Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Wastewater Utility celebrated Earth Day Wednesday with an open house.
Manager Brian Davison said about 200 area students came in for the Earth Day event between 10 a.m. and noon. As about 1 p.m., there were about 217 people total that attended.
Administrative Assistant Ellen Hoffer reached out to area schools trying to promote the event and “it worked out well,” Davison said.
There were several booths from 811 and Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams where they could learn different things. People were able to go on tours of the wastewater facility to learn about the wastewater process.
During the treatment process, wastewater goes through a screening area that removes things that probably shouldn’t have been flushed in the first place. Then it goes through grit removal, which removes sand and gravel. The wastewater goes through the primary tanks, which lets the heavy solid settle out and those are removed. Then wastewater goes through selector tanks where the wastewater gets phosphorus removed naturally, biologically. Wastewater goes through the aeration tanks and final settling tanks, where the microbes are separated from the water and goes through the disinfection process before the water is reaerated.
Wednesday, people were also able to get their face painted or enjoy a provided lunch, which included hot dogs and chips. Free shrubs and pine trees were given out.
The purpose of the open house is to allow area residents to see what their monthly bill goes toward and what it takes to treat a little over 3 million gallons a day, Davison said.
Over the past three years, Davison said the Earth Day open house has grown.
Davison said they plan on continuing the Earth Day open house and continue adding vendors each year.
