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Internship 2017-Central Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour

June 23, 2017 by Pamela

Internship 2017-Central Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour

Written by

Skylar Morrow, 2017 EEI Intern

 

The Central Wastewater Treatment Plant stands to be over 4,000 miles long, in pipelines, and manages to serve 1.25 million people in and around the city of Dallas. By serving at that magnitude, the Treatment Plant takes in about 450 million gallons of wastewater daily and is expected to clean all of it despite holidays, weather conditions, or dangers of the job.

Visiting the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, my original thoughts constantly changed from what was originally believed about places like that to what they actually are. The first thing that comes to a person’s mind when thinking of a wastewater treatment plant is the smell of the waste, the overuse of harsh chemicals, and the amazement that with a little help from everyone, the process of cleaning dirty water can be sped up tremendously compared to a river on its own. Though, once we all met the workers, witnessed firsthand some of the tasks and processes that are completed, and hardly smelt the garbage first expected, I knew that there was so much more to learn about the Wastewater Treatment Plants.

Figure 1.Interns were able to see firsthand the different steps in the Waste Water treatment Plant

First off, the smell is barely, if at all, present; the prominent unpleasant smell did not even come from the Wastewater Treatment Plant but rather a neighboring company nearby. Later along in the tour, there was a more natural smell, which was actually appealing and tolerable, from the use of Chlorine and Sulfur Dioxide.

Though it was also believed that numerous amounts of chemicals would be put into the water in order for it to be cleaned and released back into the Trinity River, that was also proven wrong until the end. Throughout most of the process, the cleansing of the water is actually done with physical, mechanical, and natural methods. Most of the larger items are screened out of the water in a pretreatment, preparing the water for further screening and removal, clarifying, filtering, and further disinfecting treatments. Once most of the dirt is removed and the water is near pristine, certain elements and chemicals are streamed through the water, such as Oxygen, Chlorine, and Sulfur Dioxide to eliminate the remaining impurities that cannot be removed physically.

 

 

Figure 2. Most of the cleaning is a physical process using natural element as rocks and microorganisms that are present in the rivers.

Probably the only thing that did not change before or after visiting the Wastewater Treatment Plant was the astonishment that the murky, dirty water going into the plant can come out hours later with a brilliant blue tint and flow back into the Trinity River, only to repeat the cycle again due to the constant use. It of course is no easy task to do this in half the time it would naturally take, daily, but it is a reality that has been here for decades and will continue on as long as we are here to use up that same water.

Many of us have been oblivious to how much water we waste and tend to lose interest or concern in it once it runs down the drain or the toilet is flushed. Though this planet is over 70% water, it is finite and will run out if we do not change our habits now. By interning with the Environmental Education Initiative, EEI, I have been cultivated in the vitality of water and how it should be preserved as best we can and also given techniques to achieve this goal of water conservation. I am glad to have participated in this opportunity and learning experience, and I recommend that everyone participate in the goal to conserve water, not only for his or her self, family, or for this program, but for the world where we all live which continues to do so much for us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

COMPOSTING WORKSHOP

May 31, 2017 by Roz Miller

COMPOSTING WORKSHOP

COMPOSTING WORKSHOP
Saturday, June 10, 2017
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Richland College – Wichita Hall, Room 103

12800 Abrams Road, Dallas, TX 75243

Click here to view a campus map with parking areas for the workshop.

Parking is available in Lots C and D on the west side of the campus (entrance from Abrams Road).

Is your trash can full at the end of the week? Did you know that you can reduce the waste carried to landfills by composting more and throwing away less? This program teaches the composting process, the different types and methods of composting, as well as how to compost and its importance. Plan to attend the workshop!

Daniel Cunningham, a horticulturist with the Water University of Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Dallas will be the instructor.

Make a Reservation
Space is limited. Please register online at SaveDallasWater.com or by calling (214) 670-3155.

Workshop is sponsored by City of Dallas Water Utilities, Richland College, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

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Dallas Water Utilities’ “NATIONAL FIX-A-LEAK WEEK” (MARCH 20-26) in east and west Dallas

March 8, 2017 by Garren

Dallas Water Utilities’ “NATIONAL FIX-A-LEAK WEEK” (MARCH 20-26) in east and west Dallas

DALLAS WATER UTILITIES IS PRESENTING “DIY PLUMBING REPAIRS” WORKSHOPS DURING EPA’S “NATIONAL FIX-A-LEAK WEEK” (MARCH 20-26) IN EAST AND WEST DALLAS

Did you know that the average American home loses 14% of their water use to leaks? Attend our no cost workshop to learn how you can perform do-it-yourself minor repairs to save water and help lower your water bill. Below are some of the topics that will be covered at the workshop:

  • Replacing toilet fill and flush valves and flappers
  • Fixing leaky faucets
  • Installing faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads
  • Water Conservation tips
TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017 ● 6:30 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M.
WEST DALLAS MULTIPURPOSE CENTER
2828 Fish Trap Road, Dallas, TX 75212
Space is limited, please register online for the West Dallas workshop at SaveDallasWater.com or by calling (214) 670-3155.

NOTA: UN TALLER TAMBIÉN ESTARÁ PRESENTADO EN ESPAÑOL EN EL CENTRO.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 ● 6:30 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. RECREATION CENTER
2922 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215

Space is limited, please register online for the East Dallas workshop at SaveDallasWater.com or by calling (214) 670-3155.

Workshops sponsored by City of Dallas Water Utilities Conservation, City of Dallas Housing and Community Services and City of Dallas Park and Recreation. Licensed plumbers with A-Star Heat and Air Plumbing, Inc. in Garland will be the instructors.

 

  Questions?
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City of Dallas Water Art Contest

January 18, 2017 by Garren

City of Dallas Water Art Contest

Student and Teachers: Enter this year’s Dallas Water Utilities Visual Arts, Poster and T-shirt contests to win awesome prizes! Follow @Save Dallas Water or visit SaveDallasWater.com for more information!

 

Do you enjoy creating artwork? If the answer is yes, then be sure to enter Dallas Water Utilities 2017 Art Contests. Follow @Save Dallas Water or visit SaveDallasWater.com for more information!

 

Did you know that all Dallas area students and teachers are eligible to win cool prizes through the Dallas Water Utilities 2017 Art Contests? Follow @Save Dallas Water or visit SaveDallasWater.com for more information!

Elementary & Middle School Students

Learn More

Elementary Information

Middle School Information

 

 

High School Students

 

Learn More

High School Information

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Dallas Water Utilities’ Lawn Care Maintenance Workshop – January 28

January 6, 2017 by Garren

Dallas Water Utilities’ Lawn Care Maintenance Workshop – January 28

 

DALLAS WATER UTILITIES PRESENTS:

LAWN CARE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017 | 9:00 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M.
TEXAS DISCOVERY GARDENS AT FAIR PARK
3601 MARTIN L. KING JR. BOULEVARD – DALLAS 75210

Come and learn ways you can maintain a healthy lawn with less frequent watering. Discover the most effective and earth-friendly way to care for your lawn at the Texas Discovery Gardens Grand Hall in Fair Park (3601 Martin L. King Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75210).

Free parking is available through Gate 6 of Fair Park (off of Robert B. Cullum Boulevard).

Patrick Dickinson, a horticulturalist with the Urban Water Program at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Dallas, will teach you how to care for your lawn like an expert. Subjects covered will include basic care for your lawn, common turf problems, how to water most efficiently and much more.

Make a reservation
Space is limited, please register online at SaveDallasWater.com or by calling us at (214) 670-3155.

Workshop sponsored by City of Dallas Water Conservation, Texas Discovery Gardens and Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s Water University.

 

  Questions?
Contact Us

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The University of North Texas—Science Education Research Lab

July 7, 2016 by Garren

The University of North Texas—Science Education Research Lab

The University of North Texas—Science Education Research Lab

Water Conservation

Success of environmental education measured in millions of gallons of water conserved.

For a decade the City of Dallas’ Environmental Education Initiative (EEI) has brought together the city’s Water Conservation Division and Sanitation Department to develop school and general outreach programs that engage and inspire their residents to make informed decisions to be environmentally protective. When the city departments sought to expand their impact in the community, they considered forming partnerships outside their own personnel.

That is where Dr. Rudi Thompson and students with the Science Education Research Lab (SERL) at the University of North Texas stepped in. Dr. Thompson’s experience in curriculum development combined with a research-driven approach were certainly advantages to expanding environmental education for students in Dallas—along with the status of  the students working with Dr. Thompson as certified educators currently working on advanced degrees.

Simple dissemination of information to a population does not necessarily meet the mission of providing education. Ability to measure the effectiveness of the water conservation program was a priority.

The EEI was created to address the citywide goal of conservation of resources—most notably water, one of Texas’ most important resources. The SERL seeks to use tactical education techniques to reach learners of all ages, empowering them to make behavioral changes that are passed on to family and friends. The EEI has four main educational components: the elementary hands-on lessons taught by certified teachers, the middle school “Museum on Wheels” modules, the high school conservation and community-outreach programs, and the professional-development program for teachers. All four educational programs are designed to equip students and teachers with applicable knowledge about water conservation and what needs to be done to shift our habits toward promoting a sustainable future.

The EEI is unique in that it does not just end with outreach and education.  The SERL focuses on quantitative follow-up research to track the efficacy of its programs. From data on water use in areas where the elementary school programs were implemented, SERL found a mean reduction of more than 500 gallons per month in single-family homes. This equates to a reduction of over 6,000 gallons per year for each home and a total saving of over 22 million gallons of water per year for the entire target area.

In all, including the educational and community-based outreach, the EEI has delivered direct conservation awareness to more than 200,000 Dallas residents. These outreach programs, combined with quantitative research by SERL, demonstrate the effectiveness of the EEI. It is the innovative relationship between the City of Dallas and the University of North Texas that has created a paradigm shift to conservation behaviors, which is becoming a valuable tool to combat water needs for all of Texas for generations to come.

Source: http://www.teea.org/the-university-of-north-texas-science-education-research-lab/

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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