On Wednesday, January 25, 2012 the eighth grade Environmental Science classes visited three different Sewage and Water Board plants that work with cleaning, purifying and pumping water for our city.
At the water purification plant, students observed the steps that convert water from the Mississippi River into the city’s drinking water. The process begins with chemicals being added to the water, causing solid materials to clump together and settle to the bottom of the tanks. The water then moves to another set of tanks where chlorine and ammonia are added, killing any bacteria in the water. The water then passes through a series of gravel, sand, and carbon filters, which remove any remaining sediment. Samples of the water are continually being tested to make sure it is safe to drink. The whole process takes eight to twelve hours. The purified water is released into the city water system at 4 a.m. every morning.
Students also toured Pumping Station No. 6, which is responsible for pumping storm water from the city streets into the 17th street canal. The pumps in the station are capable of filling Brother Martin’s Conlin Gym in 55 seconds! Large rakes clean the filtering screens of trash and debris, allowing the water to pass through the pumps. The height of the water is raised as it is pumped into the drainage canal. The cost of electrical energy to run the station’s pumps is about one million dollars a year.
At the wastewater treatment plant, students wore hard hats and glasses in order to enter the plant. Wastewater from our homes is treated at this plant. Harmful chemicals and solids are removed from the water before it is released into the Mississippi River. The solid material (sludge) is compressed to remove excess water. The sludge is then burned in a large incinerator at 15000 F. The entire process is controlled from a central room that has many computer screens that monitor the entire process. The students’ field experience complemented the academic lessons in their Environmental Science class.
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