Executive Director's Message

Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Executive Director, <cfoutput>New York Water Environment Association, Inc.</cfoutput>

Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Executive Director, New York Water Environment Association, Inc.

As part of NYWEA's educational outreach effort, in September I participated in the 15th Annual Oswego County Conservation Field Day, coordinated by the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District. Approximately 125 fifth graders from 11 elementary schools came to learn about topics including endangered species, herpetology, birds of prey, tree identification, and "worms in the wild."

For several years now, I have heard about this event from my cousin who has participated in it for 15 years and has been encouraging me to take part. When I saw that water conservation and wastewater weren't covered, I felt compelled to get involved. I titled the presentation "Wastewater: It's Part of Nature" and used excerpts from Dick Pope's presentation during the public education session at the 2003 Spring Meeting; the presentation covered both conservation of water and what happens at the treatment plant.

Students' Comments on Field Day Experience

"...my class is learning about the water cycle in science and you helped me learn more about it."

"It was interesting what happens at the wastewater treatment plant."

"Thank you for teaching us about waste treatment. I really understood what you were trying to teach us."

"You really inspired me to conserve things, even if they are renewable resources."

"I didn't know that if you put things in sewers, people have to take it out. Now I will never throw away trash in the sewer."

"I think conservation is important."

It was a team effort in pulling this presentation together: Tim Miller generously volunteered to provide us with some compost from the village of Waterville; Doug Riggs supplied us with the influent and clarifier water from the village of Cleveland; and Donna Busby, our intern from SUNY-ESF, made an outline of the presentation and put together posters to illustrate the treatment plant processes. As an added element of the presentation, Donna took samples of water from both Lake Ontario and a drinking water fountain and tested them for dissolved oxygen and pH using a LaMotte water monitoring kit. The results of the test were then submitted as part of the World Water Monitoring event coordinated by the International Water Association and the America's Clean Water Foundation.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself (and I think Donna did, too). The comments that came back to us from some of the students were humbling and made the experience extremely worthwhile. Some of the students' comments are depicted here.

There are a variety of tools available through the Water Environment Federation (WEF) for individuals and educators at all levels who are interested in environmental education, in particular, the WEF Water Sourcebooks, which are available for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

There are also complimentary brochures available through the WEF for Teachers and Students program. For more information, visit the education and outreach section on the WEF website (WEF.org).

Patricia Cerro-Reehil at 15th Annual Oswego County Conservation Field Day

—Patricia Cerro-Reehil