kitchens, and floor drains.
When you flush a toilet or take a shower, everything heads for the sanitary sewers found beneath our city streets. Then it goes to a place where the water is treated, or cleaned.
Once the wastewater from sanitary sewers has been cleaned, it is sent to a lake or river.
Two types of sewers run underneath our city streets. Storm sewers handle rainwater, while sanitary sewers take care of water from our homes and buildings.
Photo: Chicago Public Library