So we figured out that physically removing things from our water CAN'T be the only way, especially since getting out the dissolved solids would be nearly impossible with any kind of filter. So students suggested two things: bring in an expert and maybe find some videos that detail the process.
Mrs. Brinza couldn't get someone from the local wastewater treatment facility to come in on such short notice, but while she was presenting at the ISTA/ICTM conference, retired Alcott science teacher Mr. White was coming in to sub for her. He recently had visited the wastewater treatment facility in Denver while visiting his son (who happens to work at it). Mr. White was surely the expert on what goes on there, as his son just gave him a detailed tour last month. So while Mr. White doesn't work at one, his recent visit made him an expert in our eyes!
Mrs. Brinza couldn't get someone from the local wastewater treatment facility to come in on such short notice, but while she was presenting at the ISTA/ICTM conference, retired Alcott science teacher Mr. White was coming in to sub for her. He recently had visited the wastewater treatment facility in Denver while visiting his son (who happens to work at it). Mr. White was surely the expert on what goes on there, as his son just gave him a detailed tour last month. So while Mr. White doesn't work at one, his recent visit made him an expert in our eyes!
Our videos from NYC and London's facilities confirmed what Mr. White shared with us about Denver's facilities, and we came to an agreement on the following:
1. WWTFs first clean the water through a physical/mechanical process, using big tools and machinery to remove the BIG solid stuff (i.e. baby wipes, bricks, garbage, etc). This stuff is sent to the landfill.
2. Next, water is treated biologically. This means small microbes like bacteria are added to the dirty water to consume (yes, EAT) all the dissolved stuff. This produces organic waste that either floats or sinks in settling tanks, and special equipment collects this organic material. The water is getting cleaner! Sometimes this "sludge" is actually used as a fuel source for the WWTF.
3. Lastly, the water is treated chemically, usually with bleach. Bleach kills any remaining micro-organisms still in the water before it is dumped into a river (the East River in NYC and the Thames in London). On average 85-95% of the dissolved solids are removed before heading into a body of water. That seems like a lot, but we're concerned about what is still left in the water for us and also for the wildlife and plantlife that make these rivers their homes.
This got us thinking...where does the water that is treated here in Chicago end up?!?!?
1. WWTFs first clean the water through a physical/mechanical process, using big tools and machinery to remove the BIG solid stuff (i.e. baby wipes, bricks, garbage, etc). This stuff is sent to the landfill.
2. Next, water is treated biologically. This means small microbes like bacteria are added to the dirty water to consume (yes, EAT) all the dissolved stuff. This produces organic waste that either floats or sinks in settling tanks, and special equipment collects this organic material. The water is getting cleaner! Sometimes this "sludge" is actually used as a fuel source for the WWTF.
3. Lastly, the water is treated chemically, usually with bleach. Bleach kills any remaining micro-organisms still in the water before it is dumped into a river (the East River in NYC and the Thames in London). On average 85-95% of the dissolved solids are removed before heading into a body of water. That seems like a lot, but we're concerned about what is still left in the water for us and also for the wildlife and plantlife that make these rivers their homes.
This got us thinking...where does the water that is treated here in Chicago end up?!?!?