The best environmental solutions tend to be those that integrate concepts of source reduction along with cleaner, more efficient technologies.

Before a discharge problem there is always a better environmental solution applied either pretreatment (removing larger solids), primary treatment (which seeks to remove settleable suspended matter), secondary treatment (with the goal of eliminating dissolved organic matter), tertiary treatment (which removes microbiological contamination) or quaternary treatment (in the case of trying to make a mouth water use).

Whatever the solution to implement, it requires a technical study, a pilot and an overhaul of the system.