 The City of Los Angeles implemented the Sewer Science Program in 2003 to increase environmental awareness and stewardship. Sewer Science is an inter-disciplinary microbiology, chemistry, physics, and environmental curriculum designed to stress the importance of pollution prevention to high school students. Besides increasing environmental awareness, the program grooms future environmental professionals and leaders. Included in the program is the message for students to stay in school and seek careers in the environmental field. The program also provides opportunities for volunteer mentors, comprised of City engineers, to network with students and practice public speaking and leadership skills, while serving the community.
 The program advances environmental education by taking a mobile lab unit into high school and college classrooms to simulate the primary, secondary, and advanced wastewater treatment processes. Students and teachers perform hands-on instrumental analysis, and are introduced to other scientific concepts as a way to directly link pollution prevention efforts with the treatment of wastewater. Tests are performed at every stage of the treatment process and results are graphed to visually show the effects of treatment. These results are compared to discharge standards to indicate that even the simplest treatment system can have a great impact on wastewater quality. To enhance environmental education learned in the classroom, the program offers teachers and students a tour of one the City's wastewater treatment facilities. Students are also encouraged to enter the Sewer Science Technical Competition and practice what they learned in the classroom by constructing a "model" of a wastewater treatment facility using recycled materials.
To broaden its reach within and outside the City, the program conducts workshops to guide, assist, and train participating teachers about Sewer Science. The goal is to empower and encourage teachers to conduct environmental classes themselves in their respective classroom as part of their science curriculum, thereby helping the City to reach more schools and students. The program produced an award-winning Sewer Science video, which can be used independently by any public agency or school who is interested in developing or adopting a similar environmental educational program.
Since its implementation in 2003 and through 2009, the program has been held in 54 schools, 423 classrooms, and taught to 14,951 students.
 SEWER SCIENCE PROGRAM WORKBOOK
Complete student's workbook used in the program
CONTEST
Students are encouraged to enter the Sewer Science Technical Competition and practice what they learned in the classroom by constructing a "model" of wastewater treatment facilities or produce a video about pollution prevention.
PICTURE SCRAPBOOK
Here is the latest updated copy of the Sewer Science Scrapbook, highlighting the accomplishments, awards, and milestones of the program since its inception.
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Contact Info:
City of Los Angeles
Bureau of Sanitation
Industrial Waste Management Division
Sewer Science Program
2714 Media Center Dr.
Los Angeles CA 90065
TEL: (323) 342-6072
FAX: (323) 342-6111
sewer.science@lacity.org |
