Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| aguas residuales | /ˌaɡwas resiˈdwales/ | feminine, plural |
| agua cloacal | /aɡwa kloakal/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| lodo cloacal | /lodo kloakal/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term Residuos cloacales refers to waste expelled through the sewer system.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase aguas residuales literally translates to 'residual waters'.
Which one should you use?
Aguas residuales is the standard technical and formal term for wastewater or sewage in most contexts. In contrast, agua cloacal specifically refers to sewage coming from the sewer system (cloaca).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The adjective cloacal is commonly used in many Latin American countries to describe things related to the sewage system. Additionally, the term Alcantarillado, more common in Spain and some Latin American countries, refers to sewerage or drainage systems.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase aguas residuales is always used in the plural form when referring to the general concept of wastewater.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌaɡwas resiˈdwales/
Did you know?
- The word lodo refers to sewage sludge or mud, but it is also used in various Latin American countries to describe a very thick or slow-moving traffic jam.
- The term alcantarillado is derived from alcantarilla, which comes from the Arabic word al-qantara meaning 'the bridge' or 'the arch'.
- The term cloaca describes both a sewer and the single common exit for waste and reproduction in birds and reptiles.
Examples in context
- Las aguas residuales contaminan el mar a menudo.Sewage often pollutes the ocean.This sentence shows how aguas residuales is used to describe pollution in the ocean.Tatoeba #934969 by Riwanon, translation #681757 by Source_VOA
- El tratamiento adecuado de las aguas residuales mejora la calidad del agua.The proper treatment of sewage improves water quality.
- La planta de tratamiento se encarga de procesar las aguas residuales.The treatment plant is responsible for processing sewage.
- Es esencial tener un sistema eficiente para tratar los residuos cloacales.It is essential to have an efficient system to treat sewage.
- El alcantarillado de la ciudad ha sido renovado recientemente.The city's sewerage system has been recently renovated.
- En algunas zonas rurales, las fosas sépticas son la manera más común de tratar las aguas residuales.In some rural areas, septic tanks are the most common way to treat sewage.
- Las aguas residuales llegan al río.The sewage reaches the river.
- Debemos limpiar las aguas residuales.We must clean the sewage.
Example conversation
Two neighbors are discussing a problem in their street.
- SofíaAlejandro, hay un olor fuerte a aguas residuales.Alejandro, there is a strong smell of sewage.
- AlejandroSí, Sofía, creo que se rompió una tubería.Yes, Sofia, I think a pipe broke.
- SofíaEs peligroso que las aguas residuales estén aquí.It is dangerous for the sewage to be here.
- AlejandroLlamaré al ayuntamiento ahora mismo.I will call the city council right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sewage” translations and entries aguas residuales, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
