The Influence of the Poles’ Lifestyle on the Quantity and Quality of Municipal Wastewater

The article presents lifestyle as an important factor determining the quantity and quality of municipal wastewater. The characteristic of wastewater in Poland has changed significantly in recent years. The qualitative characteristics of municipal wastewater indicate an increase of organic compounds and in the scope of micro-contaminants identified in them, e.g. nanoparticles, microplastics, pharmaceutical and personal care products or heavy metals. Therefore, the knowledge of parameters such as: BOD5, COD, total N, total P and suspension solids is no longer sufficient for the design and operation of wastewater treatment systems. Comprehensive research in this area is necessary to select those indicators that better describe the characteristics of wastewater.