We call it pre-treatment but you should think of the "first step" in wastewater treatment as source control. With increased awareness and everyone’s help, the amount of pollutants entering the sewer system can be reduced each year. Wastewater conveyance and treatment facilities are not designed to process items that should not go down the drain. Grease,"flushable wipes," pharmaceuticals, and more can lead to clogs and equipment malfunctions that are pricey to fix. Through careful, and sometimes regulated, monitoring of what is put in the sewer system, you can reduce the amount of toxic pollutants in the environment and also positively impact treatment costs.