Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour

Summary

This educational video script takes viewers on a tour of King County's wastewater treatment plants in Renton and Woodinville, Washington. It explains the process of treating wastewater from homes and industries, which includes removing pollutants, organic matter, bacteria, and trash. The script highlights the importance of source control, the reuse of resources like biosolids and recycled water, and the generation of biogas from organic waste. The aim is to educate on sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and promote clean water for the Puget Sound ecosystem.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Wastewater includes water from household drains like showers, sinks, washing machines, and also from industrial sources.
• 🌿 Wastewater contains a mix of organic matter, chemicals, bacteria, and sometimes trash.
• 🚱 The primary goal of wastewater treatment is to remove pollutants before the water re-enters the environment.
• 🔍 The treatment process involves physical, biological, and chemical methods to clean the water.
• 🚯 Trash is removed through bar screens, which are crucial for preventing clogs and damage to the treatment system.
• 🌀 Primary treatment uses gravity to separate out about 50% of the solid materials from the wastewater.
• 🌡️ Aeration activates microbes that consume organic matter, helping to purify the water further.
• 🌪️ Secondary clarifiers allow the microbes and any remaining organics to settle out before the water is disinfected.
• 💧 Disinfection involves using chemicals like sodium hypochlorite to kill any remaining bacteria.
• ♻️ Treated wastewater is either reused or released into the environment, and the byproducts like biosolids and biogas are recycled.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a wastewater treatment plant?

The primary purpose of a wastewater treatment plant is to clean pollutants out of the water before it returns to the water cycle and the environment, such as Puget Sound, ensuring the water is safe and free of harmful substances.

What are the four Ps that should only be flushed down toilets?

The four Ps that should only be flushed down toilets are 'poop, pee, puke, and toilet paper', as mentioned in the script to avoid causing clogs and damage to the wastewater system.

How does the bar screen room contribute to the wastewater treatment process?

The bar screen room contributes to the wastewater treatment process by physically removing trash and large debris from the water using bar screens with gaps about a pinky nail width apart, which helps prevent these materials from entering further treatment stages.

What is the role of gravity in the primary step of wastewater treatment?

In the primary step of wastewater treatment, gravity is used to separate out about 50% of the solids from the water. Heavier materials like sand and organic matter sink to the bottom, while lighter materials like oil rise to the top, allowing for their removal.

What is the purpose of aeration in the wastewater treatment process?

Aeration in the wastewater treatment process involves pumping hot air into the water to activate special microbes that consume organic matter and pollutants, helping to clean the water further before it moves to the next stage of treatment.

How do secondary clarifiers work in a wastewater treatment plant?

Secondary clarifiers work by allowing the water to settle after aeration, where the activated bacteria and organics they've consumed sink to the bottom. The clean water on top is then piped to the next stage, while the bacteria and organics are either recycled back into the process or sent to digesters.

What is the function of sodium hypochlorite in the disinfection step of wastewater treatment?

Sodium hypochlorite is used in the disinfection step to eliminate any remaining bacteria, such as E. coli, that may have escaped previous treatment stages, ensuring the water is safe for release back into the environment.

How does the treated wastewater from the plant eventually reach Puget Sound?

The treated wastewater is piped 13 miles to a diffuser pipe off the coast of Alki in West Seattle, where it is diffused under the pipe and slowly spreads out, getting mixed and moved by ocean currents.

What are some ways that King County wastewater treatment facilities reuse resources from the treatment process?

King County wastewater treatment facilities reuse resources by capturing biogas from digesters to use as renewable energy, turning organic material into biosolids for agricultural use, and producing recycled water for irrigation and other non-potable uses.

What is the significance of the 'membrane filter cassette' technology used at Brightwater treatment plant?

The 'membrane filter cassette' technology is significant as it uses microscopic pores to filter out bacteria and other microscopic particles, allowing only the cleanest water to pass through, which can then be reused for various purposes, such as irrigation.

Outlines

00:00

💧 Wastewater Treatment Introduction

Charity, an educator for King County Wastewater Treatment, introduces the process of wastewater treatment. She explains that wastewater from household drains and industrial sources is full of pollutants, including organic matter, chemicals, bacteria, and trash. The video tour aims to show how environmental engineers clean pollutants before the water re-enters the water cycle. The primary step in treatment uses gravity to separate about 50% of the solids from the water. The process involves large tanks where the denser materials like sand and organic matter settle at the bottom, while lighter substances like oil rise to the top, allowing for the cleanest water to be removed from the middle layer.

05:01

🌀 Aeration and Microbes in Treatment

The second paragraph delves into the aeration process, where hot air is pumped into the water to activate microbes that consume organic matter, thus cleaning the water. These microbes form a complex ecosystem, with different types of organisms playing roles similar to those in a natural environment. The process also involves the use of secondary clarifiers, where the microbes and organics they've consumed are separated from the water. The clean water is then piped to the next step, which is disinfection, while the microbes are either recycled back into the process or sent to digesters to be turned into fertilizer.

10:02

🌊 Final Stages and Releasing Water

This section describes the final stages of wastewater treatment, including disinfection using sodium hypochlorite to eliminate any remaining bacteria. The treated water is then aerated further by flowing over artificial waterfalls to increase oxygen levels, which is crucial for the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem. The paragraph also discusses the remaining pollutants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and persistent chemicals, and the importance of source control to minimize their impact. The tour concludes with a look at the treated water being released into the environment, highlighting the effectiveness of the treatment process in removing most pollutants.

15:03

🌱 Resource Recovery at Brightwater

Kristen Covey introduces Brightwater, a newer wastewater treatment plant with a different secondary treatment system aimed at higher water cleanliness for reuse. The aeration process is similar to South Plant, but instead of secondary settling tanks, Brightwater uses microscopic filters. The filters are membrane filter cassettes with pores so small that only water molecules and smaller particles can pass through, effectively removing bacteria. The clean water is then extracted for reuse, while most of it still goes into the Puget Sound. The paragraph emphasizes the sustainable practices of the treatment plant, focusing on resource recovery and reduced environmental impact.

20:04

🔄 Recycling Organic Material and Biosolids

The final paragraph focuses on the recycling of organic material from wastewater. The organic material is sent to digesters, where it is broken down by anaerobic bacteria, producing methane gas, which is captured and used as biogas. The resulting biosolids, rich in nutrients, are used for agricultural purposes, supporting plant growth and improving soil health. The paragraph also mentions the production of a compost made from biosolids and sawdust, suitable for home gardens. Additionally, a portion of the treated water is further processed into recycled water for non-potable uses like irrigation, contributing to water conservation and sustainable practices.

25:05

♻️ Sustainable Practices and Energy Recovery

The last part of the script emphasizes the sustainable practices employed in wastewater treatment, such as using recycled water for irrigation and industrial purposes, reducing the demand on freshwater resources. It also highlights the recovery of biogas as a renewable energy source, which helps reduce carbon emissions. The script concludes by underscoring the environmental benefits of these practices, including healthier soils, preserved water resources, and the promotion of renewable energy, showcasing the wastewater treatment process as an integral part of a sustainable ecosystem.

Keywords

💡Wastewater

Wastewater refers to any water that has been used and then discharged, containing a variety of pollutants. In the context of the video, wastewater includes water from household drains such as showers, sinks, and washing machines, as well as industrial and institutional sources. The script emphasizes the importance of treating wastewater to remove pollutants before it re-enters the environment, highlighting the presence of organic matter, chemicals, bacteria, and trash.

💡Pollutants

Pollutants are substances that contaminate the environment and can cause harm to living organisms. The video script discusses various pollutants found in wastewater, such as organic matter from human waste, chemicals from cleaning products and pharmaceuticals, and bacteria including E. coli. The treatment process described aims to remove or neutralize these pollutants to protect the Puget Sound ecosystem.

💡Treatment Plant

A wastewater treatment plant is a facility designed to receive, process, and purify wastewater before it is returned to the environment. The script provides a tour of such a plant, detailing the steps involved in treating wastewater, including physical, biological, and chemical processes to remove contaminants and prepare the water for safe discharge.

💡Bar Screens

Bar screens are physical barriers with closely spaced bars used to filter out large debris and trash from wastewater. The script mentions that bar screens are placed at the entry point of the treatment plant to catch items like tampons, condoms, and flushable wipes, preventing them from entering the treatment process and causing blockages.

💡Primary Treatment

Primary treatment is the first stage of wastewater treatment, where larger particles are removed by physical means such as screening and sedimentation. The script describes how, in primary treatment, wastewater is allowed to settle, and heavier solids sink to the bottom while lighter materials like oil and grease float to the top, facilitating their removal.

💡Aeration

Aeration is a process in wastewater treatment where oxygen is introduced into the water to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria then consume organic matter, helping to clean the water. The script uses the term 'bacteria hot tub' to describe the aeration tanks where this process occurs, emphasizing the role of microorganisms in breaking down pollutants.

💡Secondary Clarifiers

Secondary clarifiers are tanks where the treated wastewater is allowed to settle further, separating the remaining suspended solids from the now cleaner water. The script explains that after aeration, the water is transferred to secondary clarifiers where the activated sludge (bacterial flocs) sinks to the bottom and is removed, leaving clearer water to be further treated.

💡Disinfection

Disinfection is a process that eliminates or reduces the number of disease-causing microorganisms in the water. The script describes the use of sodium hypochlorite to disinfect the water, ensuring that any remaining bacteria, such as E. coli, are neutralized before the water is released back into the environment.

💡Biosolids

Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of wastewater solids. The script discusses how these solids, once treated, can be used as a fertilizer for agricultural and forestry purposes. The term 'Loop' is used in the script to refer to King County's brand of biosolids, highlighting the recycling and reuse aspect of the treatment process.

💡Recycled Water

Recycled water, also known as reclaimed water, is treated wastewater that is suitable for non-potable uses such as irrigation, industrial processes, or toilet flushing. The script explains that a portion of the treated water undergoes additional treatment, like sand filtration, to become recycled water, which is then used for various purposes, conserving potable water supplies.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability in the context of the video refers to the treatment plant's efforts to reduce environmental impact, conserve resources, and reuse materials. The script touches on how the treatment process captures methane gas to produce biogas, uses biosolids as fertilizer, and produces recycled water, all contributing to a more sustainable water management system.

Highlights

Wastewater treatment is essential for cleaning pollutants before water returns to the water cycle.

Wastewater contains organic matter, chemicals, bacteria, and trash from various sources.

The wastewater treatment process begins with bar screens to remove trash.

Gravity is used in primary treatment to separate out about 50% of the solids from the water.

Aeration activates microbes that consume organic matter and help clean the water.

Microbes form a complex ecosystem within the wastewater treatment tanks.

Secondary clarifiers help separate microbes and organics from the water after aeration.

Disinfection with sodium hypochlorate removes any remaining bacteria.

Treated wastewater is oxygenated as it goes over artificial waterfalls before release.

Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, and some chemicals, can still pass through the treatment system.

Source control is crucial for reducing persistent chemicals in wastewater.

Brightwater treatment plant uses membrane filters for higher level water cleaning.

Organic material is digested by anaerobic bacteria, producing biogas that's captured and used.

Biosolids, rich in nutrients, are used for agriculture and soil improvement.

Recycled water from additional treatment is used for irrigation and other non-potable purposes.

Recycling wastewater reduces pressure on drinking water sources and benefits the environment.

Transcripts

have you ever wondered where water goes

when it goes down your drains in your

house

it actually goes to a wastewater

treatment plant

hi my name is charity and i'm an

educator for king county wastewater

treatment

today we're going to go on a tour of the

wastewater treatment plant here in

renton

we're going to follow step by step and

learn how environmental engineers

have developed ways to clean all of the

pollutants out of the water before it

returns to the water cycle

and the puget sound let's take a moment

and think about it what is

waste water wastewater is any water that

comes down drains inside of buildings

so that could be showers sinks washing

machines

dishwater dishwashers it could be

things coming from a factory too or

inside schools or

office buildings one thing with

wastewater is that it's full of things

other than water right it's full of

organics

things like poop and pee and toilet

paper

it's full of things like dangerous

chemicals like cleaning products and

personal products like medicine and

makeup

it also has bacteria in it bacteria

naturally occur in our body things like

e coli but could also be because we're

sick

so things like dangerous germs could

also be in wastewater

the last thing that we worry about in

wastewater is trash

trash is a huge issue for our system

you'll see later on in the tour

what happens to all of the trash we have

to take out of the water

i want you to take a minute and picture

in your head what do you think waste

water what do you think raw sewage looks

like

[Music]

i actually have a sample of raw

wastewater right here

we're going to take a look at it so this

is what we call

raw influent that means the water coming

into the facility

[Music]

when i first saw this i was really

surprised because i expected it to be

really sludgy right full of thick brown

chunks

there are chunks in it but most of

what's in wastewater

is water so if you think about it if the

average person

uses about 100 gallons of water every

day right

most of what we're going to be receiving

into the system is water

but all of those pollutants that i

talked about those could be really

dangerous if they got out into the puget

sound which is why

it's so important that we have a system

that removes those things

before we return the water to the water

[Music]

cycle

[Music]

[Music]

here we are in the bar screen room that

is two stories underground the room

contains

seven bar screens water flows through

the bars on the bar screen

the bars are placed about a pinky nail

width apart from each other

and as the water flows between the bars

the trash is caught

things that get caught on the bars

include tampons condoms

and wrappers as well as flushable wipes

[Music]

the trash is then scraped off with the

scraper arm

and then dropped in the channel behind

the screen

once the screens catch the trash it gets

scraped up

and then dropped into the channel behind

the screens

every year king county spends millions

of dollars

dealing with trash clogs in our system

that's why it's important to remember

the four p's

the four peas are the only thing that

should be going down your toilet

poop pee puke and toilet paper

[Music]

let's consider the primary step of the

wastewater treatment process

in this step we actually are using

simple gravity

to clean about 50 of the solids out of

the water

so as you've seen these huge tanks

behind me

are holding our wastewater now free of

trash

they're letting the waste water sit and

the longer the water sits

the more it starts to separate so i have

a model in front of me this isn't real

wastewater

but inside of this bottle i have water

cooking oil and sand you can see really

quickly

that the sand because it's heavier sinks

to the bottom

and the oil rises to the top this cloudy

layer in the middle

is actually the cleanest layer of water

so like i said this is a really

passive low energy way of allowing

gravity to do the work for us

once the water has been sitting in the

tank we

scrape the sand off of the bottom in

this case it's actually

organic so our poop and our food we

scrape it off the bottom using these

long

scraper bars we remove the oil

from the top of the water using uh

recycled water gets sprayed over the top

and pushes the oil over to the scum

scrapers you saw earlier then the scum

scrapers scrape the oil off of the top

so the clean water that's that middle

layer of our water in the tanks

actually gets pulled off from the tank

by the

bars behind me so inside of these long

troughs there are holes that hit about

the middle of the water level

the water gets pulled into these troughs

and then

brought into the next step of the

wastewater process

leaving behind again the oil and the

poop and the food at the bottom so about

50

of those organic solids

[Music]

the next step of the process is called

aeration in the aeration process we pump

hot air into the water which activates

special microbes that help clean the

water for us

then you'll see we let the water settle

out again and the microbes sink to the

bottom

the hot air that we are pumping into the

tanks behind me

activate bacteria that are naturally

occurring in our digestive system

and occur in the water once the bacteria

are activated they grow in population

to the point where they're saturating

the entire water and they create

a complex ecosystem so the bottom of our

ecosystem the bottom of our trophic

level

are all of the nutrients and the poop

and the food right

the next level is the bacteria that are

clumping together creating something

called a flock

and they're passively absorbing the

nutrients from the water

kind of like herbivores in an ecosystem

we also have more complex creatures

that are actively grabbing food out of

the water

as well as grabbing the bacteria and

feeding off the bacteria

like a predator would in a forest

ecosystem

the really cool thing about this

ecosystem is that it's filled with

literally

thousands of different types of

organisms you can also

take samples of this water and look at

the assemblage of microbes the different

species

and use that to tell how healthy the

water is how healthy the ecosystem is

and how good of a job it's doing in

cleaning the water

vorticella is a type of stocked

flagellate that acts as an herbivore in

our complex ecosystem

they're really interesting protists

because they have long bungee cord like

tails

that hang off of the bacteria flock in

the water

then shoot out to collect food another

type of stocked flagellate in the water

is an epistylus epistyluses are

passive filter feeders like sponges sea

sponges

they live in colonies that look similar

to bouquets of flowers

and they float in the water passively

absorbing the nutrients and the bacteria

[Music]

after a few hours in the aeration tanks

the water gets piped on to the next step

of the process

these are called secondary clarifiers so

at this point

our microbes have been eating the

organics out of the water for us

but now we need to get those microbes

and the organics they've collected in

their bodies

out of the water water from the aeration

tanks enters the clarifier from a

centrally located pipe

pumps pull the water up to the top of

the tank where it goes through a special

device to slow it down

and begin the settling process

the microbes sink to the bottom and are

then piped either back

into the hot tubs or out into our

digesters where they're turned into a

fertilizer

the clean water that's on the top then

gets piped onto the next step

which is disinfection

so behind me is the last step of our

wastewater treatment process here at

south plant

these long channels behind me are called

contact channels

we're introducing a chemical sodium

hypochlorate

to the wastewater that'll remove any

bacteria

that may have escaped into the system

like e coli

after the water has sat in the

disinfecting channels for a while

it goes over what we like to call rent

and falls

these waterfalls aren't just for show

though they're actually for an important

water quality reason

as the water goes over these falls we're

introducing oxygen

back into the water it's really

important that the water

that goes out into the puget sound after

this is

high in oxygen because dissolved oxygen

is incredibly important

for the animals that live in the puget

sound so

like i said this is actually the last

time you'll see the water

on our wastewater tour from here it gets

piped

13 miles to a pipe that goes off of the

coast of alki

in west seattle from there the water is

diffused

under the pipe and slowly spreads out

and then gets picked up and moved around

by the ocean channels

[Music]

when the treated wastewater leaves the

treatment plant

we've removed a majority of those

pollutants that were in the water when

it entered the facility

think back to the beginning of this tour

remember those four categories

we have the trash the organics

the bacteria and the chemicals that are

in the water

so we've completely removed the trash

that's in the water

think back to those bar screens earlier

and that large amount of trash we saw in

the pit

we've also removed all of the bacteria

in the water

both through our aeration and through

our sodium hypochlorite

disinfecting channels there are two

categories though

where some trace amounts are getting

through our system

and it's important that we talk about it

the first thing that we have to think

about

is nitrogen and phosphorus so nutrients

left over from the organics

these are naturally occurring nutrients

in our food

and then in human poop that come into

our system

and many of them are removed from the

water as our bacteria eat them up in

aeration

however some nitrogen and phosphorus

does get through our system

and goes out into the puget sound the

last category that we have to worry

about

is chemicals chemicals are broken down

partially

in our aeration process as bacteria eat

them up and break them into their

different parts

however some chemicals are considered

persistent

these are things like cleaners and

pharmaceuticals

that aren't broken down in our system

and trace levels are getting out into

the sound

easiest way and the most important way

to control this is through something we

call

source control that means that people

are making choices where they live

and where they shop and manufacturers

are making choices

to not make products or use products

that are going to be getting into the

sound

and are too persistent to get removed

through the wastewater system

this means that you can actually do

something to make our water cleaner

you can choose to use chemicals that are

considered green or

biodegradable and will break down in our

system

rather than going out into the sound and

having a negative impact

thanks for joining me on this tour of

the south king county wastewater

treatment plant

next up go meet my colleague kristen

covey at the brightwater wastewater

treatment plant

[Music]

welcome to brightwater hi everyone my

name is kristen covey

and i work with charity on the education

team for king county wastewater

and you are at our newest treatment

plant

um called bright water and bright water

came online

in 2011 about nine years ago we're

located in woodenville washington

and because we are a newer treatment

plant we have a different

secondary treatment system from south

plant as charity mentioned

the reason why we have a different

secondary treatment system

is so that we can clean the water to a

higher level

in order to reuse it instead of sending

all of it out to the puget sound

so if you can remember at south plant

they had a process called aeration or

the bacteria hot tub

so we have that same process at bright

water as well

and for us it's located behind me one of

those silver pipes

so one thing that's different about

bright water is our tanks are all

covered because we want to control odors

and so

it's really hard to show you what the

tanks look like

but just know that that's where aeration

is happening at bright water

so the bacteria are consuming and eating

everything they're getting really fat

and instead of putting that water into

secondary settling tanks like they do at

south plant

we instead put it into another set of

tanks which are located over here

that contain microscopic filters

so underneath that area um

are the filters and we're going to learn

how they work

next so remember

what we have left in the water at this

point is

a lot of bacteria chemical compounds

and some other microscopic particles

right so

if we have filters in these tanks

they're going to need to be pretty tiny

right

so i'm going to show you the filter

technology that we have here

you might be surprised at what it

actually looks like

are you ready here it is

this is

the technology we have here

and how does this work

so here we are standing on top of the

tanks that contain all of the filters

you can see that behind me they're

covered right now so you can't see

inside the tank but if you were able to

you would see what you see in this

photograph

so this is what we would call a membrane

filter cassette

so this is one of them and we have 160

of these

in all of the different tanks so when i

say

the word membrane what does it remind

you of have you heard of that word

before

so it's pretty cool because a membrane

is what is on the outside of a cell so

it's the outer coating of a cell

and it's selective so it allows certain

things to go in or out

so we have basically mimicked a cell

membrane

in this technology but the limiting

factor

for this technology is size

so in this case the only things that are

going to fit

through this filter have to be small

enough

to pass through teeny tiny pores or

holes

in this filter and i'm not talking about

the holes at the end which means that

there are

actually microscopic

pores in this plastic

that you can't see with your naked eye

so that means that this straw is a

filter

and the filtering part of the straw is

the plastic

so anything that goes through this

plastic

ends up in the center of the straw and

gets extracted

so these pores are so tiny

they're only .04 microns which might

mean something to some of you

but for most of us that means nothing so

what means something to me

is that if i were to line up

2 000 of those pores

side by side so 2 000 in a line

the width of that could fit across a

human hair

so that's tiny which means that only

a water molecule a molecule or anything

smaller could pass through one of those

pores

which means that the bacteria do not go

through this filter and they stay on the

outside

okay but so how does the water actually

get pulled

through the plastic and into the center

of each filter

so if you can remember here's the

cassette right

so it's submerged vertically into these

tanks behind me

and on top of each cassette is a vacuum

pipe pulling upwards

you can see the pipes behind me so each

cassette has one pipe that

pulls upwards it provides a suction so

when that happens

it's going to pull into the center

of each filter just whatever can fit

through those pores so

just the cleanest water will go through

into the center and get extracted out by

that vacuum pipe

so this is a very valuable freshwater

resource that we can

reuse for certain purposes which you're

about to learn about

but most of it still does go into the

puget sound

so let's go check out the waterfall that

we have here at brightwater

to see the water leaving the plant and

going into the puget sound

[Music]

hi everyone i'm sienna and i'm an

educator with kin county wastewater

treatment division

i'm going to be talking to you all about

how we recycle resources

from our wastewater treating

wastewater requires lots of energy to

pump

all the millions of gallons of

wastewater around our system every day

so at king county wastewater treatment

division we think a lot about

how to be sustainable and reduce our

energy consumption

and reuse the valuable resources that

are already in wastewater

thinking back to the organic material

such as the poop and food that was

removed from

primary and secondary treatment you may

have wondered where

does that go and what happens to it

so these big tanks behind me are called

digesters

and all the organic material is sent

into these tanks

so that material spends two weeks or so

in these tanks getting broken down by

naturally occurring

anaerobic bacteria

and these tanks are heated to 98 degrees

so it actually is the same temperature

as our bodies

and that process of breaking down the

organic material is similar to what

happens in our stomachs

as the anaerobic bacteria breaks down

the organic material

and consumes it they give off a few

different gases including methane gas

now methane gas is actually a

greenhouse gas and so it contributes to

climate change

so instead of letting that gas just

escape into the atmosphere

we actually capture it here and we call

it biogas

so you can see those black pipes behind

me

are actually where that methane gas is

getting removed from

the digesters it's then going to get

scrubbed and cleaned

and used to heat the boilers

here at the treatment plants as well as

it's going to be sold as natural gas to

help heat and fuel

energy in people's homes follow me to

see what happens with all the organic

material from the digesters

[Music]

all the organic material comes to this

room where it's spun through

a centrifuge which removes the water

from it

and next we're left with

this biosolid it's full of nutrients and

organic matter

what do you think we use it for

so king county's brand of biosolids is

called loop

and in fact you may have seen one of

these trucks traveling on the i-90

corridor

east where it's bringing these this

material

to farms and forests in eastern

washington to help grow trees

for timber as well as canola

wheat apples and hops

in addition to providing nutrients to

plants

loop helps build healthy soil that

retains

more moisture which is especially great

in eastern washington where it's drier

and hotter

so businesses that use loop go through a

permitting process

because there are a small amount of

pathogens

left in the material that just helps

make sure that

the product is used safely and doesn't

cause any problems

something that you may not know is that

every year king county produces

a hundred and twenty thousand tons of

loop

that's enough loop to fill a football

stadium 70 feet high

thanks for your contribution so we turn

a small portion

of loot biosolids into a compost

that's sawdust mixed with

loop and it can be used at home gardens

as well as here at our demonstration

garden to grow

fruits plants and flowers

so what about all that cleaned effluent

or treated water that goes out to puget

sound

couldn't we reuse some of that

[Music]

the answer is yes we actually send a

small portion of that water

through an additional treatment process

which is a sand filter

and it ends up as something called

recycled water

and it looks like this

[Music]

to the human eye you actually can't

really tell that it's any different from

drinking water

but it's not drinking water it has to

travel in its own set of pipes

which are always purple in color

recycled water is great for irrigation

of farms and sports fields

it's also used for street cleaning it

can even be used for flushing toilets in

certain facilities

as well as industrial water a fun fact

is that the seattle sounders practice on

starfire sports and their fields are

also watered with recycled water

recycled water is also great because it

still has nutrients in it so

it can actually add a fertilizing boost

to the plants that it's irrigating

and in terms of the pipes it has to

travel in

recycled water can't travel in the same

pipes as drinking water so if

a business wants to use it they need to

help

build out purple pipes to their facility

or they can come to one of our

truck refill stations and pick up

recycled water and take it to their

facility

using recycled water is really helpful

for our

planet because it puts less pressure on

the streams and aquifers that we get our

drinking water from which means

there's more water left for drinking and

for salmon and other wildlife to use so

now you've learned about

how we reuse organic material

some of the water as well as the biogas

energy

from our wastewater treatment process

this is an effort to help reduce our

carbon emissions and environmental

footprint

by building healthy soils keeping more

water in rivers and reservoirs

and creating renewable energy sources

thanks for joining us