Billions of litres of wastewater are treated every year in wastewater treatment plants around the world. This wastewater, both industrial and municipal, can contain various pollutants depending on the source. Wastewater may contain soap, waste products, food scraps, human waste, oils and in some cases, metals. The main goal of wastewater treatment is to preserve the environment and keep the pollutants out of rivers and oceans.

While silver is definitely a precious metal, the usages of this metal are much wider than just the jewelry industry. Silver is a great electro-conductor which makes it a beneficial metal in the manufacturing of electrical and electronic components. Silver is a cost-effective and high-performance metal for the electronics industry. For example, it can be used in copper or brass connectors in order to increase conductivity. In other cases, silver is used as an anti-tarnishing plating and can prevent scratches and retain the attractiveness of parts.

Electrowinning is a widely used technology in modern metal recovery, mining, refining, and wastewater treatment applications.  The electrowinning process is one of the oldest electrolytic processes known and was first introduced in 1807 by English chemist Humphry Davy. After 66 long years the first commercial refinery Balbach and Sons Refining and Smelting Company adopted the electrowinning technology and shortly after became the second largest metal processing company in the United States.