effluent

[ef-loo-uhnt]

adjective

1. flowing out or forth.

noun

1. something that flows out or forth; outflow; effluence.

2. a stream flowing out of a lake, reservoir, etc.

3. sewage that has been treated in a septic tank or sewage treatment plant.

4. sewage or other liquid waste that is discharged into a body of water, etc.

effluent

/ ˈɛflʊənt /

noun

1. liquid discharged as waste, as from an industrial plant or sewage works

2. radioactive waste released from a nuclear power station

3. a stream that flows out of another body of water

4. something that flows out or forth

adjective

1. flowing out or forth

effluent

1. Flowing out or forth.

1. A stream flowing out of a body of water.

2. An outflow or discharge of liquid waste, as from a sewage system, factory, or nuclear plant.

Other Word Forms

• supereffluent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of effluent¹

1720–30; < Latin effluent- (stem of effluēns flowing out, present participle of effluere ), equivalent to ef- ef- + flu- flow + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of effluent¹

C18: from Latin effluere to run forth, from fluere to flow

Example Sentences

But opposition leaders have called the clean-up "cosmetic", alleging that chemicals had been used to mask the froth without addressing the fundamental causes of the pollution: untreated sewage and industrial effluents.

Read more on Barron's

These would use treated effluent to supply the volumes of water needed and minimise energy use.

Read more on BBC

Anglian Water points out that it is not obliged to supply water for non-domestic use and suggests recycled water from the final stage of effluent treatment as a coolant rather than drinking water.

Read more on BBC

Pure Water Southern California is projected to cost $8 billion and produce up to 150 million gallons of drinking water daily by purifying treated effluent that is now discharged into the ocean.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But many questions remain: Where would the effluent from a PCH sewer be treated?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sewerage