blackwater

American  

[blak-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈblækˌwɔ tər, -ˈwɒt ər /

noun

Pathology.

1. any of several human or animal diseases characterized by the production of dark urine as a result of the rapid breakdown of red blood cells.

2. blackwater fever.

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blackwater Scientific  

/ blăk′wô′tər /

1. Wastewater containing bodily or other biological wastes, as from toilets, dishwashers, or kitchen drains.

2. Compare graywater

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Etymology

Origin of blackwater

First recorded in 1790–1800; black + water

Example Sentences

These results sharpen our understanding of how tropical peatlands and blackwater lakes influence global climate dynamics.

From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026

Dumping wastewater from toilets - so-called "blackwater" - increased from 126 incidents to 2023 to 207 last year.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

The disease can produce severe maternal anemia, iron deficiency, or it can spread to the kidneys and the lungs and cause a condition known as blackwater fever.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2024

The campus has an on-site blackwater treatment center to recycle water so that it can be used for irrigation and the building’s toilets.

From Washington Post • Jul. 14, 2022

In one point all agree, that one must be saturated with malaria before blackwater can develop.

From Sketches of the East Africa Campaign by Dolbey, Robert Valentine