1. RPI EcoEd making connections k-12 students + teachers + university researchers and students protecting, restoring and vitalizing education and environment

2. RPI EcoEd + Tamarac Environmental Engineering Research Program

3. Wastewater Treatment

4. Wastewater Treatment Plants Come in All Shapes and Sizes

5. Lynn, Massachusetts Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant 118.8 million dollar plant construction Treats wastewater from four cities/towns (over 134,000 residents) Can treat over 100 million gallons per day …run by 33 employees!

6. Why Do We Need to Treat Wastewater? Alternatives: Store massive amounts of wastewater in tanks/basins Mix wastewater into clean lakes and rivers Consequences of poor wastewater treatment: Leaks/spills! Poor air and water quality Health problems

7. Why Is The Design of Wastewater Treatment Facilities Important? Capacity to handle waste stream Energy use Danger from the treatment process itself

8. Biggest Wastewater Disasters! London, 1878 – infrastructure unable to keep up with population growth; cesspools overflowed into Thames River; members of parliament soaked curtains with chemicals to keep out smell Hawaii, 2007 – 48 million gallons of sewage overflowed into Ala Wai Canal; closed down all nearby beaches Mexico, 2011 – 200 homes flooded by sewage after pipe burst; 3 children injured

9. Just this month!

10. RPI EcoEd + Tamarac Environmental Engineering Research Program Together, the research group will produce a timeline documenting the development of Tamarac’ wastewater facility a photo essay describing components and the process of Tamarac’s wastewater system a photo essay describing how wastewater treatment has developed over time, alternative plant designs, laws governing wastewater treatment and issues arising through their operation a short lesson for third grade students, contributing to their understanding of “systems.” Time permitting, we may also produce a film about our research. There also could be opportunities for fieldtrips.

11. RPI EcoEd + Tamarac Environmental Engineering Research Program The research will be presented to the Brittonkill Board of Education to interested classes for critical review and public viewing at RPI’s Earth Week Festival