For the past twelve years the Bureau of Sanitation's Japanese Garden in Van Nuys has been conducting a wastewater educational program that supports the Los Angeles school district at no cost and a public program supported by our Docents and volunteers that currently number over fifty. The Japanese Garden was created as a tool to educate the public on how wastewater is treated and reclaimed water reuses.

A workbook has been developed for the school groups that come to the facility to help the students understand the entire water reclamation process and a background on the Japanese culture. A new project that the department of Water and Power is construction the East Valley Water Recycling Project at the southeast end of the Tillman facility. This project with the cooperation of DWP is going to have an outdoor seating area at this new facility to educate the school kids and the public on the future uses of this water that is going to be pumped to Hansen Dam for ground water recharge. A tour of the native berm to the south of the plant will bring the people to this area. This native berm was a required mitigation of Sanitation to place the plants discharge line under the dam.

The earth berm thru cooperation with the Sepulveda basins Wildlife Steering Committee is starting a tour program using the Gardens' current Docents and volunteers to educate the public on the quality of our environment and the needed protection required.

All the above projects are related to public education and other items on the horizon are a video on the water reclamation process to be in conjunction with a display board on the plant process which will be located at the viewing platform that overlooks the plant, a video to be placed at libraries in a self play television system, a video for the city channel, displays in malls and school area, flyers at our sign in desk at the Garden, and trailers at the introduction of movies at the theaters. The Gardens' advisory committee is also forming a media search group to look into other areas along with City staff.