It was another successful field trip for our WHALES program. We took students from Orange High School’s AP Environmental Science class to the Orange County Sanitation District and Orange County Water District to learn about their wastewater. Our WHALES program introduces local students of Orange County and Inland Empire to watershed and ecological concepts.
The students were given tours at both facilities and shown the sophisticated processes that take the wastewater from their homes and turn it into reusable water that replenishes the groundwater beneath their city.
Our goals for this trip were to teach the students:
- Where pollution is contributed by humans, and where it goes.
- How we redirect or reduce pollution through natural processes and man-made technology such as from the Groundwater Replenishment System and Fairview Park Wetlands project.
- What they can do as an individuals and as a community to protect their watershed.
- How our wetlands affect water quality.
The students rocked this field trip by engaging and asking thought-provoking questions about the capacity of the OC Sanitation District and the world’s first groundwater replenishment system at the OC Water District. It’s wonderful to see students so interested in the future of their water as well as their individual role in conserving this precious resource.
Big thanks to the AP Environmental Science class of Orange High School. We are so happy to have you as our Watershed Heroes!
